Big 12 basketball power rankings: Is BYU’s Kevin Young conference coach of the year?

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Kevin Young was supposed to be a NBA head coach by now.

The 43-year-old was on track to lead a franchise after last season. But BYU called. A member of the Mormon church, coaching the Cougars was intriguing.

So much so that he left the Phoenix Suns for Provo, Utah.

And now, Young might be the Big 12 Coach of the Year.

BYU is the hottest team in the conference. Five straight wins, including back-to-back wins over top-25 teams for the first time since 1988, has them in fifth place.

The Cougars play fun basketball, an NBA-style offense that is taking the league by storm. They shot 50% from 3 but 40% from the free-throw line in a win over Arizona State.

Young has even boosted recruiting behind a strong name, image and likeness budget.

But his turnaround this season is impressive.

BYU started Big 12 play 2-4 before taking off. Now, Young should be the frontrunner to win Big 12 Coach of the Year and the Cougars are climbing in this week’s power rankings.

More: Oklahoma fan throws beer at Kentucky basketball players after Wildcats’ road win

PROVO, UT – FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Kevin Young of the Brigham Young Cougars calls for a play during the first half of their game against the Kansas State Jayhawks at the Marriott Center on February 18, 2025 in Provo, Utah.

Last week: 1

This week: vs. Cincinnati (Saturday); vs. Kansas (Monday)

What to know: At worst, the Cougars are the co-Big 12 regular season champions. No team has won a major conference title in its first two seasons in the league since Idaho in 1922-23. Now, can Houston get a No. 1 seed in March?

Last week: 2

This week: at Iowa State (Saturday); vs. Arizona State (Tuesday)

What to know: Arizona’s loss to BYU was a stunner, perhaps controversial. But fans chanting what they did at BYU players is unacceptable. Props to the administration for quickly stepping up to condemn the chant.

Last week: 4

This week: at Kansas (Saturday); vs. Colorado (Wednesday)

What to know: The Red Raiders split with Houston, the lone team in the conference to do…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/big-12-basketball-power-rankings-170222599.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2025-02-27 17:02:00

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