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BYU Basketball: Three-point defense and other keys to beating UVU

By Shaun Gordon

PROVO, UT - FEBRUARY 02: TJ Haws #30 of the Brigham Young Cougars fights for the ball with Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during a game at Marriott Center on February 2, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - FEBRUARY 02: TJ Haws #30 of the Brigham Young Cougars fights for the ball with Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during a game at Marriott Center on February 2, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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RENO, NV – NOVEMBER 06: Rylan Bergersen #1 of the Brigham Young Cougars moves the ball down the court during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Brigham Young Cougars at Lawlor Events Center on November 6, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NV – NOVEMBER 06: Rylan Bergersen #1 of the Brigham Young Cougars moves the ball down the court during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Brigham Young Cougars at Lawlor Events Center on November 6, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

2 – Shoot it Well

We mentioned before that getting hot from distance is the first key to an upset. The other half of the equation is a cold-shooting night from the favored team.

This was one of our keys to beating Nevada as well, but the Cougars shot abysmally in Reno, only hitting six of their 31 three-pointers, good for 19.4%. That’s not a whole lot worse than they shot in their exhibitions, going a combined 12-38 in the two wins.

The shooting slump to start the season has been apparent enough that head coach Dave Rose had to address the issue in a post-practice interview earlier this week.

Friday night’s tilt with UVU would be a good time for the Cougars to break out of their slump.

In the Wolverine upset two years ago BYU only hit six of 21 from deep. That stark contrast in shooting made the difference in the game.

That doesn’t mean that the Cougars have to start slinging the ball from distance on every possession. They’ve got a dominant force in the paint in Yoeli Childs, and he should get the lion’s share of the touches.

But if BYU can’t hit from deep the opponent will pack the paint, dare the Cougars to shoot, and slow down Childs. Nevada did just that, especially in the second half, and UVU will do the same if BYU can’t hit their shots when given good looks.

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