The Mo Jinx Alive and Well

I knew as soon as I made a post about BYU hoops earlier this week that their 5-game winning streak was going to end.  And it happened in about as excruciating painful a manner as possible.  After trailing by 7 with 27 seconds left in OT, BYU makes the improbable comeback to send it to double OT.  Then, after leading by 7 with 1:47 left in double OT, they blow it.  BYU didn't show up for the third OT until it was too late.

Game over.  NCAA Tournament hopes over.  I think there is some serious frustration with Cougar Nation in 2013-2014 seasons.  I've said this privately to a few people but now I will post: I believe we are witnessing the beginning of the end of BYU sports.

If BYU doesn't make waves in football soon, the Independent experiment will fail.  If that fails, football will cease to have ANY relevance and ESPN will not renew their contract, or if they do, BYU will end up with probably less money and probably worse TV time slots.  If that happens, BYU football is done.  They have the schedule to win 10 or 11 games in 2014, but unfortunately, that means it wouldn't really impress people unless they win 12.

BYU basketball will miss the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.  They lose Mika next season, which will be a big miss for the Cougars.  They have been exposed for the lack of depth inside, and the loss of Mika will only make that weakness bigger.  There are currently no players to to fill that void.  Both of the incoming freshmen big men plan to go directly on their missions.  A third "wild card" (i.e. not really highly regarded by any recruiting web site) is in the mix, but at 6'10" 200 pounds, is perhaps a little thin to address BYU's issues.  Jamal Aytes will be eligible, basically just for WCC play after transferring from UNLV, but he's a little on the shorter side (6'6" but definitely beefier and more athletic at 230 pounds).  Next year, BYU will be loaded with seniors.  However, if there isn't a big in the middle, BYU will be in serious trouble against decent competition.  If they miss the tourney a 3rd straight year, I don't see how they recover.

If BYU loses relevance in football, they lose their fanbase.  They lose their football fanbase, they lose some attention to basketball. If BYU can't retain its own fans, how will they grow?  Credit to BYU for putting together tough schedules, but they have to win some of those games.  BYU didn't win many of them this season in football and won none of them in basketball.  Win.  Or it's over.  It may be over anyway, if the Big Five Conferences have their way, BYU and the rest will forever be sitting in the shadows...