Saunders catches a pass already carrying the momentum of a Shinkansen bullet train. His destination? A one-way trip direct into the paint, with a final stop at the rim. Does he plan on snatching a wicked crossover? A crippling step back? A soul-shattering maneuver capable of stealing the spirit of his witless adversary?
No sir, Richie's flight is direct. His intentions are unshaken. His objectives are untouchable.
Richie Saunders' status in the BYU basketball zeitgeist has approached something akin to a folk hero in recent years. The stereotypical BYU hooper, Richie embodies exactly what many imagine when they think of BYU hoops: a return missionary, sharpshooter, local kid who was born and raised in the Beehive State. Starting as a specialized bench tool as a freshman, advancing to Mark Pope's load-bearing glue guy, then resisting the temptation to follow his coach to Kentucky with Collin Chandler.
Finally finishing his Junior season as a no-doubter first-team All-Conference star, Saunders was the head of the spear of the newly-instated Kevin Young regime in Provo.
It's not hard to understand why Saunders has become a fan favorite.
But with one more season approaching from over the horizon, and an inescapable question with it, what's the next evolution of Richie Saunders?
Crowded Lab
BYU basketball has a very enviable problem on their hands -- too many mouths to feed, but only one basketball on the court. Of course, the roster is stuffed with complementary skill sets, but after being the team's leading scorer last season, he may take something of a backseat when it comes to shouldering the scoring load.
Good news: AJ Dybantsa, Kennard Davis, and Rob Wright are all talented playmakers capable of creating their own offense. Pieces like Tyler Mrus and Dawson Baker will ease the load for the long-range attack, alongside Richie's deadly 43% clip from last season. In the second season of Kevin Young's offensive system, Saunders still intends to place his fingerprints on every facet of the game.
Many hands make light work -- talented hands in this case -- but making new discoveries could be a slightly cumbersome task in a crowded research lab.
The way I see it, his hustle, leadership, experience, passion, and unmatched drive will be the engine of the basketball program in this critical season. He can be a defensive beacon -- the pumping heart of the team's efforts without the ball. He can pick his spots offensively, and see increased space for off-ball cuts as his defender's eyes are fly-papered to the inescapable Dybantsa. Slashing and tearing the defense to scraps, his on-paper numbers and usage percentage may take a bit of a hit, but the freedom to operate may be higher than ever.
Let's not forget his clutch finishes and unshaken confidence when his output carries the most weight and success is mandatory.
BYU basketball needs the best version of Richie Saunders to compete for the Big 12 title. BYU basketball needs the most optimized version of their graduated glue guy to reach the peaks of the sport (such as, dare I say, the Final Four?). With an extra season under Coach Young's program, he could become a standout on the national level.
For one last ride, Richie Saunders has a chance to cement a lasting legacy of excellence on the hardwood. The college basketball world is not ready.