BYU basketball: Patience pays off as freshmen ‘figure it out’ in confidence-building wins

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BYU guard Egor Demin shoots a 3-pointer against Cincinnati at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. | Jaren Wilkey/BYU

In the midst of BYU’s three-game losing skid earlier this month, and especially after those highly discouraging losses at TCU and Utah, first-year Cougars basketball coach Kevin Young has preached patience.

He said they were executing well, but just not finishing.

He said they were an above-average shooting team, and that shots would start to drop.

He said the freshmen such as Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings would “figure it out” and start to play better.

He has been proven right on all three accounts.

If nothing else, recent blowout wins over Colorado (83-67) and Cincinnati (80-52) proved Young was on to something, even if the Buffaloes (0-8) and Bearcats (2-6) are among the weakest teams in the Big 12.

“I think guys are seeing and reaping the benefits of playing that way (at a faster pace, and with more purpose),” Young said after Saturday night’s walloping of Cincinnati. “… I think Egor is figuring it out. I think Dallin (Hall) is figuring it out. Even when Trev (Knell) is getting run off the (3-point) line, he is putting it on the deck (and getting to the basket). So I do think the message is getting across there.”

Perhaps Tuesday’s game against Baylor (13-6, 5-3) will be the real test, as the Bears come into the Marriott Center for a crucial Big 12 contest (7 p.m., ESPN2) having done something BYU was unable to do — smoke Utah at the Huntsman Center.

The Bears got a combined 43 points from Miami transfer Norchad Omier and freshman VJ Edgecombe to win 76-61 and sweep the Utes. Baylor did it without two of its best players, junior guard Langston Love (ankle) and Duke transfer Jeremy Roach (concussion protocol), who may or may not be available against the Cougars.

BYU is at full strength, and playing some of its best ball of the season.

“They are freaking good. I know they have had it rough a little bit with losing Roach….

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-basketball-patience-pays-off-003117504.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2025-01-27 00:31:00

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