Sun Mar 23 00:40:00 UTC 2025: **BYU Cougars Punch Ticket to NCAA Tournament Second Round, Eyeing Deep Run**
PROVO, UT – For the first time since 2011, the BYU Cougars basketball team has advanced past the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. Their victory Thursday propelled them into a matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second round, a game with significant implications for the program.
The Cougars’ path to a potential Sweet 16 appearance is now clear: a win over Wisconsin would send them to face the winner of the Alabama-Saint Mary’s game. Analytical models offer a mixed outlook on BYU’s prospects. BPI gives BYU a 46.7% chance of beating Wisconsin, while KenPom is slightly less optimistic at 41%.
Should BYU upset Wisconsin, their Sweet 16 opponent presents a different challenge. KenPom projects a 6-7 point Alabama victory, but if Saint Mary’s pulls off an upset, the matchup would be considered a toss-up. The overall chances of a deep run are slim, with BPI giving BYU a 19.5% chance of reaching the Elite Eight and a mere 4.9% chance of making the Final Four. Despite the long odds, a second-round victory alone would mark one of the most successful postseason runs in BYU basketball history.
First Piper 