BYU Upsets San Diego State To Reach Elite Eight In NCAA Tournament Bracket Simulation

PROVO, Utah – No. 6 seed BYU upset No. 2 seed San Diego State to advance to the Elite Eight in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s NCAA Tournament simulation.

Lunardi posted the results of his simulation via Twitter on Thursday, March 26. The simulation took place on the same day that NCAA Tournament games would have taken place had they not been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

The Cougars reached their first Elite Eight since 1981 in Lunardi’s bracket by defeating the Aztecs 77-72.

LOS ANGELES (1200m ET)–It's an all @WCChoops final in the West as @BYUbasketball survives poor foul shooting late to defeat @Aztec_MBB, 77-72. With the arena buzzing from news of the Duke-UK finish, BYU is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 1981. #TwitterTourney2020 pic.twitter.com/iP4Gm1vnAC

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 27, 2020

The bracketologist had BYU taking a one-point lead into the locker room at halftime. In the second half, Lunardi had the Cougars outscoring the Aztecs by four points to take the five-point victory.

LOS ANGELES (1050p ET)–As expected, it's tight at Staples Center with @BYUbasketball taking a 41-40 lead into the locker room. @Aztec_MBB is leaning on Malachi Flynn even more than usual, as he has 20 of SDSU's 40 points. Neither team leads by more than six. #TwitterTourney2020

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 27, 2020

The Sweet 16 matchup in Lunardi’s bracket, had it taken place in reality, would have been a rematch of a regular-season non-conference meeting between the two teams. In the second game of the season, San Diego State traveled to Provo to play BYU. The Aztecs beat a Yoeli Childs-less Cougar team 76-71. San Diego State finished the regular season with a 30-2 record and a top 10 ranking.

LOS ANGELES (950p ET)–@Aztec_MBB and @BYUbasketball met back on Nov. 9 in Provo, with SDSU posting a 76-71 victory. But the Cougars played without suspended Yeoli Childs in that contest. The Aztecs, meanwhile, seem to have recaptured their "close game" magic. #TwitterTourney2020 pic.twitter.com/69HuJoKqCG

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 27, 2020

In Lunardi’s Elite Eight matchup, BYU would play No. 1 seed and West Coast Conference rival Gonzaga. In the Sweet 16, the bracketologist had the Bulldogs beat No. 5 seed Michigan to advance to the Elite Eight of the tourney.

The Cougars defeated Indiana, Seton Hall, and San Diego State to remain one of Lunardi’s final eight teams.

BYU last played in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 1981 when Cougar great Danny Ainge was playing.

Lunardi said that he will continue to play out his bracket on Twitter.

NCAA Tournament Canceled

Due to coronavirus concerns,  the NCAA canceled its annual basketball tournaments on Thursday, March 12.

“This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities,” the statement read.

NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt announced the decision to not reveal brackets on Sunday, March 15.

“Anything less than a credible process is inconsistent with the tradition of the NCAA basketball championships. Brackets based on hypotheticals can’t substitute for a complete selection, seeding and bracketing process,” wrote Gavitt in a statement. “There will always be an asterisk next to the 2020 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball championships regardless if brackets are released. There is not an authentic way to produce tournament fields and brackets at this point without speculating and that isn’t fair to the teams that would be positively or negatively impacted by manufacturing March Madness.”

NCAA SVP Dan Gavitt on not releasing a 2020 NCAA Tournament bracket. #MarchMadness

Full statement:
👉 https://t.co/xiJAFZrY8v pic.twitter.com/nrGHDBxzGP

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 15, 2020

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