Dominique Diomande has been a revelation in Kevin Young's rotation

Few teams have been in greater need of bench production than BYU basketball this season. Losing five players to injury, the Cougars' lineups have been shallow, and their Big 3 of Dybantsa, Wright, and Saunders have been left alone to carry the offensive load.

So how are we just now discovering what freshman Dominique Diomande can do in Kevin Young's lineup?

Diomande, a transfer from Washington and international prospect from Paris, France, has spent the majority of the regular season watching his teammates play from the sidelines. He's averaged just 6.1 minutes in 21 appearances for the Cougars, primarily appearing for a couple of minutes in the middle of the contest or well into garbage time, once the outcome of the game had essentially been decided.

But as soon as the games become do-or-die, Diomande has been tossed into the rotation, and he's making an undeniable impact.

He brings plenty to the party. When he transferred to BYU, his jump-out-of-the-arena athleticism and length had fans salivating. Think of the lobs, the dunks, and the killer hustle that Diomande could supply to the Cougars' top-end talent.

Yet he had been barred from the rotation for much of the year, even as Pickens, Kozlowski, Baker, Staton, and finally Saunders went down for the season with injury. The bench grew more and more shallow with every passing month, yet Diomane's seat remained warm.

Not in the Big 12 Tournament, though. In March, Diomande is finally making his stand, and it's been just the energy boost his BYU team needed.

On the ball, Diomande is very limited. Not much of a shooter, nor is he very tight with his dribble, Diomande has maximized his impact as a slasher and a defender. The perfect compliment for an AJ Dybantsa isolation, Diomande is looking to dive to the rim via the baseline. With all eyes on the potential number-one pick, nobody marks Dominique, whose Superman impression could make even Clark Kent blush as he elevates and soars to the rim.

Oh, and when defense turned to offense -- as it often did during the Cougars' 68-48 win over West Virginia -- you don't want to see him get out into open space if you're a Mountaineer.

Yeesh.

Diomande posted six points, three steals, and a block in 15 minutes on Wednesday night. His emergence has been revelatory this postseason.