KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was the sort of ball movement coaches preach in practice, but doesn’t always translate to a game, especially one as big as BYU’s Big 12 quarterfinal win over Iowa State.
Iowa State had just cut BYU’s lead to one point, 89-88, with 1:15 left after a made free throw by Curtis Jones. Even though the Cyclones were without both Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey, Jones had a huge game, scoring 31 points, and the Cyclones were not going away.
On the next trip down the floor, the Cougars had a chance to push the lead back to three, or perhaps four points. What followed next was essentially the game-winner, courtesy of — who else — guard Richie Saunders.
For more than 20 seconds, the Cougars moved the ball around the floor, shifting the Cyclones’ relentless defense. The fall finally found guard Dallin Hall on the right side of the floor. The defense had shifted enough to give him room to dribble to the paint. He drew two defenders and then stopped and kicked it to Saunders on the left wing, right behind the 3-point line.
For most of the game, the Cyclones had done a fine job defending Saunders. This time? The defense had shifted enough to give Saunders a wide-open 3-pointers. Saunders then did what he normally does with those kinds of looks.
He drained it, making it a four-point game with 49 seconds left. Not only was it a two-possession game, but the Cougars milked the clock. Iowa State never got any closer.
Saunders said the positioning was key. He got the ball where he wanted it, and he had his feet set the way he wanted them set.
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“You get the two feet (down), that little window,” Saunders said. “You know just talking about the two feet (window), it’s so key for us.”
As good a look as Saunders got, the window might as well have been wide open. But looking at the shot, you understand what he means. He received the ball right where he wanted it. He put both feet down and he was just behind the 3-point line. He was comfortable. It might have been the most-wide open he had been all day.
BYU shot 52% and shot worse than Iowa State’s 56%. But the difference on Thursday was the Cougars’ 10 turnovers, which was short of what the Cyclones were looking for, and Saunders’ dagger of a 3-pointer in the final minute.
Now, the Cougars head into the semifinals with a nine-game winning streak, as they will face either Houston or Colorado on Friday.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
