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Alabama Basketball 2024-25 Opponent Preview: BYU Cougars

For the third consecutive season, the Alabama Crimson Tide are back in the men's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

Yes, after wins over Robert Morris and Saint Mary's in the first and second rounds, respectively, the Crimson Tide have once again returned to the Sweet 16 where a matchup against what is likely their toughest challenge yet now awaits in the BYU Cougars.

An opponent from the Big 12, BYU is enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory, and are set to play their first Sweet 16 game since 2011. The Cougars are also making their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, as well their first under a new head coach.

The opponent standing between Alabama and their second consecutive Elite Eight appearance, here is a preview of the 2024-25 BYU Cougars.

BYU Cougars 2024-25 Team Overview

  • Conference: Big 12
  • Arena: Marriott Center, Provo, Utah
  • 2024-25 Record: 26-9 overall (14-6 in Big 12)
  • Ranking: No. 17 in AP Poll, No. 17 in Coaches Poll
  • NCAA Tournament Seed: No. 6 in East Region

The No. 6 seed in the East Region, BYU comes into this matchup against Alabama owning a 26-9 overall record, and are also coming off a first round win over No. 11 seed VCU, as well as a 91-89 second round upset of No. 3 seeded Wisconsin. A member of the Big 12 who went 14-6 in conference play during the regular season, BYU was also ranked as the nation's No. 17 team in both the AP and Coaches Poll prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament.

BYU Cougars 2024-25 Coaching Staff

  • Head Coach: Kevin Young
  • Assistant Coach: Will Voigt
  • Assistant Coach: Brandon Dunson
  • Assistant Coach: Chris Burgess
  • Assistant Coach: Tim Fanning
  • Assistant Coach: John Linehan

Leading the BYU men's basketball program is Kevin Young, who is in his first season at the helm of the Cougars, as he took over this season for now Kentucky head coach Mark Pope in Provo. Prior to BYU, Young was an associate head coach with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.

BYU Cougars 2024-25 Stats

  • PPG: 81.2 (No. 26 in NCAA)
  • PPG Allowed: 71.4 (No. 160 in NCAA)
  • FG%: 48.3
  • 2P%: 58.4
  • 3P%: 37.3
  • FT%: 71
  • RPG: 37.7
  • APG: 17.2
  • SPG: 7.1
  • BPG: 3.2

The Cougars rank among the nation's highest scoring teams at 81.2 points per game, which ranks No. 26 nationally, while also allowing 71.4 points per game themselves defensively. Other notable stats included BYU ranking as the nation's No. 8 team in combined two-point shooting percentage at 58.4%, while also Top 35 nationally in assists per game, three-pointers made and attempted, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage.

BYU Cougars 2024-25 Players to Know

  • Richie Saunders, Guard - Senior
  • Egor Demin, Forward - Freshman
  • Fousseyni Traore, Forward - Senior
  • Trevin Knell, Guard - Graduate Student
  • Keba Keita, Center - Junior

Leading the Cougars into this matchup against Alabama are two double-digit scorers in Richie Saunders and Egor Demin, the former of which leads BYU in scoring at 16.3 points per game on 43.1% shooting from three. BYU is also a deep team that has six others also averaging over 6.9 points per game, as well as two prominent rebounders in the duo of Fousseyni Traore and Keba Keita.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama vs. BYU: March Madness preview of Cougars

Read more at Yahoo Sports
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Topics

  • BYU
  • Alabama
  • Basketball
  • Vs
  • Sweet

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