BYU Basketball: Could They Be Dark Horse Contenders for the Big 12 Championship?
Is it time to start considering BYU as a serious contender for the Big 12 title?
For those of you who still rely on physical calendars, you probably had a delightful surprise when you flipped over to February and saw the arrival of March. With it comes the best month for basketball fans: March Madness.
The college basketball postseason brings us thrilling buzzer-beaters, bracket-busting upsets, and the crowning of new champions. It’s a time for tears, excitement, and the consumption of an absurd amount of chicken wings. It makes the world a better place.
As BYU basketball continues to rise in popularity, the Cougars—now ranked 23rd—are on a six-game winning streak. Kevin Young and his team are hitting their stride at just the right time, and there’s growing belief in a program that has historically disappointed its supporters.
However, this season feels different. Much like a nearly deserted highway in the middle of the day, there’s a sense that things are going too smoothly for BYU basketball to be true. A stunning win over Iowa State might be the confirmation of that feeling: things have changed. To borrow a line from The Japanese House, a band I can’t stop mentioning, “I don’t know what’s right anymore, I don’t want to fight anymore.”
BYU basketball is back in a big way—dangerously good—and the rest of college basketball is starting to take notice.
One key player is NBA Draft prospect Egor Demin, who has sparked plenty of discussion this season. The Moscow native boasts the size and playmaking ability to excite NBA scouts, but has struggled with his shooting at times. Fortunately for BYU, Demin’s scoring issues appear to be improving. The 6-foot-9 point guard is becoming more aggressive, especially when teams leave him open to attack the basket, as he showed against West Virginia.
Then there’s Richie Saunders, who is practically a basketball god—no one dares to argue this fact. His exceptional play has taken BYU’s team to new heights.
Under first-year head coach Kevin Young, the team is starting to mesh as planned, and the nation is taking notice.
Looking ahead, the Big 12 Tournament promises to be a fierce test. With a tough schedule ahead, BYU will face some of the top teams in Division I basketball, including Houston, Arizona, and Iowa State.
While BYU hasn’t won a conference tournament title since 2001, which doesn’t inspire much confidence, some outside experts are starting to think this year could be different.
“I’m going with BYU, the hottest team in the Big 12. They’ve won six straight and 10 of their last 12. They have a lottery pick, and Richie Saunders is playing his best,” said Rob Dauster of the Field of 68 podcast.
Dauster highlighted a stretch where BYU scored over 90 points in three games, shot 50% from the field (including 12 or more three-pointers), and committed fewer than 12 turnovers—an impressive feat that no other team has matched.
“I’m picking BYU to win the Big 12 tournament.”
So, is BYU truly a legitimate contender for the league title, or is this just a temporary surge? Confidence in this team is rising—could they be one of the best teams come March?
