ESPN Classifies BYU Basketball as 'Lock' for the NCAA Tournament

On Monday, ESPN released an updated version of the 2024 Bubble Watch. BYU was classified as a "lock" for the NCAA tournament alongside four other Big 12

On Monday, ESPN released an updated version of the 2024 Bubble Watch. BYU was classified as a "lock" for the NCAA tournament alongside four other Big 12 schools: Houston, Kansas, Iowa State, and Baylor. Only 18 teams in the country are currently considered "locks" by ESPN and BYU is one of them.

Four other Big 12 schools were in the "should be in" category: Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and TCU. Two other schools, Cincinnati and Kansas State were the two Big 12 teams in the "have work to do" category.

BYU is categorized as a lock for two primary reasons. First, the Cougars are a top 10 team in the NET rankings. The NET rankings are the primary tool used by the selection committee. 

Second, BYU has three Quad 1 wins, two Quad 2 wins, and they don't have any bad losses. BYU is undefeated (12-0) in Q3 and Q4 games.

Credit: BYU Photo

In most brackets, BYU is projected to be a five seed. Even though BYU is a "lock" to be in the field of 68, they still have work to do. If BYU can finish 10-8 in conference play, they have a chance to be a no. 4 seed or no. 5 seed in the tournament. If they are a no. 5 seed or better, BYU could have the opportunity to play in Salt Lake City in the first two rounds of the tournament. That would essentially give BYU a home-court advantage in the tournament and significantly increase their odds of winning a game, or games, in the tournament.

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 plays two games this week against UCF and Oklahoma State. 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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