Cougars approaching No. 23 Kansas’ visit in ‘businesslike’ fashion

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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kevin Young yells to his players from the sideline during a game between BYU and the Kansas State Wildcats at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

The emotional edge, if there is such a thing, seems to be on Kansas’ side as the Jayhawks roll into the Marriott Center on Tuesday night for a battle with BYU that has been years in the making for the Cougars and their faithful fans.

Kansas, which fell from No. 17 to No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings released Monday after Saturday’s 74-67 loss at Utah, is angry and has to be feeling like it has been backed into a corner. The team picked to win the Big 12 has been mildly disappointing, and is out of contention for the regular-season title.

The Jayhawks will also be out for revenge, having been upset 76-68 by BYU in Lawrence last year.

Just don’t try telling all that to first-year BYU coach Kevin Young, who said Monday he doesn’t believe that past results — be they from three nights ago or a year ago — have anything to do with future performances.

“You could make that narrative: ‘Oh, they are going to be hungry and this and that,’” Young said Monday in his weekly press briefing. “Well, so are we. We have played a couple good games in a row, but we are hungry as well. So, I think all that stuff kinda goes out the window once the ball gets thrown up. You just gotta execute the game plan.”

The ball goes up shortly after 7 p.m. MST on Tuesday, with ESPN televising the first-ever matchup between BYU and Kansas at the Marriott Center.

The Jayhawks have played in Provo before, but their 80-70 loss to the Cougars in 1960 came at the Smith Fieldhouse. The 17,978-seat Marriott Center, which is sold out, opened in 1971.

BYU-Kansas preview

The teams have identical records — 17-8 overall and 8-6 in Big 12 play — but much different offensive styles.

BYU loves the 3-pointer, while KU runs its attack around…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cougars-approaching-no-23-kansas-001456143.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2025-02-18 00:14:00

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