No. 1 seed in BYU's NCAA future?


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PROVO -- At approximately 11 a.m. Pacific Time BYU was playing for a potential No. 1 seed. One day, and three top five upsets later, you could argue that a No. 1 seed is BYU's to lose.

"Right now I think I'd give #1 seeds to Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Kansas and BYU," tweeted ESPN expert analyst Pat Forde. "Ask me again tomorrow and it might be different then."

Cougar Tracks:

Forde tweeted that Saturday night, prior to No. 4 Pittsburgh's upset loss by Louisville Sunday afternoon.

Andy Katz shares the same excitement about BYU that Forde does: "Now BYU has a real chance to be a top seed in the NCAA tournament if it wins the MWC tourney in Las Vegas in two weeks," wrote Katz in his ESPN blog. "The Cougars appear poised to handle anything March may toss their way."

National analysts made a point that BYU's 13-point victory was not just about Jimmer. Interestingly, this is the reverse of what pre-game analysts were projecting.

"BYU [showed] ability to knock down shots other than Fredette, they attacked the defense the right way, spreading the floor and getting good looks," said CBS analyst and commentator for the game Steve Kerr. "I think BYU is going to have a great shot at a one seed when all is said and done."

Related:

While some analysts seem to be jumping on the BYU train later in the season, others appear to have been keeping tabs on them the whole time.

"BYU has had a number one seed profile all season. It's really BYU against Duke right now for the fourth number one seed," said Joe Lunardi, ESPN's bracketology expert. "BYU has a better RPI, a better strength of schedule, and more Top-50 wins. They also have 10 true road wins, most in the country. So, it's Brigham Young number one in the west."

The Cougars have certainly exceeded most people's expectations, but not everybody is convinced quite yet.

"I still think Texas has a chance to climb back over BYU," said ESPN College Basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb. "I think at the end of the day BYU is likely to be a two, maybe a three [seed]."

At the end of the day, it's safe to say that everyone agrees BYU can play with the best of them.

"Whether they shoot 14 for 24 or not, they are going to be very, very difficult for anyone in the NCAA tournament, I don't care who it is, they are that good," said SDSU Coach Steve Fisher, who's Aztecs' only two losses on the season have come at the hands of BYU. "I think they've got a great chance to be a No. 1 seed if they continue to win, they're a terrific basketball team."

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