BYU's March Madness Hopes Hang by a Thread

0:00On March 4, BYU suffered a tough 80-68 loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday night. The Cougars trailed by double digits for most of the game and gave up 90 points on defense. It marked their first action in March, a critical time when teams aimed to peak for the postseason. Just 10 days earlier, BYU had notched a big win over Iowa State that boosted their conference resume. But things unraveled quickly with blowout defeats to UCF and West Virginia, dropping them to 8-8 in Big 12 play. Fans and analysts see this skid as a major concern heading into tournament time. Defensive lapses let opponents shoot hot from three and 15 turnovers fueled Cincinnati's fast breaks. Injuries have left the team leaning heavily on freshman star AJ DeBonza. DeBonza, the nation's top score, has delivered huge nights, but expecting that every game from a true freshman is a tall order. Still, BYU's 16-1 star guarantees an NCAA tournament spot, no matter what. With a week and a half left, grabbing even one more win could build momentum.

1:04As long as DeBonza leads the charge, the Cougars stayed dangerous in March.