What the coach and sixth-year player didn’t say was that sixth-seeded BYU was perhaps underseeded this year amid some hopes that it would land a 5 seed. That’s good, because the selection committee got it mostly right for one of the rare times when the Cougars are involved.

BYU is led by Richie Saunders, a junior guard who has morphed into a fringe NBA prospect this year. It also has Dallin Hall, a veteran guard coming off the bench who stabilizes the Cougars’ offense and finishes games.

The Cougars outlasted the Cyclones 96-92 in a wild Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal contest Thursday and will advance to a semifinal game against Houston or Colorado on Friday. Earlier, BYU survived an overtime battle in Ames. The victories have been part of the Cougars’ nine-game winning streak.