Show summary Hide summary
BYU’s basketball program is navigating a rough patch after a loss to Houston that extended the team’s skid to four games. Coach Kevin Young publicly challenged his frontcourt after the defeat, pressing for cleaner finishes and better free-throw work as the Cougars try to regain momentum in a strong Big 12 race.
Coach Young’s direct critique of the bigs and what it means
After the game Young made his frustration plain about the play near the rim. He criticized the team’s centers for missed shots and missed opportunities at the free-throw line.
Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. earns rare Kyrie Irving comp from Bill Simmons
Sean Penn awarded Oscar forged from war-damaged Ukrainian train: he skipped the ceremony
Young said the interior finishers must be more reliable on simple plays. He pointed to a combined 3-of-10 shooting performance from two key bigs and a 3-of-8 split at the charity stripe.
- Those numbers translate to several missed layups and a handful of lost free throws.
- The coach emphasized that such misses are decisive against quality opponents.
- Young also used film and practice feedback to make his point to the roster.
Where BYU stands in the Big 12 and why the slide matters
The loss to Houston dropped BYU to 5-5 in conference play and 17-6 overall. The recent defeats have come against some of the league’s strongest teams.
- Recent losses include Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Arizona.
- The skid threatens the Cougars’ seeding and bubble profile for the NCAA tournament.
- Young is in his second season, succeeding Mark Pope, who left for Kentucky.
AJ Dybantsa: a bright spot as the team struggles
Freshman AJ Dybantsa has stood out in an otherwise uneven stretch. He is BYU’s leading scorer and carries much of the offensive burden.
- Dybantsa is averaging about 24 points per game.
- He poured in 28 points against Houston, showing elite scoring ability.
- His production gives BYU a go-to option when other pieces falter.
Coach’s response: ramped-up film work and tougher practices
Young said he increased scrutiny in meetings and on the practice floor after the loss. He told players he expected cleaner execution and more urgency against top-level opponents.
The coach admitted this was the toughest stretch of instruction he’s delivered at BYU so far. He emphasized accountability and repeated the need to finish plays at the rim.
Key issues to address before facing Baylor
To halt the skid BYU must correct a few clear problems.
- Finish more shots in the paint and reduce easy misses.
- Improve free-throw consistency, especially from the bigs.
- Close out games against high-caliber opponents with cleaner execution.
BYU will try to end the losing streak when it travels to play Baylor on Tuesday. The program hasn’t dropped five straight games since 2005.
