Kevin Young started his first NCAA Tournament off the right way with an 80-71 win over VCU on Thursday afternoon.
With the victory, BYU (25-9) moves on to the Round of 32 where they’ll face Big Ten tournament runner-up, Wisconsin. Here are a few thoughts on the game and what it means for the Cougars moving forward.
Inside, Outside, Don’t Matter
BYU made a name for itself all season long as one of the top shooting teams in the nation, ranking sixth in effective field goal percentage (.572). Much of that success comes from them averaging 10 three-pointers per game and shooting over 37% from deep. They stayed on fire from the field, shooting 50.0% from the field against a VCU defense that ranked 23rd in efficiency and eighth in scoring.
The difference today was BYU’s play inside, as they got pretty much whatever they wanted in the paint. The Cougars outscored VCU 38-20 in the paint and had a 40-31 rebounding advantage. Keba Keita (9 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Fousseyni Traore (13 points, 9 rebounds) both finished just shy of double-doubles, while Richie Saunders (16 points) and Egor Demin (15 points) combined for 31 points and kept the Cougars offense balanced and potent.
Late-Game Drama Avoided
The final score might not tell the entire story, but BYU was in complete control for about three-quarters of this game. VCU’s last lead of the game was with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half, and from that point on, BYU’s offense nursed a lead that swelled to 20 at one point.
However, with just over a minute left in the game, VCU drew within single digits and made it interesting. The Rams were excellent from deep, hitting 15-of-38 from three and actually outscored the Cougars 43-41 in the second half. But, as the time withered away, BYU’s free throw shooting (19-28) was just too good and their lead was too great for VCU to overcome.
The NBA Model Continues to Work
Kevin Young has led BYU’s resurgence in 2024-25, and his NBA-style offense has officially translated to the tournament, guiding the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament win since 2011. Excellent guard play combined with a balanced and physical attack in the paint has given BYU a squad that is capable of making some real noise in this tournament.
If BYU continues to shoot the ball the way that it has over the last several weeks, they’ll be a tough out for any defense. Against one of the better statistical defenses in their region, the Cougars scored right around their season average and arguably left some points out there. Now, they’ll get a Wisconsin team that’s allowing just over 70 points per game this season.
What’s Next?
BYU will get a couple of days to rest up, and then they’ll take on the No. 3 seed Wisconsin in the Round of 32. The Badgers finished as the runner-up in the Big Ten Tournament and are fresh off an 85-66 win over Montana on Thursday.
