BYU basketball: Cougars approach game with nothing-to-lose mindset

OKLAHOMA CITY — It's time for BYU's basketball team to relax a little bit.

Not that the Cougars are satisfied alone with Thursday's thrilling double-overtime win over Florida and feel there's nothing more to accomplish. With the weight of a 17-year drought finally lifted from their shoulders, however, the No. 17-ranked Cougars feel their best chance of winning today's second-round game against No. 7 Kansas State and advancing to next week's West Regional in Salt Lake City is to approach the contest with a "nothing to lose" attitude.

"Now it's all about enjoying the moment and to move on," BYU sophomore guard Michael Loyd Jr. said after Friday's practice at Ford Arena in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Cougars — with Thursday's first-round win in the books and no longer burdened by an eight-game NCAA losing streak — plan to approach any remaining games with a "no-pressure" state of mind — believing that's the formula to bringing out their best basketball.

"Sure, all that hype of an NCAA game will still be there, but I think we're all going to be a little bit more level-headed and come ready to play," junior guard Jackson Emery said.

The Cougars say they've won a school-record 30 games this year by knowing how to get up to the challenge. But approaching Saturday's game with a relaxed attitude in no way means the Cougars are totally satisfied with just one tournament win.

"I think what makes us a really good team is that we're always hungry. We're always looking to prove something. I hope we come out with another chip on our shoulder and play like we have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain," Emery said.

Senior Jonathan Tavernari added, "We finally did it. And now that we've got a taste a little bit, we want to taste it again."

Clearly, with a No. 2 seed, Kansas State is the favorite. But the Cougars say they're not intimidated with their lower seed. In fact, being the underdog alleviates a little pressure.

"I don't think a lot of people are expecting anything out of us now. ... So we can just come out firing, and that's how we like it," Emery said.

If the Cougars can get past the Wildcats Saturday they'll advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981. At the end of that rainbow would be a West Regional game next Thursday at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake against either Xavier or Pittsburgh.

"We know what's at stake here," Tavernari said.