Given those notable personnel losses, the Cougars (19-7, 8-5 WCC) have overachieved by most accounts, although the schedule has been fairly soft. Jeff Sagarin rates it as the 162nd most difficult in the country to date.
BYU has received an unexpected contribution from Weber State transfer McKay Cannon, new point guard Jahshire Hardnett has been the solid on-ball defender he was billed to be, TJ Haws has been sensational one minute and inconsistent the next and Elijah Bryant and Yoeli Childs are having outstanding seasons.
The missing piece to a decent postseason run might be sophomore forward Zac Seljaas, who is struggling to replicate, let alone surpass, his efficient freshman season before an LDS Church mission to Iowa shortened by a shoulder ailment.