Kevin Young’s debut regular season at BYU is now complete.
The Cougars enter the Big 12 tournament riding an eight-game winning streak, with their latest triumph—a commanding 85-74 victory over rival Utah on Saturday night—capping off their momentum.
“I’m really happy for our four seniors to get a win here, especially against Utah,” Young said postgame. “We felt like we owed them one after what happened at their place. I’m thrilled for our guys to finish their time in this amazing arena on a high note. Credit to Utah for competing hard.”
BYU struggled from deep early, missing its first 13 three-point attempts before Dawson Baker finally connected late in the first half. Baker was one of five Cougars to score in double figures, leading the team with 15 points off the bench on 4-of-7 shooting, including three made threes.
“We have great depth in our locker room, so any given night, different guys can step up and lead in scoring,” Young noted. “Dawson is someone who likely deserves more minutes … he’s a guy who can come through in big moments.”
Moreover, after committing 29 turnovers at Iowa State earlier in the week, BYU significantly improved its ball security, limiting giveaways to just 10 against the Runnin’ Utes.
“After the Iowa State game, we knew we had to improve in that area,” Young said. “For BYU basketball, controlling turnovers and rebounds is key. If we succeed in those two areas, I believe we can compete with any team in the country.”
Young’s squad has peaked at the right time. Over the past month, BYU has secured five Quad 1 wins and solidified its NCAA tournament résumé, positioning itself for a potential 6 or 7 seed.
“I’m proud that after starting 1-3, then 2-4 in conference play, we didn’t fall apart,” Young said. “We just kept showing up and focusing on solutions. It’s a testament to staying the course and committing to improvement. I know it sounds cliché, but that’s exactly what we did.
“… I never set a limit on what we could achieve. Early on, I saw our potential, and the more I evaluated other teams in the league and across the country, the more I believed we had what it takes to be among th
e nation’s best.”
