A dedicated game thread for our match against Bama at 5:00 because why the hell not

[Idon'tgnawonmywife]

Tomorrow at 5, but yeah, how you guys feeling about our chances vs Bama?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Yes! Keep these threads coming.

I like our chances. And I feel like we are playing with house money at this point.

[Bo Diddley]

I like it chances as well!

Plus, why should the University of Alabama change it's team name to the opossums? Because they play dead at home and get killed on the road.

[falafel]

Yes! Keep these threads coming.

I like our chances. And I feel like we are playing with house money at this point.

House tater tots (pushes all tater tots to center of the table). I'm all in!

[SteelBlue]

The realist in me says the ride probably ends here, but I believe this team can play with and beat almost anybody and that includes Bama. I'm with Jeff, we've got nothing to lose and that may make the shots fall a little easier. The thing I'm most excited about is that if they pull this off it's automatically one of the best moments in BYU sports history. It'll be nice to have actually seen and remember it (I was 11 when Ainge did his thing and never saw that team play on tv in Oregon).

[Pelado]

Here's a pretty in-depth preview of the game from an Alabama site: https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2025/3/...e-2022-alabama

[Donuthole]

Here's a pretty in-depth preview of the game from an Alabama site: https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2025/3/...e-2022-alabama

Defensively, the Cougars are pretty rotten. It’s bog-standard man-up defense, that doesn’t pressure the ball, leaning more the lag towards the post a la Alabama. That makes them a highly efficient defensive rebounding team. BYU lacks a true rim defender on the inside though. The tallest the starting roster goes is 6’9”. Alabama’s frontcourt should have a field day. And, somehow, the Cougars are even worse in the backcourt, where they are surrendering 35% from beyond the arc. If Alabama’s guards ever wanted to find open looks, if Mark ever needed to regain his mojo, those opportunities will be abundant here.

While it's true BYU is undersized, saying they don't have a rim defender is a bit of a stretch. Keba has averaged 2 bpg over the last 11 games, a rate which, if maintained for a season, would put him top 25 in the nation. I fear the 3pt D will be a much bigger issue tomorrow.

[beefytee]

Here's a pretty in-depth preview of the game from an Alabama site: https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2025/3/...e-2022-alabama

I wish we would have beat TTU this year. Best win is probably @Arizona, maybe @Iowa St.

[Pelado]

I wish we would have beat TTU this year. Best win is probably @Arizona, maybe @Iowa St.

Yeah, not sure how they got that one wrong.

[Omaha 680]

While it's true BYU is undersized, saying they don't have a rim defender is a bit of a stretch. Keba has averaged 2 bpg over the last 11 games, a rate which, if maintained for a season, would put him top 25 in the nation. I fear the 3pt D will be a much bigger issue tomorrow.

I share this general feeling of concern about our 3pt D, but I don't think the stats back it up. Alabama is not a scorching 3 pt shooting team. They are slightly above average. BYU getting defensive rebounds to limit Alabama's second chance points will be the key to the game in my mind. BYU is 52nd in defensive rebounding and Alabama is 45th in offensive rebounding. This is the strength on strength battle between the two teams that imo will determine the winner.

[byufan4ever]

It's fun being in the Sweet 16 and being included in these graphics and posts.

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[Bo Diddley]

Chip Patterson at CBS Sports picks BYU.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...days-sweet-16/

7:09 p.m. on CBS | March Madness Live: BYU has been ahead of the number consistently coming down the stretch of the season. We know the Cougars are 11-1 since Feb. 10 with the only loss coming to Houston in the Big 12 Tournament, but the performances have been exceeding the oddsmakers expectations, too (the team is 10-2 against the spread in that same span). A small sample size view has Alabama and BYU as the No. 8 and No. 9 most efficient teams in the country in the month of March, per BartTorvik, and I read this as a game that should be decided in the final possessions. The X-factor here, not just on a BYU cover but a straight-up win, is the performance of 6-foot-9 freshman Egor Demin. He's been playing great ball in this tournament, and after an up-and-down season the NBA Draft buzz is back. When Demin is playing at a high level, he makes BYU a matchup nightmare. Given his performance in the opening rounds, I think he can carry it to Newark. Pick: BYU +5.5

[falafel]

Chip Patterson at CBS Sports picks BYU.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...days-sweet-16/

wow, 5.5+ is a huge number

[PaloAltoCougar]

wow, 5.5+ is a huge number

Those are the current Vegas odds (in Bama's favor). He's saying take the points.

[Bo Diddley]

Those are the current Vegas odds (in Bama's favor). He's saying take the points.

Ha! I totally thought he meant BYU wins the game.