In this particular season, losing in the first round would probably mean BYU getting upset by a lower-seeded team. Not sure why that would be desirable for any BYU fan, but whatever.

I would definitely prefer BYU winning 5 straight games against good-but-not-great teams in the NIT and lifting a trophy at Madison Square Garden at the end of the season.

That scenario is not ideal, obviously, but would be much more enjoyable than BYU going to the NCAA and immediately crashing out of the tournament on Day One.