The University of Arizona’s men’s basketball team (15-6, 9-1 in Big 12) continues to stay on the road as the Wildcats head to Provo, Utah to take on BYU (15-6, 6-4 in Big 12) on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the Marriott Center at 9 p.m.
History vs. BYU
Arizona and BYU have seen each other 39 times over the span of the two programs’ 59 year history. The most recent match occurred on Dec. 11, 2010, where BYU won 87-65. Out of all the matches played, the Wildcats trail the Cougars in series history 20-19. Due to the distance since they last saw each other, the game could go either way.
BYU players to watch
The Cougars are led by head coach Kevin Young. Prior to leading BYU in the 2024 season, Young served as the Phoenix Suns Associate head coach from 2021-2024. He’s led the team to a 6-4 standing in conference play for the season, 15-6 overall.
Richie Saunders, a 6-foot-5 junior guard, leads BYU in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. On top of his offensive efforts, Saunders averages 4.2 rebounds per game and has collected 25 steals this season. From inside the arc, he shoots 51.2%, while from outside, Saunders shoots 45.3%.
In BYU’s most recent 81-75 win against the University of Central Florida, Saunders scored a game-high 22 points to help secure the Cougar’s victory. His offensive efforts did not go unnoticed as Saunders went 6-for-9 from outside the arc, and 8-for-14 from inside the paint.
A 6-foot-8 junior forward, Keba Keita, leads the Cougars in rebounds with 8.1 per game average. Offensively, Keita contributes 6.4 points per game. With 16 blocks for the season, another team high, Keita is a formidable presence beneath the hoop.
Keita’s defensive efforts against UCF were nothing short of impressive. He brought down seven boards, the second highest in the game while offensively scoring 10 points by going 4-of-6 from inside the arc. Keita makes his presence known on both sides of the court.
Egor Demin, a 6-foot 9-freshman forward, trails Saunders for the Cougars averaging 10.7 points per game. Despite being a freshman, Demin proved to be a well-rounded player on the court, contributing 4.1 one rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He is also tied with Saunder with a team-high 25 steals for the season.
In the Cougar’s overtime 93-89 win against Baylor on Jan. 28, Demin put up 15 points for BYU. Notably, he had six assists, two rebounds and one steal. As a first year, Demin saw 26 minutes on the court and shot 5-for-10 from the field.
Wildcats to watch
Arizona is led by fourth-season head coach, Tommy Lloyd. Lloyd has guided the Wildcats to significant victories this season, including their recent win over No. 8 Iowa State University on Jan. 27. Although only recently ranked this season, the Wildcats are hopeful to have a bright future entering the postseason with Lloyd leading the team game by game.
Caleb Love, a fifth year guard and transfer from the University of North Carolina, has been dominating the court offensively. Love made a beyond half-court shot to force the game against Iowa State into overtime, where Arizona came away with the 86-75 win. During that match, Love contributed 22 points, the highest scored on either team. This was just the beginning for Love.
In Arizona’s game on Feb. 1 against rival ASU, Love recorded 27 points, seven assists and six rebounds. He, once again, led both teams in points. Love has proven himself a threat from outside the arc as well, shooting 5-for-9 against ASU and impressively going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Defensively, Tobe Awaka, 6-foot-8 junior forward, has been a defensive key beneath the hoop. Against Iowa State, Awaka brought down 12 rebounds, a game-high. On top of crashing the glass, Awaka scored 17 points, the second most for the Wildcats in that game, following Love. Additionally, he shot a perfect 6-for-6 inside the paint and went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe
For the season, Awaka averages 7.8 rebounds per game, the most for any Wildcat by over three rebounds. He pairs that with an average of 7.6 points per game. Awaka has been crucial for Arizona over the course of the season, fitting in seamlessly with the team.
Carter Bryant, a 6-foot-8 freshman forward, has been making a notable impact on the court in recent games. In Arizona’s rivalry match against ASU, Bryant put up 8 points and brought down 10 rebounds, a game-high. He has been proving himself more with each minute he’s played on the court for the Wildcats.
In Arizona’s thrilling win over Iowa State, Bryant put Arizona in an unbeatable position in overtime minutes. Scoring 14 points, Bryant went 5-for-7 from inside the paint and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. He found his footing at the baseline, sinking two 3-pointers in the extra period.
Follow the Daily Wildcat on Instagram and Twitter/X
