The No. 19 University of Arizona men’s basketball team (18-8, 12-3 in Big 12) returns home to McKale Center as the Wildcats prepare to take on BYU (18-8, 9-6 in Big 12) on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. This matchup leads us into the last five regular-season games before heading into March Madness Selection Sunday on March 16 at 4 p.m. MST on CBS.
Arizona is coming off an impressive 74-67 victory over Baylor University on Feb. 17 where four Wildcats finished scoring in double digits. Arizona looks to gain its second consecutive win facing the Cougars.
History vs. BYU
Saturday’s game marks the 41st meeting between BYU and Arizona as the Wildcats lead the all-time series record, 21-19. The history between the two programs dates back all the way to Dec. 1, 1951, when the Cougars beat the Wildcats 68-62 in Provo, Utah.
Through the meetings that have built up over the years, the last time Arizona met with BYU was earlier in February when the Wildcats traveled to Utah, beating the Cougars 85-74 on Feb. 4. Saturday’s matchup looks to be highly anticipated as BYU looks to get revenge on Arizona’s home court.
BYU players to watch
The Cougars have built a 9-6 conference record this season and are currently on a three-game winning streak. Notably, two of these victories took place at home as BYU is led by head coach Kevin Young. Young played a vital part when he served as an associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns (2021-24), advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Despite only beginning his career at BYU in 2024, Young is the fourth-fastest head coach to win 10 games.
BYU’s latest victory came from a 34-point upset against the No. 23 University of Kansas, where five Cougars completed the night in double digits. Richie Saunders, a 6-foot-5 junior, led the way with 22 points, two rebounds and three assists on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. Saunders is also the Cougar’s leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, averaging a stat line consisting of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Trevin Knell also played a vital part in the Cougars’ victory over Kansas, collecting 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Knell, a 6-foot-5 graduate student, is BYU’s third top scorer, putting up 9.4 points and 2.6 boards per game.
Knell wasn’t the only player to produce impressive defense against the Jayhawks as Keba Keita, the Cougars’ leading rebounder, led the game with nine rebounds, two blocks and also scored 10 points. Keita, a 6-foot-8 junior, collects 7.7 rebounds, one block and 6.6 points per game.
Egor Demin, while being the team’s second-leading scorer, has only put up a combined 12 points in his last two games. A 6-foot-9 freshman from Moscow, Russia, Demin can pass and use his vision on the court to help his teammates. He leads the team in assists and is BYU’s second-leading scorer, boasting 5.5 assists, 10.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Wildcats to watch
Guided by fourth-year head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have accumulated an 11-2 home record this season, looking to gain another victory in McKale on Saturday. Lloyd has totaled an 88-20 record in his career at Arizona and holds the NCAA record for the most wins in his first two seasons (61).
Coming off a needed victory against Baylor, Tobe Awaka was a spark on the floor, leading the way with 14 points and 12 rebounds to secure a double-double. Notably, he was 6-for-9 from the floor and did not attempt any 3-pointers. Awaka, a crucial big man for the Wildcats, has cemented himself as the team’s leading rebounder, recording 7.9 rebounds, and 8.1 points per game.
Henri Veesaar, a 7-foot forward for the Wildcats, helped contribute on all points of the floor against the Bears. Showcasing his versatility, he scored 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Veesaar is another key defensive piece for Arizona, leading second in rebounds as he posts 4.8 boards, 8.7 points and 1.1 blocks per game.
