One line of questioning that really drives coaches nuts -- you can tell it in their voices and answers -- is when reporters wonder aloud whether teams keep track of conference tournament seeding.
Really, what's a team going to do? Tank a game so it can get/avoid a certain team?
It just doesn't happen. Or, it shouldn't. And it's not like coaches are going to make us privy to that.
So it's happened on the Mountain West Conference teleconference the last few weeks. Poor coach of Team X will get asked if he's aware he's 0-2/2-0 against Team Y, and what it would take to set up that matchup in the MWC bracket this week.
Or something like that.
Anyway, BYU's in an interesting spot being the No. 2 seed this week.
The chips fell where they did.
This can be a very good thing. The Cougars don't have to play the earliest quarterfinal Thursday at Thomas & Mack Center, and it doesn't have to spend these days preparing for two teams.
The No. 1 seed (in this case, New Mexico) plays the winner of the "pigtail" 8-9 game, which this year is between Wyoming and Air Force.
The Lobos get the chore of having to be ready for two entirely different game plans, then having short notice. There is a down side, unfortunately, to be the top seed.
So second place isn't the worst thing.
Where it's tough for BYU is that UNLV wound up as the No. 3 seed.
That means the Cougars and Rebels are likely to square off in what would be a raucous atmosphere in Friday's semifinal slated for 8:30 p.m. Vegas time.
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Prepare for another "Super Bowl" in other words.
It was the first Saturday in February, when the Cougars were waxed in Vegas against UNLV. You remember: UNLV jumps out to a 29-point lead.
BYU's bench was catatonic as UNLV knocked down 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
So, BYU gets that re-visit in the semis?
Tough draw.
The Cougars aren't scared of UNLV, but it sure would be better to play the Rebs in the finals -- the third straight day of play, when BYU's bench could be a much more decisive factor.
As it stands, the game will take place late and on the home floor where BYU head coach Dave Rose has never won.
That he's 0-for-7 against UNLV at T&M says something, because he's had plenty of success everywhere else in the Mountain West.
Yes, it is UNLV's "Super Bowl."
BYU is well aware it's that case for a few teams.
Remember, BYU lost its first game at Utah State. The Aggies lost their next game, at home, to Saint Mary's.
UNLV whooped the Cougars (to extend the season winning streak to five games) then lost three in a row.
Only New Mexico survived (twice, in fact) after ousting BYU. Maybe that's where Steve Alford deserves the most credit. Fourteen straight wins and his team kept a level head.
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So BYU has to be prepared for another knockout, drag-down fight.
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I'm not much of a copy-paste guy on these postseason awards things, but an old buddy of mine oversees the college division at Sporting News. So I thought I'd do a solid and pass this along.
Courtesy of BYU's Kyle Chilton, as well:
Sporting News has named BYU guard Jimmer Fredette to its 2009-10 College Basketball All-America Third Team.
Fredette, a 6-foot-2 junior, has emerged as one of the top offensive threats in the nation, averaging 20.6 points and 4.7 assists while shooting .465 from the field, .472 from three and .881 from the free throw line.
The Glens Falls, N.Y., native has scored 33-plus points five times and 20-plus points 18 times. He burst onto the national scene when he posted BYU records of 49 points and nine threes at Arizona while adding nine assists and seven boards in leading the Cougars to a 99-69 win against the Wildcats. Fredette also scored 36 points at home against rival Utah, a BYU record for points against the Utes.
In addition to third-team All-America honors from Sporting News, Fredette has been named first-team All-MWC and the MWC Player of the Week five times. He is a national player of the year candidate, having been named a Naismith Trophy Midseason Candidate, a Wooden Trophy Candidate and an Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist.
SPORTING NEWS ALL-AMERICANS
First team
G James Anderson, Oklahoma State
G Scottie Reynolds,Villanova
G Evan Turner, Ohio State
G John Wall, Kentucky
G Greivis Vasquez, Maryland
Second team
G Sherron Collins, Kansas
G Jon Scheyer, Duke
F Damion James, Texas
F Wesley Johnson, Syracuse
F/C DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
Third team
G Jordan Crawford, Xavier
G Jimmer Fredette, BYU
G Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
F Darington Hobson, New Mexico
C Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
Fourth team
G Jerome Randle, California
G Devan Downey, South Carolina
G Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech
G Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga
G Tweety Carter, Baylor
Fifth team
G Andy Rautins, Syracuse
G Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin
F Lazar Hayward, Marquette
F Kyle Singler, Duke
F Austin Freeman, Georgetown
