This is it. Big 12 Conference play. The non-conference slate gave us a taste of what this BYU basketball team is capable of, but nothing compares to the significance of every league matchup. Arizona State invades the Marriott Center tonight--are the Cougars prepared to defend home court?
Forget everything you knew about Arizona State from last season, head coach Bobby Hurley has a squad loaded with talent, as five of his players are averaging double digits in scoring after 11 games. Don't forget about Joson Sanon, the five-star freshman who would've been a Cougar this season had it not been for strict admission standards.
He's hooping this year, as are the rest of the Sun Devils. With a top-10 drubbing at the hands of Florida aside, they haven't suffered a bad loss in the preseason. Much of that is thanks to a weak schedule, sure, but the Sun Devils played Gonzaga to the wire in Spokane--no small feat.
Don't expect a 77-49 explosion like we saw when these teams met up in 2023, the Sun Devils have come to play, and they have a bit of coaching experience on their side. Keep in mind that Kevin Young, while talented and obviously moving the program in the right direction, is still new to being a head coach.
A win tonight sets the tone for BYU in conference play, and with the likes of Kansas, Iowa State, Houston, Baylor, and so many more talented teams lining the gauntlet, the Cougars will take every win they can get on their way to a hopeful tournament bid. Tonight is a winnable game.
Key Questions vs. Arizona State
Can the shooters keep it up?
Trevin Knell and Richie Saunders have been averaging well above 40% from beyond the arc this season. Kanon Catchings and Egor Demin aren't far behind. Dawson Baker can score from anywhere on the floor. Can they keep this up against tougher competition?
The game will speed up, the athletes are greater in number and quality in the Big 12 Conference, and the 3-point looks will be much less clean.
Trevin Knell has been known to shrink against tougher competition, as his numbers took a dip in Big 12 play last season. While it may not be fair or tell the full story, many felt Knell's shooting ability was a critical aspect of the Cougars' success. They'll need him to catch fire if his team wants to find success in the brutal schedule ahead of them.
Can Egor raise his level of play in the Big 12?
Let's face it: Egor Demin wasn't impressive against Providence or Ole Miss, and his team paid for it. Forcing shots and failing to effectively manipulate the defense, BYU's Russian star fell flat when the difficulty slider turned up. After resting from an injury for the past few weeks, he'll need to make a statement against Arizona State to keep his draft stock high.
Arizona State, like the rest of the conference, will prepare for the Cougars with Egor in mind. He's the nucleus of the team--if you can slow him down, you can damage their operation from the core.
Fortunately, Egor is at his best when he can get his teammates involved. If the shooters are hitting, and the offense is fluid and well-spaced, Egor is still one of the most talented hoopers in the draft class.
Can Kevin Young adjust to the pace of Big 12 hoops?
The Big 12 may be the best conference in basketball this season (though the SEC may have something to say about that). That means that they won't be taking it easy on Kevin Young, though he may be a rookie.
Houston looms right around the corner, and this battle with ASU will be his final preparation for what will be the toughest team BYU has faced all year.
Will he be out-coached? Occasionally, sure, and that's more than okay while he still figures it out. The key will be how he adjusts. Can he make in-game adjustments to change the flow of a game? Can he prepare his team for any number of strategies to find the weak spots in a team's game plan? All questions that we can't foresee before things gets real.
BYU are almost favored by double-digits in this one--let's hope the Cougars give us a show on New Year's Eve.