You said: "It's not so much top 50 or top 60 or top 75, but how you play against tournament-like competition."
Barnes (Selection Committee Chair) said something similar and that is precisely why BYU will get a bid. They have 4 games against top teams that went down to the last minute (Gonzaga (2), SDSU, Utah), and with the exception of the last game, no double digit losses.
i do wonder if the poor showing vs Oregon in the first round last year could hurt and influence those who don't realize how much stronger the team is this year.