The Hunt for the Most Interesting Team in the World is the Dagger's 2009-10 countdown preview series. Check out the overriding principles here.  <[>Last year's record: 24-8, 12-4 Mountain West

2009-10's toughest games: Arizona State, Nevada, Arizona, Utah

Primary object of attraction: Dave Rose's thus-far-successful battle with pancreatic cancer dovetails with BYU's chance to break out of the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time in his tenure.

Three items of undeniable interest:

1. Dave Rose. Rose could probably supplant this entire post. He was a member of the 1983 Houston squad that became known as "Phi Slama Jama" and eventually lost to N.C. State in one of the most memorable national title games of all-time. (The last-second shot, Jim Valvano searching for a hug, etc.) Rose also had a tumultuous offseason: He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June and has since beaten the disease into remission. In the meantime, Rose also happens to be one of the best non-major coaches in the country; he has had immediate and consistent success at BYU, the sort of success that gets you a bigtime coaching gig sooner rather than later. Coincidentally, Rose also just extended his contract another five years, which will keep him in Provo until 2013-14. Perhaps that bigtime coaching job can wait.

2. Cracking the first round. The reason Rose signed that contract is because his teams are very good. BYU has been to three straight NCAA tournaments and won three-straight Mountain West titles, and Rose has yet to have a sub-20-win season since he took over in 2005-06. There is one hurdle, though: BYU has yet to make it out of the first round of the tourney in three straight years, losing all three times. Last year's team was a tempo-free darling, but it flamed out with a surprising loss to Texas A&M. This is BYU's quest in 2009-10: Crack that first round code. After that, the deep tournament run is sure to follow.

3. Jimmer Fredette. OK, so not only is Jimmer Fredette named Jimmer Fredette -- Jimmer Fredette! How does college basketball manage to attract so many strangely named people? --  he's also the Mountain West's only returning all-conference selection, and he's an all-around joy. Fredette averaged 16.2 points, 4.1 assists, and a steal and a half per game while manning the point for an incredibly efficient Cougars offense. Fredette is one of four returning starters on BYU's 2009-10 team, and he's its most important. Get used to the name Jimmer Fredette. Jimmer Jimmer Jimmer Fredette. After a while, it rolls right off the tongue.

Related: Mountain West Basketball, The Hunt