BYU Coach Kevin Young Reflects on ‘Surreal’ First NCAA Appearance

PROVO, Utah – Kevin Young has guided his BYU basketball team into the NCAA Tournament in his debut season.

The former NBA assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers becomes the first BYU coach since Roger Reid in 1990 to reach the Big Dance in his first year at the helm.

On Thursday afternoon, Young will be courtside at an NBA arena in Denver as the 6-seed Cougars face off against 11-seed VCU from the Atlantic-10 (2:05 p.m., TNT & KSL NewsRadio).

BYU head coach Kevin Young looks ahead to his first NCAA Tournament game

BYU enters the tournament after winning nine of their last ten games. However, their most recent game was a heavy defeat to Houston in the Big 12 Tournament.

The Cougars finished the 2024-25 season with a 24-9 record and an 8-7 mark against Quad 1 opponents.

Less than an hour after BYU’s name appeared on the CBS Selection Show, Young shared his initial reaction with the media.

“I’m just excited, honestly. No matter what seed we got, I’m thrilled,” said Young. “Like many people who follow sports, I’ve always been a huge fan of March Madness, both as a kid and an adult. To be a part of it now is surreal. Hearing our name called and knowing we’re part of it is a special feeling.”

BYU won’t need to travel far for their Thursday match against VCU, who are the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament champions.

Young was pleased with the proximity to home for the game.

The Cougars will play in Denver, providing an opportunity for many BYU fans to attend. VCU, based in Richmond, Virginia, faces a 1,671-mile journey across two time zones.

This is a much better location for BYU compared to possible destinations like Wichita, Kansas; Lexington, Kentucky; or Providence, Rhode Island.

BYU’s appearance in Denver will mark their third NCAA Tournament visit to the city. Their last trip to the Mile High City was in 2011, when they advanced to the Sweet 16 with the help of Jimmer Fredette.

“I’m glad we’re in Denver. I like that it’s close to home, and that’s where I hoped we’d be. I’m happy with that,” Young said.

Throughout the season, Young has been open about his learning process in college basketball. With a background in the NBA and NBA G-League, he’s adjusted to the college game after two decades of pro coaching.

He acknowledged that he would rely on his coaching staff and experienced BYU players like Trevin Knell, who has previous NCAA Tournament experience, to help guide the team through March Madness.

“We’ve been in a good rhythm with how we prepare for games, and our systems are working well so far,” said Young. “The players have really bought into our approach, and we’ll continue to operate the same way.”

Getting Familiar with VCU

As expected, after quickly learning about BYU’s first opponent, Young has limited knowledge of VCU. The winner of BYU vs. VCU will face the winner of the 3-seed Wisconsin vs. 14-seed Montana matchup.

“I don’t know too much about them yet, but what I’ve learned is that they’re a strong defensive team. They create turnovers and are tough on the offensive boards,” Young explained.

VCU ranks ninth in scoring defense, allowing 62.4 points per game, and has the sixth-best scoring margin in the nation, winning by an average of 15 points per game.

BYU’s 2025 NCAA Tournament appearance is the 32nd in program history.

BYU vs. VCU First Round – 2025 NCAA Tournament

Location: Denver, Colorado

Arena: Ball Arena

Tip-Off: 2:05 p.m. (MDT)