BYU Basketball: Three-point defense and other keys to beating UVU
By Shaun Gordon
Cougar fans still have a bad taste in their mouth from Utah Valley’s upset over BYU Basketball two years ago. The Cougars need to do three things to avoid repeating history.
It’s a Friday night matchup between the two teams that share the same street.
BYU Basketball will host Utah Valley in the UCCU Crosstown Clash, which could be alternately labeled the “University Parkway Clash,” or something to that effect.
Last season the Cougars got the better of the Wolverines on the west end of University Parkway, but BYU fans would like to forget the last time the two teams squared off on the east end.
Two seasons ago UVU completely shot the roof off of the Marriott Center, racing to a 114-101 upset over BYU in one of the Wolverines’ biggest wins of the Mark Pope era.
If the Cougars want any chance at a return to the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19 they can’t let the same thing happen again.
Here are three things that BYU has to do to avoid another crosstown upset:
1 – Defend the Perimeter
How did UVU pull off the upset two years ago? They shot lights out, especially from beyond the arc. The Wolverines hit a staggering 18 three-pointers in that game, a Marriott Center record.
Utah Valley isn’t afraid to hoist it from deep frequently, and they have good shooters. In their exhibition match against Westminster early in the week the Wolverines went 11-22 from three-point range, led by former Cougar Jake Toolson’s four treys.
If the Wolverines are able to get good open shots they’ll knock them down, and that’s the first part of any upset bid. The Cougars have to make UVU work for their shots, especially from distance, to avoid another loss to the Wolverines.