BYU is on fire. The Cougars survived a scare against the Wisconsin Badgers 91-89. The Cougars shot 93.8% from the free-throw line, something they struggled with throughout the season. Saunders dropped 25 points and 9 rebounds. The game came down to the final seconds and Badger's Senior Guard had the ball in his hands but could not connect thanks to Mawot Mag. The Cougars celebrated with a dunk after the buzzer.
BYU has some good things going for them this year. The Cougars are feeling the Jimmermania magic and the three-pointers are falling. BYU has started to figure out their free-throw issues and their defense has significantly improved. BYU is aggressive and physical, with the Cougars driving to the basket and defending closely. This is the best BYU team since Jimmer and the belief is there.
BYU does have some things to work on. Turnovers have been a concern and BYU sometimes gives up easy fast break points. Bad passes, lazy ballhandling, and bad decisions have caused BYU to give up leads and fall behind when they shouldn't have. BYU also can get confused on defense and they need to stay focused.
Alabama is a good team and BYU will be tested. Alabama plays fast and shoots a lot of threes. The Crimson Tide are strong and smart, which BYU will need an answer for. The Tide are among the best in three-point shooting and BYU has to establish the tempo they want to play with early.
Keys to the game for BYU:
1. Stay aggressive and set the tempo: BYU will need to stay aggressive, especially if the three-ball isn't falling. BYU has to be ready to drive the ball down to the hoop if the triples are not falling. Additionally, BYU will need to slow the game down and throw the Crimson Tide off its rhythm.
2. Stay smart on defense: BYU's defense is good when they are smart and connected. Alabama is an aggressive and fast-paced team and the Cougars must be viligant at all times.
3. Take smart shots: BYU is a good shooting team, but can get trigger-happy. BYU will need to play calm and find the best shot. The Cougars will need to be smart and not shoot too fast. The Cougars also have issues with the shot clock. BYU needs to balance patience with clock awareness.
BYU has a chance to beat Alabama in the Sweet 16, but they need to stay smart and not get hurried. BYU is a good team and can do great things. BYU needs to play aggressively, play smart and connected defense, and take smart shots. The Cougars have a chance to make a big splash on the national stage and they will need to stay focused.