BYU sports links: is it time to panic about the basketball team?

Okay, so now that football season is officially over, the basketball team can lay full claim to our attention. In case you went to bed early last night, the news isn't good. Pepperdine used all of their cheat codes to stay ON FIRE for a half AND unlocked unlimited turbo, and beat BYU 80-74. The loss drops BYU to 8-7, and the Cougars have now lost 4 in a row.

Two pretty bad WCC losses + a not great Utah loss means that BYU absolutely cannot afford to lose to any other non-Gonzaga teams in league play if they have any hope of securing an at large bid. Go undefeated for three months. No big deal right?

If it's any consolation, BYU at least definitively won the attendance battle...right?

Attendance at Firestone Fieldhouse for BYU-Pepperdine: 2,317. About 2,000 of those are BYU fans, it appears.

— Jay Drew (@drewjay) December 31, 2013

MOVING ON

One bit of good news for BYU is that Gonzaga might be a little more mortal. Gary Bell, one of the team's best defenders, broke his hand, and is going to miss 4-6 weeks. That means that Bell may miss Gonzaga's first tilt with BYU, when they host the Cougars on January 25th. You never root for injuries, but BYU needs to win that game, and any tiny advantage may help.

In football news, the DN seems to think that the only thing keeping BYU football from "prime time'", as it were, is the offensive line. It isn't hard to be excited about the talent in the backfield, but there will be other question marks for next season I imagine. That schedule though....

Finally, in case you missed our missive on the stupidity of #FIREBRONCO, here it is. B/R also weighed in on the issue, seeming to take the other side of the debate. It's also light on specifics, but hey. There you go.

Have a safe New Years everybody. Here's hoping 2014 brings some happier news.