PROVO—It’s impossible to realize how loud the ROC is until you hear it in person. The ROC stands for the Roar of the Cougar, and the student section had plenty to roar about on Saturday, as the 23rd ranked Cougars prevailed over their archrival Utah Utes, 85-74.
The score was not indicative of how close the game was in the first half. The first half was marred by poor rebounding and destitute shooting from three.
Before the half, the Cougars were outrebounded 25-18 resulting in an 11-4 second chance points deficit. Normally an elite 3-point shooting team, BYU started 0-for-13 from beyond the arc. At one point, Utah led by five.
Despite these stark statistics, BYU led heading into the locker room, 34-30.
BYU shot out of a cannon when the second half buzzer sounded, outscoring the Utes 51-to-44. Guard, Dawson Baker, took over, tallying 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 3-for-5 from long range.
The defense was the difference as the Cougs’ “D” accounted for 3 blocks and 9 steals culminating in 21 points.
After the game, BYU’s Trey Stewart made clear that he enjoyed this win more than others.
“I hate Utah with a burning passion, so much man,” Stewart said. “So, just to get that win, I mean, we came motivated. They got us one earlier, so we owed them one.”
BYU Head Coach Kevin Young took a more measured approach when addressing the media.
“Just happy for our four seniors,” Young said. “Honestly, to come out here on Senior Night and get a win, especially against that team. We felt like we owed them one from what happened up at their place. … Kudos to Utah for playing hard.”
With the win, the Cougars improved to 23-8 on the year and 14-6 in the Big 12, locking up the 4 seed in the upcoming Big 12 Conference Tournament.
Sizing up the Season
BYU started off the season unranked and seemingly unchallenged by their nonconference schedule, starting 5-0.
However, once conference play started, BYU’s weaknesses were exposed quickly as the Cougars went 2-4. Coach Young spoke to how the team rebounded from the rough start.
“I’m proud of the fact that we started 1 and 3, then 2 and 4 and then didn’t melt down,” Young said. “We just came into work every day and tried to be a solution-oriented type of group. But the players, they bought into that, and I told them, I said, ‘Look, the sun’s still coming up the next day,’ when we had that poor record. A real testament to just staying the course. We got a fun road ahead of us and those guys will be a huge part of it.”
That mindset helped the Cougars to turn the tide, ending their season on an 8-game winning streak, including a win over #10 Iowa State.
Thanks to the fiery finish, the Cougars find themselves ranked at #17 in the latest AP Top 25 poll heading into postseason play.
It’s Tourney Time!
BYU now turns its focus to the Big 12 Conference Tournament. As the fourth seed in the bracket, the Cougars have a double-bye, meaning they will not play until Thursday. They will face the winner of Iowa State and Cincinnati or Oklahoma State.
The game is slated for 11 a.m. from Kansas City on either ESPN or ESPN 2.
Then, the March Madness bracket reveal will be Sunday, March 16. ESPN’s bracketology has the Cougars projected as a 5-seed in the East Region.
Coach Young says the Cougars are brimming with confidence going into the tournament.
“I think our group is confident because of, obviously, the wins as you pointed out, but just the way they work,” Young said. “They’re just mentally in a space that they’re ready to take the world on which, as a head coach, is a good feeling.”