Final four for BYU?
Probably not, but SI.com sports writer Stewart Mandel chose BYU as his Cinderella team this year at least. I hope Mandel is underselling BYU of course…
Anyway, BYU fell to the #7 seed after dreaming of as high as a #3 seed a week or two ago. The good news is that BYU drew a Florida Gators team that has struggled mightily of late and that they are in the West region. If BYU can somehow manage to make it to the Sweet 16 they will be playing in Salt Lake City for the next two games (partially why Mandel went out on that limb).
In other news, the Mountain West Conference got 4 out of its 9 teams into the Dance this year which is double the number of teams the normally mighty Pac 10 managed. Also, Utah State fans are breathing a sigh of relief after sliding in just under the wire to nab the last at large bid from other bubble teams like Virginia Tech and Mississippi State. (USU got the bid much to the dismay of several ESPN talking heads so maybe they can use that as motivation to pull off an upset.)
The tournament kicks into gear on Thursday. Go Cougs!
Go Gators!
Comment by John C. — March 15, 2010 @ 12:17 pm
In other news, Kansas State announced that they will be rolling over and letting BYU win, because they really like Dave Rose…
Comment by queuno — March 15, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
I am officially calling the game. Florida 65, BYU 55. I’m willing to eat crow over this on the good odds that I’ll be right.
That said, if Florida loses, I will root for BYU for as long as it stays in the tourney.
Comment by John C. — March 15, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
What constitutes “good odds” in your mind John?
Comment by Geoff J — March 15, 2010 @ 2:49 pm
I am picking Florida in my brackets. A 10 point win for Florida sounds about right.
I will be rooting for BYU and hope that the “JJ Reddick BYU rule” is not in effect this year. However it came true against UNLV
Comment by bbell — March 15, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Recent history seems to argue that the Cougs will wilt in the Tourney and Florida will blossom. We’ll see.
Comment by John C. — March 15, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
Go Gators indeed!
BYU might win if their bigs can hang with Tyus and Macklin. But I doubt they can. Albert and Alberta will be eating a Cosmo sandwich.
Comment by L-d Sus — March 15, 2010 @ 5:15 pm
Hehe. It would take quite a performance for Florida to down BYU this year I think. But I certainly grant it is possible.
Comment by Geoff J — March 15, 2010 @ 7:21 pm
I am surprised by all the “Go Florida” this is a team that lost 12, count ‘em 12 games, including to B-Ball powerhouses South Alabama and Richmond.
Go Cougs!
Comment by TrevorM — March 16, 2010 @ 12:49 am
Way more important, though, is the impact a BYU Final Four appearance would have on the Priesthood session of GC, as the two will conflict. Having been in that predicament with my own college team a couple of times recently, I can testify the p-hood talks read just as well in the Ensign a month later as they do listening to them live. I say enjoy the game if it comes to that. Final Four appearances for BYU are rare; priesthood sessions are like clockwork and regular.
Best of luck to the Cougs, at least until they run into their first ACC opponent.
Comment by rbc — March 16, 2010 @ 7:44 am
Sorry about the spam filter gobbling your comments John (#6). Not sure what the deal is there.
Recent history has BYU winning 29 games. What different BYU teams with different players did in years past is irrelevant this year. (Unless we are going to pin the tournament losses entirely on the coaching staff). Further, the most recent history has Florida barely squeaking by to get an at-large bid this year. That seems like the most telling historical info to me.
But like I said, the Gators certainly could pull off the upset so BYU will need to bring it to advance.
Comment by Geoff J — March 16, 2010 @ 4:41 pm
How about that? Joe Lunardi picks USU for Sweet 16.
I don’t, but I’m glad someone loves us.
Comment by Scott B. — March 16, 2010 @ 10:32 pm
I saw that Scott. I hope Lunardi is right because he has BYU to the Elite 8 as well.
Comment by Geoff J — March 16, 2010 @ 11:18 pm