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BYU MEN: Cougars anxious for first shot at NCAA since 2004 |
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JaredLloyd | Monday, March 12, 2007, 10:42 pm
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Jason Franchuk
DAILY HERALD
BYU took an early cue Sunday during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament selection broadcast that it might be in store for a little disappointment.
And that’s what happened.
The Cougars were given a No. 8 seed — maybe as many as three slots below what they had hoped for — and will face No. 9 Xavier in the first round to be played Thursday in Kentucky.
Dave Rose’s 25-8 players were aware of the Musketeers’ Atlantic 10 Conference upbringing, but most of them didn’t know a whole lot else. Such as, the school with a 24-8 record is in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Location is part of the intrigue that sets up to a potentially quite difficult draw in the South region. The game will be played Thursday at historic Rupp Arena, home of the University of Kentucky. The town of Lexington, Ky., is about 80 miles from Xavier’s campus.
Perhaps a little advantage?
And the winner of that game will most likely get a shot at No. 1 seed Ohio State, led by very-soon NBA center, freshman Greg Oden. That could be quite the tantalizing tangle for BYU sophomore pivotman Trent Plaisted.
Rose called the draw “a good situation.”
Players put on a brave face, too, obviously excited to be part of BYU’s first tournament appearance since 2004. The team watched the show on CBS at a Lindon banquet hall.
“It was about what I was expecting,” said BYU senior Mike Rose. “But I was hoping for a six (seed).”
The Cougars received one of the 34 at-large bids given to teams that did not win a conference tournament title from the 31 Division I leagues.
UNLV took that automatic berth by defeating the Cougars, 78-70, on Saturday. Rebels coach Lon Kruger expressed hope during his post-game press conference that the winner of that game would be awarded a five seed, and maybe even a four to the Cougars for winning that game on a true road court.
But UNLV’s name popped up first, as a seventh-seeded team that will go to Chicago and play No. 10 Georgia Tech in the first round.
The Rebels’ status had one BYU representative roaming around the large room wondering, “Geez, what’s that going to do to us?”
BYU appeared ready for some give and take, perhaps getting a better seed but playing further from home (like, say, Buffalo).
Not much thought was given into playing at the one western
site it could’ve participated in. Because the Cougars don’t play on Sundays, their options were limited to four locales — Winston-Salem, NC; Lexington; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Sacramento, Calif.
At least UNLV and BYU can say they’ve got a shot. Mountain West Conference brother Air Force, which was nationally ranked for most of the season but was 6-7 in its final 13 games, failed to be included. The Falcons faced a similar uncertainty a year ago, but couldn’t duplicate their fortune. San Diego State is also in the 32-team NIT.
The only topic BYU knew for sure about today’s itinerary was that it will practice this afternoon at the Marriott Center. The Cougars, like the other 64 teams in the field, will be assigned a travel agent by the NCAA, to help the team decide when it would like to leave, and how to make it happen.
Actual game time will make a difference, of course, along with Rose’s decision about how much time he’d like to have on-site, considering the travel distance.
Basic stats make it look like a good opening matchup. Xavier also relies on balanced scoring. Four Muskateers average double figures in scoring, led by senior forward Justin Doellman (13.4 ppg).
BYU has won 12 of its past 14 games, while Xavier is 11-for-13, including a Friday A-10 semifinal loss to Rhode Island. The teams had no common opponents.
Both teams probably feel like they could’ve helped their status by winning more. Xavier lost to URI, a team it had beaten 12 consecutive times. The 23-ranked Cougars are wondering what could’ve happened had they defeated No. 25 UNLV, and even Rose wasn’t totally sure the eight-point defeat didn’t knock his team down a peg or two.
BYU had a one-game edge on UNLV in the regular-season standings. Xavier tied for the A-10 title with UMass.
Rose spent the rest of Sunday night accruing film to be broken down, so a scouting report could be developed in time for practice. Players weren’t expected to have homework, but it’s likely more than a few scampered to a computer to check out any information that could be found about Xavier on the Internet.
“An 8 vs. 9 game historically is a battle between two great teams,” said Xavier coach Sean Miller, whose team lost in the first round last year to Gonzaga in Salt Lake City. “I’ve watched BYU play and they are going to be a very difficult team to beat. I hope we can advance, and that needs to be our focus.
"When you win that many games and you have the stats they have to back up their season, they are a team I’m sure that feels a lot like we do, which is (that) on any given night on a neutral court we can beat anybody.
“When I say BYU is a terrific team they really are. I watched them play against Michigan State (a BYU loss Dec. 9 in Detroit) and they may be the best shooting team in the county. Statistics will back that up.”
Ticket requests will be taken from Cougar Club members until 10 a.m. MST on Monday. Tickets will be distributed based on membership level and time of purchase. Legacy Cougar Club members may purchase six tickets. All other current Cougar Club members can purchase up to four tickets. Those who wish to join the Cougar Club in order to purchase tickets can do so at a $500 minimum level by going to www.byutickets.com or www.cougarclub.com. New Cougar Club members will be able to purchase up to two tickets.
First-round tickets can only be used for the BYU vs. Xavier and the Ohio State vs. Central Connecticut State games. Should BYU advance to the second round, first-round ticket-holders will automatically receive and be charged for second-round tickets. If the Cougars lose, BYU fans will be unable to purchase second-round tickets. Tickets must be picked up on-site in Lexington, Ky.
Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the Marriott Center Ticket Office, calling 801-422-BYU1 or 800-322-BYU1 or going to www.byutickets.com. Ticket prices are $51 plus fees.
Student tickets will be distributed through a lottery system on Monday. Students must visit the Marriott Center Ticket Office before noon to fill out the necessary form. They will then be notified by 1 p.m. if they have been selected and must pay at the Marriott Center Ticket Office by 5 p.m. Each student selected will have the opportunity to purchase two tickets. If selected, students must pick up their tickets in Lexington, Ky., at Rupp Arena with a valid BYU ID. Ticket prices are $51 plus fees. |
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