BYU Basketball: No time to get down, Cougars need a win

Dec 11, 2021; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) taps the ball away from Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) in the second half at Sanford Pentagon. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2021; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) taps the ball away from Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) in the second half at Sanford Pentagon. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2021; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA; The bench reacts to a three point basket by Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) in the game against the Creighton Bluejays in the second half at Sanford Pentagon. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2021; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA; The bench reacts to a three point basket by Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) in the game against the Creighton Bluejays in the second half at Sanford Pentagon. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

BYU Basketball hosts San Francisco and Gonzaga this week.

Just two weeks ago we were comparing the 2022 BYU Basketball team to 2020’s squad that felt like a Sweet Sixteen team before the pandemic cancelled everything. Today we are wondering if this team will even make the NCAA Tournament.

While of course as a fan this has been a really rough week for all of us, it has also shown what makes sports so special. Unlike a play or musical that the same lines are always repeated or re-listening to your favorite album, sports are unpredictable.

While it certainly feels impossible, if BYU Basketball is able to turn a switch on the same way that they turned it off last week, we could be having a very different discussion next week if the Cougars go 2-0 against the Dons and Zags.

Am I predicting a 2-0 week for BYU? No, of course not. But nobody was predicting a loss to Pacific either. Things get weird on the road in basketball and it is literally impossible to guarantee a win for any team any given night. Just ask the Cougars who have beaten teams like Oregon and San Diego State but lost to UVU and Pacific.

Regardless however, the Cougars need to get a win this week.

As the season begins to hit the final stretch, P5 team’s are beginning to boost their resumes. For example, a team from the Big 12 may go .500 in conference play, but that may mean having six to seven Quad One wins. That becomes an impressive resume that matches well with what BYU already has done.

BYU did most of their work in the non conference and are now holding on for dear life to make it through the WCC without any more tough losses. All of that starts on Thursday when the Cougars host San Francisco in what is starting to look like the most pivotal game all season.

Schedule

Schedule