Take a look at this picture of Austin Ainge. When I saw it all I could think is why is Ainge doing that away from home to a bunch of fans that are booing you?

I’m not sure I’ve ever really liked Ainge. I can’t really say why. Probably a whole combination of factors.

However, I do have to say…

Austin, I’m glad to have you at BYU and on the basketball team. With Broadus gone, you’ve stepped up bigger than I ever thought you would. I hope it continues and I hope you can bring back the magic to the Marriott against Utah.

As BYU was getting blown out today by San Diego State, I couldn’t help but wonder if this wasn’t a preview of coming attractions.

BYU is pretty much a lock for the NCAA tournament in March. It would severely hurt their ranking to lose the next three games, but I think that they would still be going dancing with a much higher seed. If BYU goes on a tear and wins the final 2 regular season games and the Mountain West Conference tournament then BYU should get a decent seeding for the first time in forever.

Regardless of where BYU is seeded, I wonder if BYU will really do anything in the tournament. Today, I could imagine BYU playing in its first tournament game. Their opponent gets out to a big lead (like today). BYU folds under pressure. Another one and out in the tournament.

Yes, I know that San Diego State is a decent team and was pre-season number 1. I also know that BYU Tavernari lit up the second half with three pointers. However, don’t tell me that BYU had a chance. They weren’t even close.

Of course this isn’t what I hope happens to BYU. This isn’t what I tell my co-workers at UNLV. I hope BYU wins the MWC, wins the MWC tourney and then finally has success in the NCAA tournament. However, I just couldn’t help but wonder if this BYU team is a champion or not.

If we knew the answers to these questions we wouldn’t watch the games. I can’t wait until we sweep Utah and I get to enjoy seeing BYU play in the MWC tournament in Las Vegas.

For some reason, having a week of no basketball is much worse than the week that occurs between every game in football. I think the real problem is that the media mostly goes silent during the week break in BYU’s basketball.

A recent article in the SL Tribune pretty much summed up the expectations for this season:

Anything less than a Mountain West championship - and probably at least one NCAA Tournament win - will be considered a disappointment for this team, which has won seven consecutive games. At 10-2 (20-6 overall), BYU has a one-game conference lead over Air Force with four games remaining.

With four more games to go, I think that if we win 3 of the 4 then we’ll be dancing. 2 of 4 means we need at least one more win in the MWC tournament.

If we hope to get a win in the NCAA tournament we better hope we go at least 3 and 4 to end the season and either win or make it to the finals of the MWC tournament. Personally, I think the best that BYU can hope for is to go 3 and 4 in the final regular season game and right now I think the tournament is basically a crap shoot. Think of the following:

UNLV at home
Air Force is a ranked Air Force
San Diego State has gotten hot
Colorado State has 2 7 footers

It should be an exciting end to the college basketball season.

I apologize to all my loyal readers out there. Life has gotten busy and my wife has given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Time is short and sleep is even shorter.

Lots of exciting things have been happening with BYU sports. The BYU win over Utah in Salt Lake has to be a highlight. Of course that came on the tail of beating #13 Air Force. A great win for BYU. A couple more quality wins and we can probably make it to the tourney with an at large bid. I think that tonight’s a must win game for that scenario. UNLV is ranked #25 in the nation and #1 in the mountain west conference. This would do a lot for BYU’s morale and standing to beat BYU. It is at the friendly confines of the Marriott Center. BYU looked great against UNLV in the first half here in Las Vegas. Let’s hope they can do it for an entire game tonight.

The talk I’ve heard in Las Vegas is that UNLV is going to crack now that they are ranked in the top 25. They waited this long to get ranked and they’re just going to lose that ranking. That would be fine with me.

My opinion is that if Young and Plaisted can stay out of foul trouble, then BYU will win. Otherwise, I’m tossing this one to UNLV and leaving BYU’s March Madness fate in the hands of the MWC tournament.

3 other interesting BYU happenings.

#1 BYU volleyball crushed #2 UC Irvine - This team is looking really good.

Bronco Talks about Brian Urlacher - I love hearing a coach talk about his past players.

Rob Morris and John Tait Meet in Super Bowl - They use to be roomates at BYU and so this is a great little story to follow.

BYU Women’s Basketball Tied for #1 in MWC - Did I already say I love Coach Judkins? I think I did.