Is BYU's WCC tourney quarterfinal with San Francisco a must-win game for both teams?

LAS VEGAS — BYU basketball made its earliest debut in the West Coast Conference Tournament late Friday night in Las Vegas.

But with all due respect to Loyola Marymount, the Cougars' postseason really started Saturday evening.

After putting away an 85-60 win over the Lions — BYU's third in less than four weeks — the Cougars (22-9) will face San Francisco in a quarterfinal Saturday (8:30 p.m. MST, ESPN2). The winner will advance to face Gonzaga, the No. 1-ranked team by the Associated Press with a 22-1 record at the WCC Tournament since 2013 (the only loss coming to rival Saint Mary's in the tournament title game in 2019).

Alex Barcello had 22 points, three rebounds and three assists, but the most impressive number may be the one directly next to his name in the box score: his minutes, that being just under 26.

In the survive-and-advance world of college basketball in March, getting to the next game is all that matters.

"I thought we did a great job as a group having edge and making plays," Barcello said. "They hit some great shots, but I thought we worked together really well."

"Playing with edge is what we're preaching right now. We came to play. And we're going to come to play tomorrow; it's March. It's win-or-go-home."

But what made Friday night's win so impactful wasn't just that it happened — the Cougars improved to 3-0 against the Lions in 2021-22, and 22-5 all-time. But they did Friday with a cast of characters, beyond just Barcello, and some who didn't even make it huge in the box score.

Barcello played a key role in defending Joe Quintana, the LMU senior who erupted for 31 points a night before against Pacific, and holding him to 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. But he wasn't the only one: Spencer Johnson finished the night with 5 points, three rebounds and a game-high four steals, while also guarding Quintana during his 30 minutes that didn't overlap with Barcello.

"I tried to bring some energy at the start of the game," Barcello said. "But I thought Spencer did a phenomenal job; I don't think he gets all the credit he deserves on the defensive end sometimes.

"He makes plays. Fouss felt it, too, helping him to hold Eli Scott on his digs. He's just so incredible, and has such a high IQ on the defensive end."

Fousseyni Traore had another breakout game, the seventh double-double of his freshman season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Caleb Lohner added 6 points, 10 rebounds and two assists for a group, and Gideon George tied for the game high with a plus-minus of 28 with his 9 points and four rebounds on just 3-of-5 shooting.

Then there was Trevin Knell, who scored 15 points, tied for his season-high and the most since posting the same number Christmas night against Liberty. The Woods Cross product knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, which isn't a surprise. But he also shot 4 of 8 from 2-point range and added a rebound, an assist and just two fouls in nearly 25 minutes, showing a range that he hasn't shown since scoring 20 against Gonzaga in last year's WCC Tournament title game.

"Trevin loves the gym like no player I've ever seen," BYU coach Mark Pope said. "We weren't even landed yet, and there was a sparkle in his eye; just some confidence.

"If this arena ever gets a home team, they need to draft Trevin Knell. He loves it — and he's so crucial for us. I was most proud of his defensive effort — I thought he was nearly flawless defensively."

In a season where the next game has always been the hardest or the toughest or the most all-consuming under third-year coach Pope, the next one really might be the most important for the 22-9 Cougars — against fourth-seeded San Francisco.

The Dons (23-8) are a veritable NCAA Tournament team, a No. 26 position in the most recent NET rankings, with three Quad 1 victories and an 8-7 record in Quad 1 and Quad 2 opportunities. Whether that continues with a loss Saturday night is up to the selection committee — but for now, USF is unanimously projected to be in the field of 68.

BYU was once considered the same by many, especially after a 12-3 start to the season that included wins over San Diego State, Oregon and Utah, among others. But the Cougars (22-9) stalled down the stretch, dropping to 53 in the NET and finishing the regular season with four Quad 1 victories and a 7-8 record in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, in addition to a Quad 4 loss Jan. 29 at Pacific during a four-game losing skid.

So Saturday's game could have major tournament implications for both teams.

"I really do think in March that every game is its own free-standing life, its own season, really," Pope said. "We're going to move on, do a quick film study, and then go tomorrow and hit hard.

"Tomorrow's a free-standing game against a great team. We're going to go fight, and that's all I'm going to say."

After the game, Barcello did a postgame interview with BYUtv on the court, then turned and gave a hug to athletic director Tom Holmoe, who whispered in the senior's ear after finding him from his courtside seats.

One thing came to mind in their mini dialogue.

"I just want to keep winning," he said. "This is my last go-around; I don't want to go home. I want to advance as far as I can, and bring championships to Provo. I think he's right on board with that, and I think these guys are right on board with that, too.

"It's fun when you win."

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