No more No. 1 seed for Cougar Town?

Published March 2, 2011 5:00am ET



The NCAA selection committee not only takes into account what teams have done in the past. It also weighs their potential in the future. At BYU, could the loss of 6-foot-9 Brandon Davies — suspended Wednesday for an honor code violation — cost the Cougars a No. 1 seed?

Don’t scoff. Seeding is important, especially at the upper levels of the bracket. In the last 24 years, No. 1 seeds have won 16 titles, compared to three for No. 2 seeds.

If top teams from power conferences — Kansas (Big 12), Ohio State or Purdue (Big Ten), Duke or UNC (ACC), Pittsburgh or Notre Dame (Big East) — emerge in their respective conference tournaments, it could give the committee reason to knock BYU down to a No. 2 seed.

Davies will be missed. He averaged 11.1 points a game, ran the floor and was the Cougars’ top inside defender and rebounder (6.2 rpg).

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