BYU Basketball Drops One Seed in Latest Lunardi Projection

The Cougars are fighting for position in the NCAA tournament

The NCAA tournament is just over a month away and BYU is competing for a single-digit seed in the tournament. On Friday, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi updated his projection for BYU - the Cougars dropped one seed from a five-seed to a six-seed. The Cougars had been projected as a five-seed for a few weeks. A top five seed is important for BYU - if the Cougars land a top five seed, there is a chance they could play in Salt Lake City for the first two rounds of the tournament. That would greatly increase BYU's chances of making a run to the Sweet 16.

BYU is one of nine Big 12 teams projected to be in the field according to Lunardi. BYU is joined by Houston (1-seed), Iowa State (2-seed), Kansas (3-seed), Baylor (3-seed), Texas Tech (5-seed), Oklahoma (7-seed), Texas (8-seed), and TCU (10-seed). Cincinnati is one of the first four teams out.

BYU is 6-5 in conference play and coming off consecutive wins over Kansas State and UCF. From this point on, every game matters. BYU's game on Saturday against Oklahoma State is critical. If BYU beats the Cowboys, it would be the first three-game winning streak in conference play. It would also set up a top-20 matchup next week against Baylor. 

Game Information - BYU at Oklahoma State

BYU (18-6) at Oklahoma State (10-14)
Saturday, February 17
Tipoff: 12:00 p.m. MT
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Gallagher-Iba Arena

BYU in the Polls

On Monday, the new AP poll for college basketball was released and BYU improved two spots from no. 21 to no. 19 after last week's split against Oklahoma and Kansas State. BYU won the first of its two games this week against UCF. The Cougars overcame a wild rally by the Knights in the last 90 seconds to hold on for a win. This is the twelfth consecutive week that BYU basketball has been ranked in the top 25.

BYU is one of six Big 12 teams in the AP top 25. They are joined by Houston (3), Kansas (6), Iowa State (10), Baylor (12), and Oklahoma (25). Now that Iowa State is in the top 10, BYU has a win over a top 10 team. BYU beat Iowa State convincingly last month.

It's worth noting that Oklahoma is back in the top 25 after beating BYU. The Sooners, who had been ranked for consecutive weeks prior to last week, dropped out of the top 25 after losing to UCF.

It's also worth noting that San Diego State has dropped out of the top 25. BYU beat the Aztecs earlier this year. San Diego State was BYU's second win over a top 25 team before they dropped out of the top 25.

Below is the full AP top 25.

1. UConn
2. Purdue
3. Houston
4. Marquette
5. Arizona
6. Kansas
7. North Carolina
8. Tennessee
9. Duke
10. Iowa State
11. South Carolina
12. Baylor
13. Auburn
14. Illinois
15. Alabama
16. Dayton
17. Creighton
18. Saint Mary's
19. BYU
20. Wisconsin
21. Virginia
22. Kentucky
23. Indiana State
24. FAU
25. Oklahoma

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