Kevin Young has BYU basketball on its biggest stage since 2011. When the Cougars play Alabama on Thursday night in the Prudential Center, the world will be watching.
But first, the world is talking about the Cougars chances against the Tide in New Jersey.
BYU comes in as a 4.5-point underdog against a program that went to the Final Four last year. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be close.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas expects Young’s group to push Alabama — even if he thinks Bama pulls it out. He put the two-seed on upset alert, saying the game could be a “track meet.”
KenPom also has BYU losing narrowly, in a five-point game in the 80s.
It’s not all bad, though.
Charles Barkley has the Cougars pulling out a win.
Now to the actual game we go.
The Big Thing
Alabama head coach Nate Oats yells to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Morehead State, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Before Young arrived in the college game, Nate Oats was seen as the NCAA’s NBA-style offensive wizard.
His teams averaged over 90 points per game in the last two years. His worst offense at Alabama put up 79 points a night.
So what does Oats think of Young’s system? The two actually have a relationship.
“I’ve actually gotten to know Kevin pretty well. I’ve gone to the Suns training camp a couple times when Monty [Williams] was the coach and he was the assistant there. And he’s great,” Oats said. “I’ve kind of been interested to follow him as he got into college. He’s done a really good job there. I’ve watched him a little bit here and there.”
BYU reminds him of Alabama’s offense.
“They’re definitely way more stylistically like us,” Oats said. “They’re not easy to cover. He’s running great sets. They’ve got shooters all over the place. They’re good.”
But is he looking forward to a game in the 90s? That he isn’t so sure about.
“I don’t know that I want to say it’s refreshing to go against somebody that plays like us because I think we’re really tough to guard, and we’ve led the country in scoring the last two years,” Oats said.
“I don’t think anybody is saying it’s refreshing to play Alabama, whoever is running the defense for the other team,” he continued. “I mean, in a way, maybe it’s not such a smash mouth game like playing football out there like some of these teams.”
He will have a more complete understanding of the Cougars on Wednesday when his team practices in Newark. Until then, he’s preparing for wrinkles in Young’s system.
“We’re going to have to make adjustments to it because I’m sure he’ll make adjustments,” he said. “I would not use the word ‘refreshing’ to play against an offense like BYU has. That’s probably not the correct word.”
Fourth down
Saunders has become a household name for leading the Cougars to the Sweet 16. I spoke with BYU’s guard about nearly going to Kentucky last year — dreaming of NCAA Tournament wins. Now that he’s stayed, he is dancing alongside the Wildcats anyway. But this is his history.
Hall didn’t know if he made the right choice coming back to Provo last year. He got caught up in the Egor Demin-Hall debate. He is back to playing critical minutes for Kevin Young and has found his niche in the offense.
Baker was ejected with three minutes left against Wisconsin. He had to watch the final play from the lockerroom by himself — instead of closing out the game. But what is one more sacrifice in a season full of them for the 1,000 point scorer?
He might be an X-factor as BYU tries to keep pace with Alabama.
Demin saved his best basketball for the NCAA Tournament. He’s shooting the ball at a higher clip, with back-to-back games in double digits. We wrote about Demin’s trip through the shooting wilderness, and BYU’s higher ceiling when he’s playing like this.
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