This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
Men's college basketball teams in Utah got to rock and roll in the Big Dance plenty the last few years, but the possibility exists that Utah teams will get shut out of the NCAA Tournament this year. Not since 1994 has the state failed to produce an NCAA Tournament participant in the men's bracket.
March Madness could turn into March Sadness in these parts; watching the local teams play in the tournament is an early spring ritual for the state's thousands and thousands of college basketball fans.
"It is a nerve-racking time for everyone, a really emotional time for everyone," said BYU senior Noah Hartsock, noting how he doesn't want to finish his career playing in a tournament other than the NCAAs. "We know what is on the line. We're desperate."
Every team in the state is desperate this season, it seems.
With BYU having made an annual appearance since 2007, Utah State since 2009 and Utah breaking through once (2009) in the otherwise dismal Jim Boylen years, the state could often boast of having more tourney participants, per capita, than any other.
But this year, prospects for a multibid year are slim, unless Weber State and BYU can maintain or improve upon their current status.
Weber State last made the tournament in 2007 and the Damian Lillard-led Wildcats (10-1 Big Sky, 18-4 overall) probably represent the state's best chance this year. Despite a puzzling loss at 8-14 Idaho State, Weber State is on track to be the all-important host for the Big Sky conference tourney, although that regular-season ending contest at 9-1 Montana could determine everything.
And as Wildcat fans know, Weber State wasn't able to capitalize on having the conference tournament on its home floor in 2009 or 2010.
Southern Utah joins the Big Sky race next year, after having not made the dance since 2001. Currently 7-7 in their final season in the Summit League and 12-12 overall, Roger Reid's Thunderbirds are the definition of mediocre.
That's a label Utah fans wouldn't mind for their team, unbelievably, in coach Larry Krystkowiak's first year since the Utes replaced Boylen. At least the Utes (2-9, 5-18) aren't dead last in the Pac-12. USC (1-10) wears that tag, for now.
Utah State (4-5 WAC, 12-12) can cling to a sliver of hope that it can get hot at the WAC tourney.
Having given league-leading Nevada all it wanted in a Feb. 2 loss (53-52) in Reno, the Aggies can never be counted out of the conference tournament (and automatic bid) as they've shown in the past.
What is apparent is that there's not a team in the WAC that the Aggies can't beat, or can't beat them. Still, USU's string of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances is in serious jeopardy. Utah State has that season-opening win over BYU to its credit, when Brady Jardine was still in the lineup, but is probably headed to the National Invitation Tournament, or worse, the College Basketball Invitational. The Aggies' season of misery continued Monday when the school announced Jardine needs career-ending foot surgery.
And then there's BYU (8-3 WCC, 20-6), which has made five straight tournament appearances and is trying to get back after making it to the Sweet 16 last year.
The Cougars are on the bubble for an at-large bid, although their 80-66 win over Gonzaga last week bumped them into the tournament, at least for now, according to most bracket prognosticators.
They might be forgiven if they lose at Gonzaga on Feb. 23, but any other loss would probably dash their at-large hopes. As far as the WCC tournament in Las Vegas (Orleans Arena) is concerned, the Cougars need to stay in the top four to earn a first-round bye.
The league's top two teams have byes through the first two rounds of the tournament, not playing until Saturday, March 3.
The championship game is on March 5.
But the Cougars won't go far in any tournament if they can't improve their 3-point shooting.
Coach Dave Rose's club is 17-for-101 from beyond the arc in its last six games.
"There are a lot of things we can get better at," Rose acknowledged last week after the Cougars won their fifth straight road game, at Portland.
Twitter: @drewjay —
A closer look
Men's NCAA Tournament teams since 2001:
2011 • BYU, Utah State
2010 • BYU, Utah State
2009 • BYU, Utah State, Utah
2008 • BYU
2007 • BYU, Weber State
2006 • Utah State
2005 • Utah State, Utah
2004 • Utah
2003 • BYU, Utah State, Utah, Weber State
2002 • Utah
2001 • BYU, Utah State, Southern Utah