NEWARK, N.J. — The Utahns on BYU’s roster have faint recollections of the final time the Cougars made the Candy 16, the 2010-11 group led by Jimmer Fredette.
“I most likely was in class watching them, attempting to sneak it on my cellphone and attempting to tune in,” North Salt Lake native Trevin Knell stated Wednesday.
BYU has matched that feat in Kevin Younger’s first season as its coach. Now the sixth-seeded Cougars are getting ready to face second-seeded Alabama, a rising basketball energy in its personal proper, within the East Area semifinals on Thursday.
Younger, who hails from Salt Lake Metropolis, took the BYU job final spring after increase a resume within the G League and as an NBA assistant. He desires the Cougars (26-9) to be a premier vacation spot for growing gamers into skilled expertise.
His days doing advance scouting for the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns have turned out to be one other built-in benefit.
“I’ve referenced lots of these sport plans usually with our teaching employees and with our gamers,” Younger stated. “I believe when you’ll be able to say, ‘That is how we stopped Dame Lillard’ or ‘That is how we stopped whoever,’ that offers them vibrant eyes they usually pay attention somewhat bit extra.”
One of many Cougars’ chief duties Thursday might be stopping Mark Sears, the two-time All-American guard who averages 18.6 factors and 5.0 assists to guide Alabama.
The Crimson Tide (27-8) have reached their third straight Candy 16 and their fourth in 5 years, and Sears has performed 12 NCAA Match video games between Ohio (2021) and Alabama.
He’s the engine of an Alabama offense that ranks No. 1 in Division I in each scoring (90.8 ppg) and tempo (per KenPom.com).
“We have been practising making the reads going 100% and going quick, and now it is simply making the appropriate reads,” Sears stated. “We all the time play with creating benefits. So after we’re taking part in that quick, we will almost definitely create a bonus inside six seconds.”
Sears had 22 factors and 10 assists in opposition to Robert Morris within the first spherical, and 6 gamers scored in double figures in Alabama’s second-round win over Saint Mary’s.
If Alabama’s offense is thought for pace, BYU’s hallmark is effectivity. The Cougars rank top-30 in 3-point proportion (37.3 %) and top-10 on 2-pointers (58.4 %).
“We will not give them easy threes,” Sears stated. “Easy threes is they only shoot a 3, rock you to sleep, proper in your face. And we have got to do an important job of that and we have got to attempt to restrict rotations as a lot as doable.”
Richie Saunders leads the Cougars with 16.3 ppg and shoots 43.1 % from the arc, and he scored a team-high 25 of their 91-89 victory over Wisconsin within the second spherical. However one other seven BYU gamers put up between 6.9 and 10.5 factors per contest.
Alabama coach Nate Oats stated BYU runs one of many extra fashionable offenses within the sport, and he complimented Younger for his success in Yr 1. Oats is aware of one thing about being a hotshot coach on the rise, from turning Buffalo right into a frequent match group to his constant success with Alabama, together with a Ultimate 4 final 12 months.
With a heavy funding in athletics, BYU is constructing in that course. The gamers additionally take pleasure in getting access to a program legend like Fredette.
“I have been speaking to Jimmer a ton,” Knell stated. “He is given me a ton of assist, a ton of recommendation for the primary two rounds, after which I referred to as him once more on Monday and he gave me some recommendation going into the Candy 16.
“Jimmer, he received two video games in Denver after which the Candy 16, so it is enjoyable to write down our historical past but additionally replay that historical past, as properly.”
–Adam Zielonka, Subject Degree Media
