the 2025 championship will feature an automatic qualifier from each of the 31 conferences to go along with the best 37 at-large teams as determined by the committee. **The evaluation of teams will be enhanced by the addition of two metrics as the committee voted to include the Torvik and Wins Against Bubble (WAB) rankings on the team sheets.
WAB makes perfect sense. Closest thing to finding teams that are true dance candidates. BYU was the Torvik darling for about 20 games, but BYU was a posser, inflated numbers by beating up on lousy teams. BYU had one or two great wins (think NCSt) but were exposed in an inflated big 12 that all came crashing down in the big dance.
-Hopefully KY is not the only B12 coach who has learned to put together something more than a super soft cupcake schedule.
Though of course, the two games moved from non-conference to inconference has somewhat limited any coaches ability to go supersoft.
Below are the rankings of the reported BYU non conference opponents:
Central Arkansas — 352
Queens — 272
Idaho — 205
BYU will play 2 of Purdue, Ole Miss, NC State
(Purdue — 16, Ole Miss — 40, NC State — 55)
Providence — 60
Wyoming — 171
Florida A&M — 350
Four cupcakes is sufficient.
Plenty of reasonablely interesting games that are not long travel that wouldn’t inhibit a better OOC schedule are options.
In state teams UVU, Utah State, Weber State, Utah Tech, Southern Utah, or former MWC foes would be better than other options I think, SDSU and/or Gonzaga annual would be a nice set of home and away for a tuneup just before conference play…
My point is that BYU became a top 10 rated team in nonconference because of Tovik and inflated numbers. Leading the nation in 3 point attempts and makes got monster ratings while BYU could not defend inside (Foos injury left BYU naked). BYU could not stop athletic guards. Cinn exposed BYU and gave the rest of the Big 12 the blue print on how to beat us.
Cinn, the game that changed BYU’s season:
BYU was well ahead in the Cinn game at the 17 minute mark. Up until then Cinn tried to match 3 for 3 attempts, BYU all the open looks and we were clocking them. From the start of the second half, Cinn adopted a 180 degree change to a grind it out, drive and score or get fouled.
Cincinnati 71-60 BYU (Jan 6, 2024) Box Score - ESPN
Cinn hit 19-24 free throws to BYU’s 5-10, BYU had zero inside game, Foos 1 pt, Khalifa 0 and BYU’s hot 3 point shooting went ice cold once Cinn decided to cover Knell (9-14 from 3). the rest of the team was 4-32 from 3land. Ball game!
So to say BYU will look entirely different this year over last year…thank goodness
Mostly agree with you.
Though I would point out that the Cincinatti game was early, and BYU still scrapped its way to a solid seed in the B12 Tourney…which was nothing but earned on the court.
A couple of things I admired about Pope’s offensive wizardry, obviously not his in game adjustments, was the fact that he promised, and with some evidence seems to have followed through, that if the players passed up a good shot they would be benched…
I hope KY keeps some rule like that…though a mirror image rule on the defensive side would work wonders I think.
How To Build A Roster In The Modern Portal Era (evanmiya.com)
Given Miyakawa’s analysis this could be an interesting year.
The returning players are good:a firm foundation one might say.
But if I were to just look at the talent I would group it in three blocks.
Obvious NBA talent
three freshman
possible NBA talent three returning and a freshman
Solid contributors
two transfers and two returners
Not certain how the minutes will break down very well between the foundation of the team returning and the newcomers. The shiny new talent and transfers seem like their minutes will be a bit heavy to match the patterns Miyakawa seems to indicate.
It looks to me like only about 40% of the minutes going to returning players leaving 60% for transfers and freshman…
Though if as I suspect Kozlowski and Crawford stick around for a second year…the future is bright…assuming their development while not getting the minutes their talent could get them on teams outside the B12.
Giddy Up
KY will use our foundation of Hall, Saunders, Keba and Foos. Baker should be included in that group if his ankle is 100%. Knell is no longer a starter but will get good minutes if we have a lead and need fire power
Transfers, Egor Demin and Mag will be used as much as anyone because of their extensive experience. That is 8 guys and our rotation at the moment.
Catchings is a true one and done, monster upside. His minutes will go up with experience at the expense of Mag and Knell.
Crawford might get a few minutes but to be honest Demin is a 6’ 9 point guard.
Both Demin and Catchings are only here for one year and if you want top talent to come to BYU, you have to play these two guys and win with these two.
Did I mention anyone else???
Nope
Do you really think Saunders will get much playing time with only an 8 man rotation? I think KY will go much deeper. And, if Demin is going to play the point guard, Hall comes in off the bench or plays the 2 guard? Keba may start but he tends to foul a lot as well. If Baker’s foot is 100%, he’s our 2 guard and probably will start. Then, there is Kozlowski. He didn’t come to sit either. As far as another big man if needed, it will have to be Tripple.
Questions are with Stewart and how the new offense will work for him. He may be off the bench a 2 guard as well. We know he can take it to the rim and get foul calls on the defense. Ya, I don’t know where Knell fits in.