BYU Suffers Upset Loss to Duquesne in NCAA Tournament Opener
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OMAHA, NEBRASKA—In a stunning upset, the No. 6 seed Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars were defeated by the No. 11 seed Duquesne Dukes in the first round of the East Region in the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. This brought an end to BYU's season with a final record of 23-11.
One of the primary factors contributing to BYU's downfall was their apparent surprise at Duquesne's physicality, a characteristic well-documented before the matchup. Duquesne's formidable defense, ranked within the Top-30 in Ken Pom adjusted efficiency metrics, proved a significant challenge for BYU, who struggled to match their opponent's intensity from the outset.
BYU's slow start, falling behind 7-0 early in the game, mirrored a recurring issue throughout the season, including in...