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BYU Basketball: Keys to winning the Cougars’ final home game of 2018

By Shaun Gordon

SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 03: Yoeli Childs #23 of the BYU Cougars controls a rebound against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 3, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 03: Yoeli Childs #23 of the BYU Cougars controls a rebound against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 3, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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RENO, NV – NOVEMBER 06: Connor Harding #44 of the Brigham Young Cougars shoots a free throw 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: Connor Harding #44 of the Brigham Young Cougars shoots a free throw 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) /

Hit Foul Shots

Another disadvantage to a pressure defense is the propensity to foul.

The Vikings commit an average of 24.9 fouls per game. The Cougars draw an average of 21 per game.

That means BYU will likely see plenty of free throws on Wednesday night, and they need to hit them.

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Fortunately for the Cougars, they’ve drastically improved their free throw shooting as the season has progressed. BYU didn’t hit more than 70% of their free throws in any of their first five games (including exhibitions), but they’ve raised their average to 74.9%. That puts them at No. 43 in the nation.

Much of their success at the charity stripe is due to Yoeli Childs. The big man has shot the most free throws of any Cougar, and he’s improved his shooting at the line to 75.9%.

As a whole the team is doing well. Every rotation player besides Connor Harding and McKay Cannon is shooting 73% or better, which makes it hard to find and foul a bad Cougar shooter in late-game situations.

BYU should be able to hit their foul shots against Portland State, but it’ll be more important than usual that they do it against Portland State. Because they’ll spend so much time at the charity stripe they’ll need to convert those opportunities, or it will allow the Vikings to stay in the game and have a chance for the upset in crunch time.

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