The BYU Cougars enter their second season in the Big 12 having to navigate a coaching change after a solid first season in college basketball’s toughest conference.
Mark Pope led the Cougars to a 23-11 record, a seismic upset of Kansas in Lawrence and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. But, after the season, one of the few schools that could lure him away did — his alma mater, Kentucky.
Enter Kevin Young, a Salt Lake City native who has been oh-so-close to getting an NBA head-coaching job the past few years. The Cougars lured away the associate head coach of the Phoenix Suns to take over the program and help it level up in the Big 12.
Young has been a head coach — three times in the G League, the NBA’s feeder league. To get him to Provo, the Cougars had to out-do what he was already making in Phoenix — $2 million per year, the highest assistant coach salary in the league.
That’s how much faith athletic director Tom Holmoe has in the hire.
Here’s a preview of the BYU Cougars’ upcoming season.
Odds
BetOnline’s opening odds gave the Cougars +5000 odds to win the national title. The Big 12 coaches picked BYU to finish ninth in the preseason poll. BYU received votes in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.
Three Players to Watch
F Fousseyi Traore: He is the Cougars’ leading returning scorer after averaging 10.9 points and 5.2 rebounds. With the departure of several players to the transfer portal, including Aly Khalifa, more of the scoring load in the frontcourt will fall to him.
G Trevin Knell: There was some thought that Knell, a sharp-shooter who also happens to be a dogged defender, might transfer. But he stayed with the Cougars and he brings back his 10.6 points per game and 38% shooting from the arc with him.
G Egor Demin: A 6-9 guard? A shooter who played for the same Spanish club (Real Madrid) as Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic? He could have gone pro, and as a projected Top 5 NBA Lottery pick, BYU may only get him for a year. But it could be a huge year.
Biggest Strength
Athleticism. Young has put together a highly athletic team and that was before Demin opted to show up for his first college season. Along with Traore and Knell, guards Richie Saunders and Dallin Hall are also back and they averaged nearly 20 points combined and can run the floor. BYU’s top two transfers bring that, too — forwards Mawot Mag and Keba Keita. Between what he inherited and what he’s brought in, Young has crafted a versatile, athletic group of players that can be deployed in multiple ways and give teams fits.
Biggest Weakness
New coach, new scheme. BYU fired away from the 3-point line last season. It was a big part of what they did under Pope. Young would be wise to continue to let shooters shoot, so to speak. But with his long-time pro background — he hasn’t coached in college since Utah Valley in 2006 — how much of that NBA sensibility will he bring to the scheme? And how quickly will his new players take to it?
Season Prediction
It’s possible the coaches are selling BYU a bit short with a ninth-place ranking. After all, the Cougars were tied for fifth in the Big 12 last season and many of those players are back. Young brought in size through the portal which will help Traore. Demin will help the guards stretch the floor. Knell, Saunders and Hall are capable of dropping double figures every game. This team projects to win 17-20 games before it gets to the Big 12 Tournament.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
