15. BYU (6-seed)
There’s been a lot new with BYU lately, and this return to the Sweet Sixteen is another new thing. The Cougars entered this season with new head coach Kevin Young and several new pieces on the roster, while still in just their second year in the Big 12. What’s resulted is the program’s first Sweet Sixteen appearance since the Cougars were still in the MWC way back in 2011.
After some questionable moments in nonconference play, including a blowout loss against a rough Providence team, BYU started to build momentum around late January. This team was just 2-4 in the Big 12 but ended the regular season on a tear. Prior to their loss in the Big 12 Tournament, BYU had won nine straight games, leaning heavily on stars like Richie Saunders in big wins down the stretch. In fact, the Cougars knocked off Kansas, Arizona, and Iowa State twice during that streak.
The opponents have been just as lethal in the Big Dance, as BYU first did work against 11-seed VCU in a nice win back on Thursday. Two days later the Cougars played one of their best offensive games of the season, surviving and upsetting 3-seed Wisconsin thanks to a 46% shooting clip from outside the arc.
The analytics are a little down on the defensive end, but BYU has one of the nation’s most potent offensive attacks. It’s not just Saunders; there’s playmaking talent across this rotation and the numbers speak for themselves during this recent push. BYU will lean heavily on that offense in the Sweet Sixteen in hopes of making their first trip to the Elite Eight in more than four decades.