Judging from the banter on sports radio talk shows and various social media sites, there might be a feeling out there amongst BYU basketball fans that the Cougars aren't doing as well this year compared to last.
Perhaps it is because of those blowout losses at Providence and Houston. Or maybe it is because BYU lost by a point in overtime to a mediocre Utah team in the first of two rivalry matchups this year.
The reality though is that BYU, 15-6 overall and 6-4 in the Big 12, is doing better this year, despite not being currently ranked. Midway through their 18-game league schedule last year, the Cougars were 4-5, a game below .500.
Saturday's humongous 93-89 win at UCF pushed BYU two games above .500 midway through their 20-game conference schedule this winter.
BYU is now tied for fifth with Kansas and Baylor after having been picked to finish ninth in the league.
The Cougars' first close road win "was really big," according to coach Kevin Young. "We know where we are at in our season. We let a couple games go early on in the year that we felt like were right there for us, and our guys stayed the course. We know that we have work to do and this was a step in the right direction for that against a good team who is well-coached."
Coincidentally, BYU tied with Kansas for fifth in the Big 12 last year and got the No. 5 seed in the Big 12 tournament due to its 76-68 win over the then-No. 7 Jayhawks at Phog Allen Fieldhouse.
BYU's s goal now is to win as many Quad 1 games as possible to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume' and climb in the standings. The top eight finishers in the regular season draw first-round byes in the Big 12 tournament.
The Cougars have clicked several boxes on their four-game winning streak, defeating Colorado on the road, breaking through with a close-game win in overtime against Baylor at home and then winning a close game on the road at UCF .
"That (win over UCF) means we have learned some things. We have lost some heartbreakers where it was just the same thing again and again," said BYU wing Richie Saunders after scoring a game-high 22 points in 29 minutes against the Knights.
"Things didn't go our way and we didn't finish (games) out. It just shows that we're learning and continuing to grow and learn as a team. We have lost some big ones, but we have learned how to close out close games, especially on the road. We are super happy."
The Cougars are also super deep.
Guys who would probably start on most teams in the country — such as veterans Fousseyni Traore, Dallin Hall and Dawson Baker — are coming off the bench and making significant contributions.
Even senior guard Trey Stewart , who seemed to constantly be in Mark Pope's dog house last year, is helping out. Stewart played eight minutes of outstanding defense Saturday, blocking a shot and also chipping in an assist on the offensive end.
Traore, meanwhile, went 4 of 6 from the field and made a free throw for nine points.
"We just have a lot of selfless players," graduate transfer Mawot Mag told the BYU Sports Radio Network after scoring a season-high 19 points.
"Everybody can shoot. We try to spray it out. We got great shooters. Trevin Knell, Dallin Hall, Richie, the whole team can shoot. We play very unselfish basketball, and we let the game come to us."
BYU is No. 34 in the NET rankings and No. 31 in KenPom.com after the win over UCF, but it doesn't get any easier now. The Cougars welcome Arizona (15-6, 9-1) to the Marriott Center on Tuesday night in a clash of two of the hottest teams in the league.
The Wildcats have a NET ranking of 11 and a Kenpom.com rating of 12 after an 81-72 win over Arizona State in Tempe on Saturday. Obviously, it is a Quad 1 opportunity, and a huge game, for both teams.
"I told the guys in the locker room: Don't be too high, don't be too low. … We were supposed to win, so it is good to embrace it," Mag said. "Now is time to move on and get ready for Arizona on Tuesday and win that one."
Arizona (15-6, 9-1) at BYU (15-6, 6-4)
Tuesday, 9 p.m. MST
At the Marriott Center
Provo, Utah
TV: ESPN
Radio: BYU Radio 107.9 FM/BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app
