PROVO, Utah — Even in the middle of a school day, BYU students and fans treated the Cougars basketball team to a wild sendoff as the team headed to New Jersey to continue its March Madness journey.
About 100 fans were on hand for the sendoff at Duncan Aviation in Provo as the team boarded a flight for Newark.
"Super special," said guard Dallin Hall about the sendoff. "That's just one of the huge pros about being at BYU. The fan support is unmatched and Cougar National always shows out.
Sixth-seed BYU will face Alabama on Thursday in the team's first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2011 when the Cougars were led by superstar Jimmer Fredette.
"I've always just watched them go one-out, so to be here, the anticipation for Thursday, just to cheer them on today, hopefully they know all of Cougar Nation is behind them, not just here in Provo but all around the world," said fan Carson Ricks.
Freshman Egor Demin fully appreciated the support shown before it was time for wheels up, staying out to pose for photos with fans and signing a few autographs.
The Cougars advanced to the round of 16 after defeating VCU and then Wisconsin, the latter without guard Dawson Baker, who was ejected from Saturday's game after he allegedly elbowed a Badgers player in the groin.
Should BYU beat second-seeded Alabama, the team would advance to its first regional finals since 1991 when the Cougars fell to top-ranked Virginia.
While the current Cougars want to achieve the most for the school, Hall said the team is focused only on Alabama.
"Our only goal is to get the win," he said. "So you see a lot of different ways that we win with this team, different guys stepping up, but ultimately I just feel like we play unselfish basketball and we do what it takes to win."
