BYU Basketball: Key Takeaways From Loss to No. 2 Houston
Houston eliminated BYU from the Big 12 Tournament in the semifinals with a 74-54 win on Friday night.
The Cougars shot just 21% from beyond the arc in the loss, a stark contrast to their record-breaking 18 three-pointers against Iowa State the day before. Despite being without key player J’Wan Roberts, Houston’s defense remained strong, holding BYU to a season-low in scoring.
Here are the key takeaways from BYU’s defeat, which drops their overall record to 24-9 heading into Selection Sunday.
BYU Started Slowly Against Houston Seeing BYU lose by 20 points to Houston was surprising. BYU entered the game as one of the nation’s hottest teams, ranked No. 2 in the Bart Torvik ratings during their win streak.
Houston, ranked just behind BYU at No. 3, proved the game wasn’t close. BYU fell behind quickly, 15-0, and their slow starts in recent games couldn’t be overcome. Falling into an early deficit against a top defensive team like Houston made it much harder to recover.
BYU head coach Kevin Young acknowledged that his team was flat at the start. “We came out a little flat, honestly, not sure why in a big game like that,” said Young. “We couldn’t throw it in the ocean to start the game and went 3-of-16 from three in the first half. That kind of put us in the mud. But Houston is a really good team.”
Houston Shut Down Richie Saunders’ Driving Ability Richie Saunders, the Big 12’s “Most Improved Player,” struggled against Houston’s defense. He finished with only 10 points, his lowest since February 11 against West Virginia.
Houston’s defense was effective at preventing Saunders from driving to the rim, with defenders like Terrance Arceneaux, Ja’Vier Francis, and Jojo Tugler always ready to stop him. Houston and Texas Tech were the only teams able to contain Saunders this season, both being top defensive squads in the league.
Keba Keita Provided a Spark in the Second Half Down by 21 points at halftime, BYU could have given up, knowing their NCAA Tournament appearance was just days away. However, Keba Keita wasn’t giving in.
Keita came alive in the second half, starting with two emphatic dunks. He also had two blocks, one of which went into the front row. Keita finished with a team-high 14 points, all in the second half, and grabbed 12 rebounds, showing resilience despite the deficit.
The Game Was Played at Houston’s Pace Houston, ranked 16th in tempo among Big 12 teams, prefers a slower pace, while BYU thrives in high-scoring games. Only two teams managed to score over 70 points against Houston this season. Houston played the game at their pace, not allowing BYU to settle into their usual offensive rhythm.
BYU Remains a Threat in the NCAA Tournament BYU’s Big 12 Tournament run ended, but the NCAA Tournament lies ahead. Despite the loss to Houston, the Cougars will still be a tough matchup for many teams unfamiliar with their style of play.
The team’s recent strong performance gives them momentum heading into March Madness. “I’m just excited for our group,” said Coach Young. “To win nine of our last 10 and play the way we’ve played gives us a lot of momentum going into the NCAA Tournament.”
The key question now is what seed BYU will receive. Entering Friday, BYU was projected as a 6-seed on Bracket Matrix. Whether they drop to a 7-seed remains to be seen.
