BYU had a fantastic nonconference slate going 12-1 with quality wins against Villanova, Wisconsin, Miami, Dayton, and Clemson. The purpose of those 13 games was to prepare Kevin Young's squad for the buzzsaw that is Big 12 conference play which tips off on January 3rd against Kansas State.
But before looking ahead to conference play, let's take a look back and give out some superlatives to BYU's key players. Today's spotlight is on senior stud Richie Saunders.
Richie Saunders's Nonconference Superlative: Most likely to get really hot -- or very cold
Richie Saunders is an absolute stud. The 6-foot-5 senior is coming off a breakout 2024-25 campaign in which he was named All-Big 12 First Team as well as the Big 12's Most Improved Player. Despite a slew of roster changes like the additions of AJ Dybantsa and Robert Wright III, both of whom are pretty ball dominant, Richie is still getting it done.
In conference play he is averaged a stellar 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
He's also shooting a blistering 51.0% from the field and 40.5% from the 3-point line.
So why is his nonconference superlative calling out his ability to get really hot -- or very cold?
It all comes down to Richie's shooting performance during two very big road games this year. In a tight win against Clemson he went 0-7 from the 3-point line, which felt like a shocking outlier for a guy who has hit over 40% of this 3s over the last two seasons.
But then five games later he once again went 0-of-7 from deep, this time in a two-point loss to No. 3 UConn.
Outside of those two games, Richie Saunders has been incredible from downtown. If you factor out the 0-of-14 off nights he experienced against Clemson and UConn, Richie is shooting a scorching 48.6% from the 3-point line in all of BYU's other nonconference games.
What Richie Saunders needs to do in Big 12 play
As the Cougars prepare for Big 12 play, going forward Richie Saunders just needs to be the ultimate wingman to AJ Dybantsa.
And that's not a slight at Richie, either.
In basketball terms, in Big 12 play Saunders needs to be the Scottie Pippen to AJ's Michael Jordan. Richie needs to be the young Kobe Bryant version to Dybantsa's Shaquille O'Neal. Both Pippen and Bryant are all time greats. They are Hall of Famers. And Richie Saunders could very well land on back-to-back All-Big 12 First Teams and get selected in the NBA Draft.
Richie is the perfect compliment to AJ.
Where Dybantsa is a true freshman, Saunders is a 24-year-old veteran senior.
Where AJ Dybantsa is the focus of the opposing defense, Richie Saunders is the perfect escape valve when the ball pressure builds on AJ. Richie is a dead-eye shooter, he's clutch, he's experienced. He's exactly the wingman a generational talent like AJ Dybantsa needs in order for both of them to maximize their potential and propel BYU to the program's first every Final Four.