BYU coach Kevin Young convinced himself his current team was different from the one that rolled into Houston this January and got boat raced by 31 points.
The Cougars were winners of nine straight games, up to No. 17 in the country and a popular pick to make the Sweet 16. They were undoubtedly better. Young was mostly right.
“Kevin’s done a good job,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said of BYU’s improvement since Jan. 4.
But there was one thing Young missed. When it comes to Houston specifically, this version of BYU wasn’t better equipped to see the No. 2 team in the country.
Just like January, BYU dug itself a monumental hole and didn’t have answers for Houston’s swarming physicality in a 74-54 loss.
Houston scored the first 15 points of the game and took a 21-point lead into the intermission. Point guard Egor Demin, who looked out of place the first time, appeared equally uncomfortable in the rematch. He had four turnovers in the first half and finished 2 of 9 from the field.
‘’The first game we played against them I thought it was all their defense,” Young said. “Tonight, I felt like we got a lot of shots in the first half that we normally get, that were good looks, that didn’t go down. I don’t want to discredit Houston. They’re an amazing team, and I’ve learned a lot from playing against them.’
BYU seldom had bright spots in its first Big 12 semifinal appearance. It shot 21% from three and committed 13 turnovers. Richie Saunders was held to 10 points and Trevin Knell mustered just two. Center Keba Keita led the group with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
“I know we’re undressing this game, but for me, I’m just excited for our group,” Young said. “To win nine of our last 10, the way we’ve played, it gives us a lot of momentum going into the NCAA Tournament. But you know, credit to Houston for playing well. We move on.”
Move on they will in 48 hours. BYU will know its fate on Selection Sunday.
Prognosticators have BYU anywhere from a five-seed to a seven. Joe Lunardi has BYU as a five-seed playing in Providence. In that scenario, it would see McNeese State and potentially Maryland.
Jerry Palm of CBS has BYU on the seven line facing Arkansas and possibly Alabama.
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