Well cougar fans, while the season seemed to exceed expectations, it ended in disappointment with yet another first-round exit from BYU. The Cougars suffered a devastating 71-67 loss to the Duquesne Dukes on a day when the shots just were not falling.
The only bright spot today for the Cougars was the play of Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year Jaxson Robinson who scored 25 points off the bench. Robinson was clearly the hottest player for BYU today, but for some reason in the final two minutes, he barely touched the ball.
After being down by as much as 14 in the game, the Cougars began the makings of a comeback, even taking the lead late in the game, but they just could not stop the Duke. Dae Dae Grant was too much for the Cougars to handle and unfortunately dug too deep of a hole to get out.
This game will be picked apart for months to come until next season, and when March Madness rolls around next season, if the Cougars are in it again, highlights of frustrating memories will be shown. However, it seems fans are already picking this game apart on social media and they are not happy.
So here are some of the saddest and angriest reactions from BYU fans after yet another year of NCAA Tournament disappointments.
A tradition unlike any other. #OneAndDone #BYUhoops
— Chravis with a “T” (@tko140pt6) March 21, 2024
Clearly, this feeling is becoming all too familiar to Cougar fans. It seems like tradition at this point for BYU to disappoint in the NCAA Tournament.
The life of a byu fan…..#GoCougs #BYUHoops pic.twitter.com/vdgnGZE2rR
— BYUFanGuy 🏴☠️ (@BYUFanGuy) March 21, 2024
As usual - BYU proves to be overhyped and an embarrassment when the lights shine brightest #BYUHoops
— Anthony Merrill (@LastBYUJedi) March 21, 2024
I will say that things could have been worse for BYU this season. They were projected to finish 13th in the Big 12 and an NCAA Tournament appearance was not in the cards. Thus team definitely performed better than expected, just hit a slump at the wrong time.
It was the most fun season in a decade but I just wanted 1 tournament win… just 1 #BYUHoops
— Skyler Beltran (@SkylerBeltran) March 21, 2024
I think this team will continue to build their program from here. You have solid players and if they stick around, you could finally get that one tournament win you are hoping for and more.
No touches that I recall in the dying minutes of this game for Jaxson Robinson after he single-handedly seemed to keep #BYU in this game... No bueno. #BYUhoops
— Jake Hatch (Yawk) jakehatch.bsky.social (@JacobCHatch) March 21, 2024
It was perplexing that Robinson barely touched the ball when it mattered most at the end of the game. With one of his best games this season, you would think the team would have gotten the ball to the hot hand. This might haunt this team for a long time.
#BYU Jaxson Robinson didn’t attempt a shot in the last 5:09 of the game….THAT CAN NOT HAPPEN!!!!!
— Ronald Lee Weaver III (@ronaldweaverlll) March 21, 2024
How does that happen?
That makes no sense to me when Jax had 25 points, shooting 53% from the field, and 45% percent from 3-point range. #BYUBasketball #BYUHoops #MarchMadness
Really disappointing last few games of the season for @BYUMBB. The team raised expectations all season, so yes, this is disappointing. #BYUhoops
— Daniel Evans (@DanielRyanEvans) March 21, 2024
As fun as it was watching BYU play this season, it is always hard to watch your team lose like this when you see so much potential. I hate to say it, but this is March if you can't bring you A-game then you get sent home early.