BYU Men’s Basketball is off to a hot start with a 3-0 record. The Cougars’ most recent win was a 99-55 pounding of the Queens Royals on Wednesday night. BYU has a mix of talented freshmen and strong returning players. BYU started the season with an 88-50 win over Central Arkansas, followed by an 86-80 win over UC Riverside, a game where BYU struggled from the line.
Everything clicked against Queens and the Cougars started the game with a 22-2 lead. The Cougars never looked back, shooting 51.3 percent from the line and 42.9 percent from three. BYU’s largest lead was by 47 and the Cougars were determined to break triple digits. Dawson Baker led the team in scoring with 22 points while Egor Demin and Fousseyni Traore both had five assists. BYU seemed unstoppable and will need this kind of dominance when Big 12 play starts.
The Big 12 has been known as the best basketball conference in Division 1. The Cougars must start making their free throws and tighten up their defense to compete. Last season the Cougars finished fourth in the Big 12 with a 10-8 conference record. The Cougars were knocked out of the Big 12 tournament with a hard 81-67 loss to Texas Tech in the second round. BYU must bring their A-game every time if they want to be a contender in conference play.
Who is on this year’s team?
BYU this year has a strong freshman base in Egor Demin, Mihalio Boskovic, and Kanon Catchings, who have revolutionized this team. Demin’s strong scoring ability, combined with Catching’s ball movement and Boskovic’s court smarts, makes this one of the best BYU Freshman classes in recent seasons.
BYU also has a strong returning base with Dallin Hall, Fousseyni Traore, Trevin Knell, and Richie Saunders. These four have made a strong case for BYU’s success in the postseason. When they are all healthy, BYU can score big and shut opponents down on the other end.
How does this year’s team compare to last year’s?
BYU is winning a lot of games this year. An improved defense with an array of sharpshooters could give the Cougars a real edge in Big 12 play. Last year’s team was missing three-pointers but this team looks to be more accurate and smarter with the ball movement. Additionally, BYU has a stronger and more sound defense with better communication and smarter marking.
What does the rest of the season look like for BYU?
When the Cougars get hot, they are dangerous. When the Cougars are scoring well, the defense will follow with sound marking and aggressive pressure. This makes BYU able to go on long scoring runs and put the game out of reach.
I see BYU winning 26 games. This team will continue to win if they can defend together and take smart shots. They have the talent and the coaching is smart. It will come down to execution and teamwork. Also, when Dallin Hall returns from injury the Cougars will have another big weapon offensively. The team looks strong and they might just be able to make a deep run in March Madness. The Cougars have what they need, now can they get it done?
