BYU Paired Up With Old Rivals In NCAA Bracketology Projections
Feb 28, 2025, 3:23 PM
BYU Basketball is trending up in Bracketology forecasts behind the play of junior Richie Saunders. (Nate Edwards/BYU Photo)
(Nate Edwards/BYU Photo)
PROVO, Utah – Bracketology is heating up as the calendar turns to March.
BYU basketball is also heating up. The Cougars are on a five-game winning streak entering as they prepare for the final three games of the regular season.
BYU’s winning streak has Kevin Young’s squad in a territory where they could wear a home white uniform in the NCAA Tournament.
With three games left in the regular season, BYU is 20-8 overall.
The metrics on their team sheet look good. They are ranked No. 28 in the NET ratings, 27 in KenPom, and are 29th nationally in WAB (Wins Above Bubble).
The Cougars also have a 9-8 record against opponents from Quad 1 and Quad 2.
BYU is a tricky team to place into the NCAA Tournament as the Cougars do not compete on Sundays. So, because of that rule, half of the bracket is unavailable to BYU.
The cities hosting Thursday/Saturday first and second-round NCAA Tournament action include Lexington, Kentucky; Providence, Rhode Island; Wichita, Kansas; and Denver, Colorado.
ESPN/Joe Lunardi Bracketology: 8-seed vs. Utah State
BYU versus Utah State in the NCAA Tournament would be a fascinating matchup. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi slots BYU against the Aggies for the second time this week in his bracket.
Rocco Miller (Bracketeer): 8-seed vs. New Mexico
BYU and New Mexico were heated rivals when the programs were in the WAC and Mountain West Conference together. The Lobos are 14-3 and are the current leader in the Mountain West Conference.
CBS Sports: 8-seed vs. Utah State
CBS’ Jerry Palm has the same setup as Lunardi, with BYU taking on Utah State in a quadrant in Wichita, Kansas, and Houston as the No. 1 seed.
Heat Check CBB: 8-seed vs. Vanderbilt
A bracket forecast that doesn’t have BYU paired up against an old rival. Vanderbilt is one of 13 teams from the SEC in Heat Check CBB’s Bracketology.
FOX Sports: 8-seed vs. New Mexico
BYU was 2-0 against Mountain West Conference teams this season during the nonconference portion of the schedule.
The latest updates from @tsnmike's bracket forecast 🔥
Let us know your thoughts ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/DLQ3ApCaYO
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 28, 2025
Blogging the Bracket: 8-seed vs. New Mexico
Let’s imagine a wild run to a Final Four in this bracket. It could include games against an old rival in New Mexico, current Big 12 foe Houston, former WCC rival Saint Mary’s in the Sweet 16, and then a meeting with former BYU head coach Mark Pope and his Kentucky Wildcats in the Elite Eight.
JBR Bracketology: 8-seed vs. Gonzaga
BYU’s old rival in the WCC is having an uncharacteristic season. The Zags have dropped four games in the WCC this season.
TeamRankings: 8-seed
BYU is up to a 93% chance of receiving an NCAA bid based on TeamRankings’ forecasts. That increased by 18% after the wins over Kansas and Arizona a week ago.
Where BYU basketball opponents stand in Bracketology
Eight of BYU’s opponents on the 2024-25 schedule land in the composite bracketology compiled by the Bracket Matrix.
Here’s where those teams stand in the Bracket Matrix aggregate.
- Houston: 1-seed
- Iowa State: 3-seed
- Texas Tech: 4-seed
- Arizona: 4-seed
- Kansas: 6-seed
- Ole Miss: 7-seed
- Baylor: 10-seed
- West Virginia: 10-seed
- Cincinnati: Next Four Out
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
