Utah Basketball’s YouTuber Unwittingly Aided BYU’s Recruiting Against His Own School

Mason Madsen had the chance to experience one of college basketball’s most daunting atmospheres when Utah wrapped up its regular season at BYU on Saturday. He was deeply impressed by what he saw.

The fifth-year senior took a jibe at the Salt Lake City fanbase while reflecting on his only experience in Provo. (Though it wasn’t likely meant in that way!)

Madsen is set to play just one road game at BYU. His collegiate basketball career is probably ending with a loss in the Big 12 Tournament, either Tuesday or Wednesday, unless the interim-coached Utes pull off an unexpected run. However, he certainly received the full experience.

BYU, currently ranked No. 23 with a 23-8 record, has earned three top-25 wins in their last eight games. While the Marriott Center typically sells out, the fanbase reaches a whole new level when their team is performing well. Without relying on caffeine or alcohol, the crowd still manages to create a lively atmosphere. It’s a challenging venue for any visiting team.

Madsen played two seasons at Cincinnati and two at Boston College. This was his first and only season at Utah, so he wasn’t familiar with the Holy War rivalry before. He had heard about the intense road environment and had faced the Cougars at home, but Saturday’s game was his first and only chance to experience it firsthand.

Mason Madsen was clearly impressed by his 40 minutes in Provo. The 6-foot-4 guard even took a jab at the Salt Lake City crowd!

To be honest, that was a pretty impressive atmosphere. Yeah, definitely one of the best I’ve been part of, so it lived up to the expectations. I’ve heard great things about the arena. Credit to all the fans who showed up. It was a great environment.

It would probably be enjoyable to play for BYU and have those fans, because that was really cool. It’s something I hope to experience again in the future, not that I haven’t had similar experiences, but playing where people truly care about basketball.

— Mason Madsen

To his credit, Madsen did make it clear he dislikes BYU before making these positive comments.

Still, he said what he said. Mason Madsen essentially suggested that the University of Utah doesn’t prioritize basketball. His remarks also implied that he might prefer to play for the other side of the rivalry— specifically for the home-court advantage. BYU should definitely use these comments in their recruiting efforts!