Provo, Utah – The excitement is building as the BYU Cougars men’s basketball team prepares to kick off its new season in just a week. With new head coach Kevin Young leading the charge, there is a sense of anticipation that hasn’t been felt in years. Young, who brings a strong NBA pedigree with him, has added impressive talent to the roster, fueling hopes among fans and players alike.
However, the road ahead won’t be easy. The Cougars have been picked to finish ninth in the highly competitive Big 12 Conference. ESPN’s expert on tournament predictions, Joe Lunardi, has added to the buzz by placing BYU as a 9 seed in his latest preseason bracket for the NCAA Tournament. This projection suggests the Cougars are seen as the eighth-best team in the Big 12, but there is a significant gap in perceived talent compared to the top teams.
The teams dominating the top spots in Lunardi’s bracket include Kansas and Houston, both projected as number one seeds, followed by Iowa State at a two seed, and Baylor, Arizona, Texas Tech, and Cincinnati rounding out the top seven as three and four seeds. Kansas State follows closely behind BYU, also positioned as a 9 seed but listed among the “Last Four Byes,” indicating a precarious position in the postseason landscape.
In Lunardi’s predictions, BYU is set to face 8 seed Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s West regional, assuming they qualify. The winner of that match-up would face the winner of Houston versus Colgate, signaling the potential for thrilling matchups featuring multiple teams from the Big 12.
Before the season officially kicks off, BYU will hold an exhibition game against Colorado Christian on Wednesday evening, available for public attendance at 7 p.m. However, this game will not be televised. The Cougars will officially launch their season on November 5 at home against Central Arkansas.
Meanwhile, another local team, Weber State, is also making waves. They recently triumphed over Adams State in an exhibition game with a score of 83-63. Weber State was also included in Lunardi’s projected tournament field, representing the Big Sky Conference, despite being picked to finish fourth in their own conference. They will start their season on November 4 against Northwest Indian College.
As the season unfolds, both BYU and Weber State are eager to prove their worth on the court and make their case for the NCAA Tournament.
