March Madness is just around the corner, and Utah’s basketball teams are on the verge of explosive moments that could change everything. With Selection Sunday on March 16, the stakes are sky-high, and a few teams from Utah have fire in their eyes, ready to break through and secure a ticket to the dance.
Last year, BYU and Utah State made their mark on the tournament. While BYU’s run was cut short by Duquesne, Utah State stunned the world with a first-round upset over TCU before falling to the mighty Purdue. Both programs suffered coaching changes, but despite the shake-ups, they remain in the sweet spot for another March Madness appearance.
Here’s what each contender needs to do to ensure they’re not just on the bubble, but dominating the field!
Utah State: A Contender Like No Other
Utah State is defying all odds this season, churning out elite performances under yet another new head coach. This is their third straight season with a coaching change, yet somehow, the Aggies keep winning like they’ve got a magic touch.
Their current coach, Jerrod Calhoun, led them to a scorching 19-2 start. Despite a hiccup against New Mexico, if the season ended today, Utah State would snag the automatic qualifier out of the Mountain West as a likely 9-seed. But they aren’t out of the woods yet—competition in the Mountain West is fierce, and they must continue to rattle off wins to secure their spot.
The good news? The rest of their schedule is relatively smooth sailing, with just two Quad 1 games remaining—road clashes with New Mexico and Boise. If they can take care of business and grab a couple more key wins, the Aggies should be dancing in March with ease.
BYU: From Struggles to Surge—Could the Cougars Shock Everyone?
After a rocky start to the season, BYU was in serious danger of missing the tournament. But BOOM, the Cougars exploded into a new level of play! Now riding a four-game win streak, including two crucial Quad 1 victories against Baylor and UCF, BYU has made a massive leap toward March Madness.
Thanks to players like Richie Saunders, who’s been playing like a future All-Big 12 star, and projected lottery pick Egor Demin stepping up his game, BYU is now in the driver’s seat. With seven more Quad 1 games on the horizon—including battles with Arizona and Kansas—the Cougars have a ton of chances to make their case to the selection committee.
BYU’s upcoming schedule is tough, but if they can steal a few more signature wins, their tournament dreams will be in full force.
Utah: Tournament Hopes Slipping Away?
It’s been a tough road for the Utes. Predicted to be the worst team in the Big 12, they’ve managed to surpass that expectation—but just barely. After a promising win over BYU, Utah has dropped three straight games, barely scraping by against a struggling Cincinnati team and getting hit hard by Oklahoma State—another blow to their already shaky resume.
With a 0-7 record in Quad 1 games, the Utes are currently on the outside looking in. At this point, a path to the NCAA Tournament feels like a long shot. With six remaining Quad 1 games on the schedule, things could get worse before they get better for Craig Smith and his squad.
It’s crunch time for Utah’s teams, and the heat is ON! Each squad has its work cut out for them, but they’re far from out of the race. Will Utah State and BYU keep their momentum and secure their spots? Or will Utah shock the world with a late-season surge? Only time will tell—but March is right around the corner, and these teams are fighting tooth and nail for a shot at greatness. Stay tuned, because Utah basketball is about to get electric!
