Cougars Quietly Climbing the Polls

BYU had their Sports Center moment of glory when Jimmer Fredette blew up against Arizona for 49 points. That night, the Cougars picked Arizona apart on their way to a blow out victory, 99 to 69 in Tuscon. Believe it or not, the Cougars haven't stopped winning just because they've faded into Mountain West obscurity. In fact, BYU is currently 1 win away from their longest win streak in school history, 15. They have a total of 19 wins, the most of any ranked team and they're beating opponents by almost 24 points a game on average. If they were from a power six conference, or Memphis, they would be ranked in the top 10 right now. Instead, they're BYU, from the Mountain West.

Quietly, they sit at 14 in the AP top 25 and 13 in the coaches. Don't let that fool you. BYU is a top ten squad. They're currently 4th in Ken Pomeroy's ratings, which adjusts for strength of schedule. Their field goal percentage is a staggering 57 percent, while holding opponents to 44. And, yeah, Jimmer Fredette is one of the most explosive guards in the country. Sadly, there won't be many chances to see BYU play before the tournament. But, don't be surprised if they end up with a 4 seed, or higher. And don't be surprised if they stick around for a while once they get there. They may be a quiet 14, but that doesn't mean they aren't one of the best teams playing right now.