The ‘S’ in Saunders is for Superman

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BYU’s Richie Saunders dribbles the ball down the court during a game between BYU and the Kansas State at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

D.C. Comics debuts its new “Superman” in theaters nationwide on July 11. BYU fans don’t have to wait that long. The Cougars Man of Steel is already here.

When Richie Saunders hit a pair of free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining Saturday night to upset No. 19 Arizona in Tucson, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound junior from Riverton solidified his place in Cougar lore as one worthy and willing to wear the cape and save the day.

In true Hollywood form, Saunders’ heroics came on the same floor where BYU’s former Superman — Jimmer Fredette — set the McKale Center record for most points in a game when he dropped 49 on the Wildcats in 2009.

Saunders was just seven years old at the time. Back then he was a dreamer. On Saturday, and throughout BYU’s second season in the Big 12, he has been a doer.

Never to be mistaken for a bird or a plane, Saunders has found different ways to fly around. His tenacity, which includes deceptive speed and shiftiness, makes him an anytime threat to score at the rim and his high release jump shot is almost impossible to block.

In the rematch at Arizona, Saunders scored 23 points by making eight of 10 shots, including four of five 3-pointers and four of five free throws — with his last two deciding the game. Saturday wasn’t the first time he saved the day or led the way and it likely won’t be his last.

What Saunders has done this season started with a choice he made last summer. After reaching the NCAA Tournament, he watched his head coach walk out the door and take a couple of big pieces with him (Jaxson Robinson and prized recruit Collin Chandler).

Like the pied piper, Mark Pope played his tune for Saunders to follow, too. Richie and his wife Sierra even flew to Kentucky to take a look around. After the visit, they determined the famed…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/saunders-superman-215849366.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2025-02-24 21:58:00

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