Houston is a Crucial Benchmark for BYU Basketball’s Success

BYU basketball now faces a crucial test in the Big 12 semifinals to prove their worth.

After beating Iowa State for the second consecutive time on Thursday, BYU’s win wasn’t a fluke or a highlight reel replay from their previous matchup in Hilton Coliseum. Kevin Young’s Cougars triumphed in the Big 12 Conference Quarterfinals against a top-15 opponent.

Moreover, BYU’s offense posted the 10th-highest offensive efficiency rating since 1998 (since Kenpom data began) against Iowa State, which ranks as the 11th-best defense in the nation.

All of this, despite the poor floor design. Thanks, Brett Yormark.

For their victory, BYU now faces the top-seeded Houston Cougars, who have only lost one game in the conference, to second-seeded Texas Tech. How considerate.

However, the matchup with Houston is precisely the test BYU basketball needs right now. Not necessarily because they’re expected to win—although it would be great if they did—but because of what this game represents for the BYU team’s development.

After a rough start to conference play, Coach Young’s team has rallied, winning nine straight games. This includes four wins over ranked opponents: Iowa State (twice), Kansas, and Arizona. They also set a Big 12 Tournament record with 18 three-pointers in the Quarterfinals and have proven themselves to be one of the best offenses in the nation.

Yet, against Houston, the Cougars might hit a wall. This game presents a real chance to gauge how BYU measures up against the nation’s top teams.

After all, if BYU has any ambitions of making a run to the Final Four, beating elite teams is an essential step in that journey.

Houston boasts the best defense in college basketball and dominated BYU earlier this season. But recent performances suggest that BYU is not the same team that lost 86-55 in January. Let’s hope Houston doesn’t shoot 47% from beyond the arc again, right?

In that earlier meeting, BYU struggled offensively. Poor shooting, turnovers, and a general sense that the Cougars were outmatched defined that game.

Now, though, BYU has turned things around. Their offense is flowing, wins are accumulating, and their confidence is high. But facing a top-three team like Houston, the 17th-ranked BYU squad may encounter some challenges.

This brings us to the true test: How does BYU stack up against the best teams in the country? Has their recent success been a hot streak, or is this current iteration of BYU basketball a product of Kevin Young’s strategic brilliance? Regardless, this team is peaking at just the right time and may once again surprise the nation again

Houston is a Crucial Benchmark for BYU Basketball’s Success

BYU basketball now faces a crucial test in the Big 12 semifinals to prove their worth.

After beating Iowa State for the second consecutive time on Thursday, BYU’s win wasn’t a fluke or a highlight reel replay from their previous matchup in Hilton Coliseum. Kevin Young’s Cougars triumphed in the Big 12 Conference Quarterfinals against a top-15 opponent.

Moreover, BYU’s offense posted the 10th-highest offensive efficiency rating since 1998 (since Kenpom data began) against Iowa State, which ranks as the 11th-best defense in the nation.

All of this, despite the poor floor design. Thanks, Brett Yormark.

For their victory, BYU now faces the top-seeded Houston Cougars, who have only lost one game in the conference, to second-seeded Texas Tech. How considerate.

However, the matchup with Houston is precisely the test BYU basketball needs right now. Not necessarily because they’re expected to win—although it would be great if they did—but because of what this game represents for the BYU team’s development.

After a rough start to conference play, Coach Young’s team has rallied, winning nine straight games. This includes four wins over ranked opponents: Iowa State (twice), Kansas, and Arizona. They also set a Big 12 Tournament record with 18 three-pointers in the Quarterfinals and have proven themselves to be one of the best offenses in the nation.

Yet, against Houston, the Cougars might hit a wall. This game presents a real chance to gauge how BYU measures up against the nation’s top teams.

After all, if BYU has any ambitions of making a run to the Final Four, beating elite teams is an essential step in that journey.

Houston boasts the best defense in college basketball and dominated BYU earlier this season. But recent performances suggest that BYU is not the same team that lost 86-55 in January. Let’s hope Houston doesn’t shoot 47% from beyond the arc again, right?

In that earlier meeting, BYU struggled offensively. Poor shooting, turnovers, and a general sense that the Cougars were outmatched defined that game.

Now, though, BYU has turned things around. Their offense is flowing, wins are accumulating, and their confidence is high. But facing a top-three team like Houston, the 17th-ranked BYU squad may encounter some challenges.

This brings us to the true test: How does BYU stack up against the best teams in the country? Has their recent success been a hot streak, or is this current iteration of BYU basketball a product of Kevin Young’s strategic brilliance? Regardless, this team is peaking at just the right time and may once again surprise the nation against an elite Houston team.

st an elite Houston team.