Analysis: Once-hot BYU simply outclassed by No. 20 Arizona in demoralizing loss

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Arizona Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) dunks the ball while guarded by BYU Cougars center Keba Keita (13) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Sometimes, the other team is better, and plays better.

In a nutshell, that’s what happened to streaking BYU late Tuesday night at the Marriott Center, as No. 20 Arizona outplayed and outclassed the Cougars to take a 85-74 victory in front of 17,274 fans.

The Cougars were taken out of the game by the Wildcats’ superior execution when the crucial Big 12 contest was there for the taking, so BYU’s four-game winning streak was snapped and its chance to pick up a crucial Quad 1 win snuffed by a rapidly improving Arizona team that is tied for the Big 12 lead.

The Wildcats (16-6, 10-1) have to be the best six-loss team in the country.

“They are a good team. They beat us,” BYU coach Kevin Young said. “… We will move on and try to win the next game, which has been our attitude all year. It has been fun, actually, to help these guys pick themselves up when we come up short.”

The loss won’t hurt the Cougars’ NCAA Tournament chances, but a win would have probably moved them safely off the bubble.

In the first half, BYU (15-7, 6-5) played like a team deserving of going dancing, as the score was tied 41-41 at the break and the Cougars’ offense was free-flowing, getting out in transition, and getting easy buckets.

The Cougars made seven 3s in the first half.

But with about 10 minutes remaining in the game, everything dried up for the home team and Arizona kept on making plays to stay tied atop the league standings with Houston.

“These guys, they crushed it. They are playing so much better now than I am coaching, it is not even close,” said Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd. “That’s how you know you have a good team.”

BYU Cougars forward Mawot Mag (0) takes a shot while guarded by Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) during an NCAA…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/analysis-once-hot-byu-simply-080222927.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2025-02-05 08:02:00

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