LAS VEGAS — It has been a long time since BYU last won its conference's postseason tournament. The year was 2001, when BYU knocked off New Mexico to capture the Mountain West Conference tourney title, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Looking back 12 seasons and comparing the 2000-01 season to the 2012-13 campaign, a number of coincidental occurrences appear. They may be merely trivial, but if the Cougars are looking to catch lightning in a bottle, they need look no further than 2001 for some cosmic inspiration.

Locale: In both 2001 and 2013, it's Vegas, baby.

Wins and losses: in 2001, BYU entered conference tournament play with 21 wins, and ten regular season conference victories. In 2013, BYU heads to Las Vegas with 21 wins, and ten regular season conference victories.

Cougar Tracks:

Davies, Haws nab All-WCC honors

The West Coast Conference announced its postseason honorees today, with BYU's Brandon Davies and Tyler Haws earning all-league recognition, while Gonzaga center Kelly Olynyk and head coach Mark Few headlined the annual award winners.

Skids and such: both the 2000-01 and 2012-13 teams had three separate two-game losing streaks during the regular season, but neither team ever lost three in a row. Seeds and semis: neither team was the top seed in the conference tournament. In 2001, BYU was a 2; in 2013, BYU is a 3. In 2001, BYU played in the 2 v. 3 semifinal; in 2013, a BYU win on Friday would set up a 2 v. 3 matchup (v. St. Mary's) in the semifinals.

Byes: In 2001, the top seed (Utah) had a bye to the MWC tourney semifinals. In 2013, top seed Gonzaga has a bye to the semis. In '01, Utah lost its tourney debut in the semis, to 4 seed New Mexico—-a team the Utes swept in the regular season. In 2013, the Zags would be projected to face 4 seed Santa Clara—-a team the Zags swept in the regular season.

Calendar: In 2001, BYU opened tournament play on March 8th. In 2013, BYU's WCC tourney opener is on March 8th. Personnel: In 2001, BYU had a definitive "Big Three": a 6'9" senior center from Provo High School (Mekeli Wesley), a high-scoring wing who led the team in three-pointers made and FT% (Terrell Lyday), and a mid-year transfer point guard (Trent Whiting).

In 2013, BYU's definitive "Big Three" is comprised of a 6'9" senior center from Provo High School (Brandon Davies), a high-scoring wing who leads the team in three-pointers made and FT% (Tyler Haws), and a (2011-12) mid-year transfer point guard (Matt Carlino).

Shooting and scoring: in 2001, BYU shot 46% from the field, with a scoring margin of +7.7 points per game. In 2013, BYU is shooting 46% from the field, with a scoring margin of +7.6 points per game.

Primary production: In 2000-01, the "Big Three" were the only three players who averaged double-figure scoring, while accounting for 64% of BYU's total points. In 2012-13, the "Big Three" are the only three players averaging in double figures, while accounting for 64% of BYU's points.

Coaching staff: of course, Dave Rose was on the bench in 2001, but so was a former BYU point guard (assistant Nate Call). In 2013, Rose has gone from assistant to head coach, but there's still a former BYU point guard (assistant Terry Nashif) on the staff. Dig a little deeper, and you will find a former Ute staffer on the BYU bench in 2001 (Director of Basketball Operations Jeff Judkins), and in 2013 (assistant coach Tim LaComb, who was a team manager and video coordinator on the hill).

Special schedule guest: In 2000-01 and 2012-13, BYU suffered December non-conference losses to Iowa State. Before its loss to the Cyclones on Dec. 1, 2012, BYU's last game against Iowa State was that setback on Dec. 22, 2000.

Name game: In 2001, BYU had a Matt (Montague), a Nate (two, actually, in Cooper and Knight) and a Ty (Shippen). In 2013, the Matt is Carlino, the Nate is Austin and the Ty(ler) is Haws. I threw this one in as a tongue-in-cheek afterthought; just roll with it.

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While the aforementioned observations are ostensibly interesting on one level or another, they are for the time being just coincidences. BYU cannot rely on historical precedent this week, because there are a few very important differences between 2001 and 2013, and foremost among them is the presence of the nation's number one team: the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Anything other than a Monday night coronation of the Zags will be a notable upset.

In 2001, top seed Utah did not even make the NCAA Tournament after being bounced in the semifinals. Even if Gonzaga were to get knocked out in the WCC tourney semis, I can't see the Zags dropping any lower than a 2 seed on Selection Sunday. In 2001, the MWC was a one-bid league, whereas in 2013, if a team other than Gonzaga or St. Mary's wins the tourney, the WCC could get three bids. BYU winning the conference tourney in 2001 was an instance of a team getting hot at the right time in a league without a dominant team. In 2013's WCC tourney, there is one giant and eight would-be giant-killers.

In 2001, BYU was on a bit of a roll, having won five of six and eight of ten heading into Vegas. In 2013, BYU has lost four of seven and is 6-4 in its last ten games, entering conference tourney week.

The 2001 team was notably better from the arc (38%) and the free-throw line (78%) than the 2013 version (34% and 72%, respectively).

BYU's "Big Three" in 2001 all shot 80% or better from the stripe; only one of 2013's "Big Three" shoots better than 70% on free throws (Tyler Haws, 87%). In high-pressure tournament games, when BYU's best players will be leaned on most, the Cougars can't afford to give away too many points from the line.

BYU was arguably a little deeper off the bench in 2001, when, depending on the lineup, players like Travis Hansen, Nate Cooper or Matt Montague could come off the pine.

BYU's pre-NCAA Tournament RPI in 2001 was a healthy 37; in 2013, BYU enters conference tournament week with an RPI of 59.

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Regardless of the importance assigned to the preceding notes, tournament week is one of my very favorite times of the year. BYU has the players to compete with the best teams in the WCC; recent close losses to St. Mary's and Gonzaga testify to that. Those players will need to be at their best in Las Vegas, but the possibilities are energizing. Three wins, in four days, will mean a seventh straight NCAA Tournament bid for Dave Rose and his program. Anything short of that will mean a trip to the NIT, but even then, the extension of the season brings with it the potential for additional development and achievements.

Whether flashing back or looking forward, BYU fans can be excited about the Cougars' tourney journey. BYU's WCC tournament opener versus either San Diego or Pepperdine can be heard on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM and BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143), starting with pregame coverage Friday night at 8:30, with the tipoff at 9:30.

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