Location: Provo, UT
Conference: West Coast Conference
Mascot: Cougars
Coach: Dave Rose
Record: 25-9 (13-5 WCC)
Kenpom ranking: 30
Good wins (Kenpom ranking): @ Gonzaga (6) Stanford (48) St. Mary's (66)
Bad losses (Kenpom ranking): Pepperdine x2 (106) San Diego (98)
Tournament appearances: 29 (current streak: 2)
Best result: Elite Eight (three times, most recently 1981)
NBA alumni: Jimmer Fredette, Danny Ainge, Shawn Bradley
Best name: Anson Winder
Famous alumni: Mitt Romney, Aaron Eckhart, the guy who played Napoleon Dynamite
As a Mormon institution, BYU doesn't serve caffeinated beverages like soda, coffee, or tea, but BYU's hyperspeed offense jitters forth like it just shotgunned two Red Bulls. And it works! BYU spent all season searching for a quality win, and in their last game of the regular season, they got one, knocking off permanent WCC league champions Gonzaga on the road.
Style of play: Electric Cougaloo
The Cougars play at warp speed -- 14.6 seconds per possession, second-fastest in the nation -- and score really efficiently -- 116.8 points per 100 possessions, 9th best in the country -- leading to POINTZZZZ. Haws, a 6'5 forward can score in pretty much every way imaginable, leading the way with 21.8 points per game.
Key player: Collinsworth it / he can work it
Junior Kyle Collinsworth tied the NCAA career triple-double record this season, joining Shaq with six. The wild thing: Collinsworth had all six this year, smashing the single-season record. And he did it less than 12 months after tearing his ACL. He's the team's primary ballhandler (assists), big and strong at 6'6 (rebounds) and has scoring touch (points) and plays for an up-tempo team, creating a perfect storm for triple-doubles.
The hook of Mormon
The Cougars won college hoops promotions. They won! They won by miles! They filmed different athlete lip-syncing videos for every game. From passionate love songs to hip-hop -- THEY RENTED A LAMBORGHINI! -- to sensual takes on pop hits. The production values were incredible, the comedy was through the roof -- and yet the lip sync videos only lasted for the 2013-14 season. BRING THEM BACK.
