BYU's NCAA Tourney Journey: Texas Tech to Gonzaga

0:00On March 16, BYU earned a six-seat in the NCAA tournament and heads to Portland for the first round. The Cougars will face the winner of the first four match-up between Texas and North Carolina State, except for Dayton before moving to Portland on Thursday. That first four-game pits two teams that already met this season, with Texas edging out North Carolina State in a 102-97 thriller. Tournament officials usually avoid early rematches, but they made an exception to include both squads. BYU fans are buzzing about the Cougars' improved defense since their Texas tech clash, which could give them an edge against either opponent, both. Middling on that in nationally, a high-scoring affair seems likely, but BYU's recent form points to a strong shot at advancing. Looking ahead, a second-round clash against Gonzaga Looms if BYU moves on, as the Zags face Kennesaw stay first and play at home with plenty of support. Gonzaga's key forward Bradenhoff remains doubtful, with a knee issue, potentially tilting

1:02the match-up toward BYU's strengths. Deeper into the bracket, a sweet 16-spot could pit BYU against Purdue or others like Miami or Missouri. Purdue's top-ranked offense would test the Cougars, but BYU's path keeps their repeat run alive for now.