For our latest Under the Radar podcast, CLICK HERE.
BYU at Portland, 10:00 PM Eastern, ROOT Sports/free streaming at thew.tv
Brigham Young University announced yesterday that it is their intent to gain entrance into a “Power Five” conference for football purposes (though presumably as an all sports member). While that most likely means they are trying to join the Big 12, it is by no means granted that any of the major conferences will invite them. For now at least, the Cougars are an independent in football and a member of an Under the Radar conference in all other sports. They enter play tonight in third place in the WCC Standings, at 11-5 in conference and 21-8 overall. Their RPI is 57, though their KenPom rating is 32 and their BPI is 27, both very healthy numbers. Unfortunately, BYU is not currently in any serious at-large talks with only three top 100 wins, none of which are away from home or over a team that is currently solidly in the field (the best being a home win over Stanford). Things are made worse by several slip-ups in conference including two losses to Pepperdine and a loss at San Diego. The good news for BYU is that after tonight’s game they have a game at Gonzaga on Saturday — a chance to put a solid win on their resume. If they win these two games, and make run to the WCC championship game, we do believe the committee will give them a look, especially (at least for you conspiracy theorists out there) with their AD, Tom Holmoe, on the Selection Committee. Should they lose either of these last two games, their only way in will be via the automatic bid.
BYU’s quest to get the Committee’s attention begins today in Portland. The Pilots enter tonight’s game at 7-9 in conference and 16-12 overall. They are tied for fifth place with San Diego. The final two games will be an important battle for Portland as a fifth place finish will give them a much more winnable quarterfinal game (most likely against Pepperdine) than a 6th place finish (BYU or St. Mary’s will finish in third). Of course, finishing in fifth place also places them on the same side of the bracket as Gonzaga, but if Portland, or anyone else for that matter, wants to make an improbably WCC tournament run they will have to go through the ‘zags sooner or later anyhow. In addition to trying to spoil BYU’s slim NCAA at-large chances tonight, they will be looking to avenge a 97-88 loss at BYU back in late December. If the scoring in tonight’s game is anywhere close to the pace of that prior meeting, it should at least be entertaining to watch.