BYU coach Kevin Young’s team is riding high after a stunning 91-57 win over Kansas, but the Cougars’ success won’t last long as they face their toughest test yet against No. 19 Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center in Tucson.
The victory moved BYU to the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble and earned the Cougars top billing in Bracket Matrix projections, with Young’s team appearing in all 108 surveyed brackets. The latest NET rankings place BYU at No. 30 for the first time this season, while Kenpom.com ratings also rank the Cougars at No. 30.
Young believes his team is peaking and is looking forward to a bonding experience on their longest road trip of the season. “It could be a good bonding moment as we kind of get towards the end of the year,” he said.
However, BYU’s chances against Arizona are uncertain, given the Wildcats’ impressive record against the Cougars, including 15-4 in Tucson. Arizona is 21-19 all-time against BYU and boasts one of the best rosters in the college world under coach Tommy Lloyd.
Young warns that his team will need to be physical and believe in themselves to take down the Wildcats. “Just that internal belief is what we gotta bottle up and continue to play with that kind of confidence,” he said.
The game marks a significant moment for BYU, which can secure an NCAA berth with a win and boost its chances for a top-four seed in the Big 12 tournament. With Arizona opening as a 7.5-point favorite, the stakes are high for Young’s team.
“We gotta treat them with respect,” Lloyd said. “They’re on a little winning streak right now.” The Wildcats have won two straight games and defeated Baylor 74-67 on Monday to get back on track.
BYU point guard Dallin Hall is excited to face Arizona, saying, “Super excited (to go to Arizona),… We are going to go down there and leave everything we have out there, both at Arizona and Arizona State.”
Source: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/02/21/byu-advance-basketball-cougars-arizona-kevin-young-offense-defense