DENVER – There was a lot of blue at Ball Arena on Saturday.
BYU basketball fans showed out in numbers as the Cougars took on the No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers with a ticket to the Sweet 16 on the line.
lotta BLUE in Ball Arena 🤙 pic.twitter.com/e5lO2wjENf
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 23, 2025
It wasn’t just the stakes that brought them out though. That’s just what Cougar Nation does.
Even in the first-round matchup with VCU, the stands were drowned in royal blue. BYU alum also came out in numbers. Big names like Jimmer Fredette and Danny Ainge showed out to cheer on their favorite team.
With every BYU basket, Ball Arena lit up.
That crowd pop tho 😳
Cougars looking to pull away 👀#MarchMadness @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/fHO93f4dV2
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
BYU basketball jumped out in front by double digits in the first half.
The Badgers went on a run to start the second half but the Cougars were able to rebuild their lead to its previous power.
BYU Basketball Aims For Third Sweet 16 Appearance Since 1979
BYU basketball is on to the Round of 32 where they will face the No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers today.
In the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, the No. 6 Cougars held off the No. 11 VCU Rams in an 80-71 victory. The win was BYU’s first in the “Big Dance” since 2012.
Wisconsin didnt deal with nearly as much drama as they relatively easily defeated the No. 14 Montana Grizzlies, 85-66.
see you in round two ✌️ pic.twitter.com/mV5099SHMT
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 20, 2025
The last time that BYU basketball beat a single-digit-seeded team in March Madness was back in 1991. However, this BYU team has won 10 of their last 11 games and showed they can alter their playstyle for success as they did against VCU on Thursday.
All signs point toward an even, high-scoring matchup which is probably why CBS picked up the game for primetime.
BYU Gameday Reading
Follow BYU and the NCAA Tournament on KSL Sports
The Cougars received a No. 6 seed in the East Region and will continue their “Big Dance” in Denver on Saturday against the No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers.
Follow the BYU Cougars with KSL Sports here.
Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.
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