Provo » It is looking all too familiar to the BYU Cougars, but this time coach Dave Rose's team is vowing that it is time for a change.
In a cruel twist of irony on Sunday, the NCAA Tournament selection committee dished out the same seed to the Cougars (25-7) that it has the past two years -- an eight -- and then sprinkled in this little reminder of past first-round failures: a rematch of the 2008 tourney opener.
BYU will face No. 9 seed Texas A&M of the Big 12 for the second straight year, only this time the matchup will take place far from the homes of both schools. The Cougars and Aggies (23-9) will face off in the first round of the West Region at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
The Aggies eliminated BYU from the big dance 67-62 last year in Anaheim. The winner of Thursday's game will likely get the region's No. 1 seed, Connecticut, which plays No. 16 seed Chattanooga.
"It is just kind of funny that we are playing the same team as last year," said BYU guard Jimmer Fredette. "There's no disappointment at all. It is extremely exciting to just be in the tournament, no matter who we are playing against. It's still a great atmosphere. Obviously, they beat us last year. We would definitely like to beat them. But they are an extremely tough team."
If there was any disappointment for the Cougars when the bids were announced, it was that they received the only at-large bid from the Mountain West Conference, meaning that the team that downed BYU 54-52 in Friday's conference tournament semifinal, San Diego State, was left out.
"I am really disappointed for a couple of teams in our league, because this was as good as the league has been since I've been around, since the beginning," Rose said dejectedly. "To know that you can only get one at-large bid out of a league that is this difficult -- the opportunities are kind of shrinking for the non-power conference guys."
The Cougars said they were happy with their seeding, despite having lost to Xavier 79-77 in 2007 with an eighth seed as well.
When Utah flashed on the big screen in the football auditorium at the Student Athlete Building as a No. 5 seed, the Cougars acknowledged thinking that perhaps a six or a seven was on its way for them. But it was not to be.
"I think we were really fortunate [to get an eighth seed]," Rose said. "We are playing a familiar team. They lost a few players from last year and so have we. But I think that sometimes when you get in a tournament situation, that familiarity helps your confidence. So we will see what happens."
The first name out of BYU's players' mouths Sunday was Josh Carter. He's the Texas A&M guard who hit five of his six three-pointers in the first half as the Aggies jumped in front 11-0 in Anaheim. Carter is back with a 14.1 scoring average this year, one of four Aggies who average in double figures.
As for getting sent back East, the happiest Cougar about that development is Fredette, the sophomore from Glens Falls, N.Y. He said his home is about a six-hour drive from the Wachovia Center.
Key matchup » Guard Josh Carter leads the Aggies with a 14.1 scoring average this year after hurting BYU with six three-pointers last year. The task of shutting him down will probably fall to BYU's defensive specialist, guard Jackson Emery.
Factoid » The Cougars have received an eighth seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year, and will be making their 24th appearance in the tournament
Common opponents » The Cougars and Aggies have faced two common opponents this season. The Cougars defeated Rice 83-52, while the Aggies defeated the Owls 72-60. BYU beat Tulsa 74-68, while Texas A&M lost to Tulsa, 67-56.
Outlook » The Cougars desperately want to end their streak of six-straight NCAA Tournament first-round losses, and they should have a reasonable chance against a mid-level Big 12 team that they hung with last year.
