Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
It was, to be precise, 16 years and one day ago today that BYU last won a game in the NCAA Tournament--and it came against a team from Texas (SMU).
Today, it's another Lone Star State foe standing in the way of the Cougars and the second round. The Aggies of Texas A&M are accustomed to some measure of postseason success, having won three straight first round games, last advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2007. Since the NCAA began seeding teams in 1979, the Ags have won won four of five first round contests, including last year's 67-62 win over BYU. In the A&M postseason media guide, it says the Aggies beat Pennsylvania last March in Anaheim--an understandable typo, since Mark Turgeon's team beat Penn the year before in the first round.
*******
I noted that in his game preview, Salt Lake Tribune beat writer Jay Drew quotes CBS/ESPN analyst Jay Bilas thusly:
--
"BYU can do something special, and BYU is capable of doing something special...a couple wins here, or even a win [over A&M] and a strong challenge [to UConn], they've got an opportunity to enhance their stock around the nation quite a bit...I watch BYU play quite a bit...very skilled team, good passing team. Tough minded. They do a really good job offensively. They could do some damage here."
--
So, of course, on SportsCenter this morning, Bilas picks Texas A&M to beat the Cougars.
*******
The Aggies have given up big leads in each of their last two games. Against #12 Missouri, TAMU saw a 26-point lead slip ti seven before ending up with a 10-point win to end the regular season. Then, in the Big 12 Tournament, the Ags lost a 21-point lead and lost 88-83 to Texas Tech, as the Red Raiders' Mike Singletary scored 29 straight at one point in the second half.
*******
I'd be surprised if we see a repeat of last year's 67-62 slugfest. BYU averages near 80 points a game, while Texas A&M has scored 80 or more in three of its last four. BYU had better score well--the Ags hare 11-0 when it holds teams to 64 points or fewer. On the flipside, last week's 64-62 loss to SDSU represents the first time BYU has lost a game this season when holding an opponent to 70 points or fewer (23-1).
*******
My broadcast partner Mark Durrant got into town late last night--I'll be meeting him in the hotel lobby in a few minutes for the shuttle ride over to the Wachovia Center. Our pregame coverage starts at 9:30am MST, with the tip at 10:30am. Again, a reminder: ksl.com will NOT be streaming our BYU game coverage during the NCAA Tournament, due to broadcast restrictions imposed by the NCAA and CBS/Westwood One.
*******
Click here to access ncaasports.com's Men's Basketball page.
*******
