BYU’s Atiki Ally Atiki seems to make a go throughout recreation in opposition to Loyola Marymount on the West Coast Convention Event on the Orleans Area in Las Vegas on Friday. The Cougars prevailed to arrange tonight’s recreation in opposition to San Francisco within the match’s quarterfinal spherical. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
LAS VEGAS — Two weeks in the past, BYU had a chance to play a Quad 1 recreation at Saint Mary’s. And whereas the Cougars battled exhausting, they finally fell to the Gaels.
However now, No. 5-seeded BYU, sitting on the NCAA Event bubble, has earned one other probability to impress the NCAA Event choice committee.
The Cougars tackle No. 4 San Francisco tonight’s (8:30 p.m., MST, ESPN2) within the West Coast Convention quarterfinals, in what shall be a Quad 1 recreation for each groups.
The Dons (23-8) are ranked No. 26 within the NCAA’s NET rankings, whereas the Cougars (22-9) test in at No. 50.
Based on ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, USF is projected as a No. 10 seed and one of many “Final 4 Byes” within the NCAA Event, whereas BYU is among the many “First 4 Out.”
Saturday’s winner advances to Monday’s semifinals in opposition to top-ranked Gonzaga on ESPN.
Guard Alex Barcello, who scored 22 factors within the Cougars’ 85-60 victory over Loyola Marymount Friday night time, likes how his workforce is taking part in heading into tonight’s showdown with USF.
“It’s an enormous alternative. They’re a extremely good workforce,” he stated. “However we now have the identical mindset each recreation proper now. We’ve received to put it on the market each time we step on the ground.”
The Cougars know what's at stake. They’re making an attempt to hold their at-large NCAA Event hopes alive.
“San Francisco is a good workforce. They’re a top-30 workforce. They’re big. They’re simply so huge. They've a extremely expert backcourt. They’re a terrific workforce,” stated coach Mark Pope. “Proper now, it's important to have an unbelievable edge in each single recreation within the postseason. You’re taking part in at such a fevered pitch and a lot desperation and then you definitely get to March and by some means you’re anticipated to ramp it up from there. It appears unimaginable. However that’s what it's important to do.”
BYU and San Francisco break up the season sequence, with every workforce successful on the opposing workforce’s residence flooring.
The Cougars rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat the Dons 71-69 at Conflict Memorial Health club on Jan. 15.
On Feb. 3, USF beat BYU 73-59 on the Marriott Heart.
In that recreation in Provo, all 5 of the Dons’ starters scored in double figures — Yauhen Massalski (16 factors, 13 rebounds), Patrick Tape (10 factors), Khalil Shabazz (15 factors), Jamareee Bouyea (13 factors) and Gabe Stefanini (15 factors).
The Cougars made solely 12 of 25 free throws that night time.
USF additionally outrebounded BYU 45-37 because the Cougars struggled with the Dons’ measurement.
“It’s only a problem. There’s no two methods about it. They’re actually athletic, tremendous vertical. They’re robust and highly effective on their entrance line,” Pope stated. “They’re huge and explosive and veteran. They’re seniors. That’s simply one of many many issues that they present.
“It’s going to be a workforce effort. We’re actually good at figuring it out as a workforce. Caleb (Lohner) goes to must be big. It’s a big-time problem on the glass. (Fousseyni Traore) should be huge. Gideon George goes to must make himself current on the boards.”
For BYU, one of many many positives that got here out of Friday’s win over LMU was that Barcello performed solely 26 minutes and was capable of get relaxation over the past six to seven minutes.
“Man, how nice that we have been capable of hold Alex to 25 minutes and Te’Jon (Lucas) to 25 minutes. You then see that Spencer (Johnson) performed half-hour,” Pope stated. “It’s such a present to have the ability to depart him on the market. He’s going to must be huge on the glass (Saturday). That’s one of many many points we now have tomorrow that we’re going to have to determine. I imagine in these guys. They’re in a great spot proper now.”
May the Cougars have a bonus as a result of they simply performed a recreation, whereas USF’s match debut shall be Saturday?
“I hope so. LMU would say no. However we hope that works in our favor,” Pope stated. “In March, each recreation is its personal freestanding life, its personal season.”
Pope stated that Seneca Knight, who's nursing a thumb damage and missed Friday’s recreation, is questionable for Saturday.
“He’s testing it every single day to see how it's,” he stated. “There’s a ton of ache concerned. We’ll see. I imagine in miracles.”
Talking of accidents, Lucas, who was 2 of 9 from the sector and completed with seven factors and 4 assists in opposition to LMU, hasn’t been at full energy for fairly some time.
“Te’Jon has extra accidents proper now than all of us mixed in our outdated age. However he doesn’t care. He’s going to go battle,” Pope stated. “He received’t say a phrase about it ever. He’s simply so powerful. We’re taping him collectively and he’s going on the market and acting at a excessive degree.”
BYU is aware of it might want to hold taking part in at a excessive degree to beat USF — and hold its goals of taking part in within the NCAA Event alive.
“We've got to return again with extra battle and hearth than we’ve ever had (Saturday). If we make it via (Saturday), then the problem is even larger on Monday,” Pope stated. “That’s what makes this so particular. Our guys are in a great place proper now. They’re tremendous hungry they usually’ve received some hearth. They don’t have quite a lot of concern proper now. They’re simply hungry. I like the place our workforce feels proper now.”
WCC Event
No. 4 San Francisco (23-8)
vs. No. 5 BYU (22-9)
Saturday, 8:30 p.m. MST
Orleans Area
Las Vegas
TV: ESPN2
Radio: BYU Radio/1160 AM