BYU Tournament Résumé: Cougars on the edge

Somehow, someway, BYU finds a way to play the same season every year. The pattern throughout the season goes like this: the Cougars are solidly on the right side of the bubble, then on the bubble but in okay shape, then a rough loss puts BYU in the first four out, then the Cougars have no chance in outer darkness of getting in ... then hope is not lost! after stringing together several wins, and then we cross our fingers on Selection Sunday.

Right now, we're standing at the "hope is not lost!" point in the journey. Two wins this week might boost BYU to the right side of the bubble.

I've compiled a profile of data from bracketologists and records to take a look at where the Cougars stand relative to qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

BYU'S PROFILE

Record: 21-8 (6-1 since loss to San Diego)
Home: 13-3
Road: 6-3 | Neutral: 2-2 | Combined: 8-5

RATINGS
RPI: 58 (+3)
KenPom: 33 (+6)
Sagarin: 37 (+6)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
KenPom: 85 (-50)
Sagarin: 88 (-36)

RPI W-L PROFILE

Top 50: 2-3
51-100: 2-2
101-150: 1-2
151-200: 10-1
200+: 4-0

BRACKETOLOGY

Joe Lunardi, ESPN
STATUS: OUT
Next Four Out (7th team out)

Jerry Palm, CBS
STATUS: OUT
Not listed in "Work To Do"

Chris Dobbertean, SB Nation
STATUS: OUT
Next Four Out (5th team out)

Dave Ommen, NBC
STATUS: OUT
Next Five Out (9th team out)

Bracket Matrix
STATUS: OUT
Next Four Out, appearing in 14 of 93 brackets
6th overall team out

With this bubble status it will be good to keep an eye on John Templon's NIT Bracketology.

John Templon, NIT Bracketology
STATUS: IN
2-seed hosting (7) Oregon State
(Out on Jan. 26, 3-seed on Feb. 8)

* * *

There are a lot of moving parts to an at-large bid, which includes a weaker bubble with teams in your way losing down the stretch. But as for BYU's part, posting a huge 2-0 week just might do it.

BYU did enough work to get firmly back into the NIT, which is good news. The only thing that might spoil that is finishing 0-3.