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BYU is coming into the ultimate third of the common season, which coach Mark Pope phrases “the championship-third of the season.”
Every week in the past, the Cougars had received seven of their earlier eight video games, sat in second place within the West Coast Convention standings, and have been on the cusp of leaping again into the Related Press High 25 rankings.
That was till an terrible weekend that noticed BYU drop video games at Santa Clara and Pacific and tumble to fourth within the WCC standings.
The Cougars start this closing stretch of the common season Thursday (8 p.m. MST, CBS Sports activities Community) in opposition to one other one of many league’s prime groups, San Francisco.
“We've a bit of little bit of path of how we need to reset going into this final third,” Pope mentioned. “I feel the fellows perceive and it's got us all a bit of bit nervous and a bit of bit anxious. However I’m enthusiastic about it. It’s a spotlight and an understanding that we’re all sharing proper now.”
With February upon us, BYU, like many groups, ought to be feeling a way of urgency, figuring out that March is simply weeks away.
“It’s a good time of 12 months and we now have an awesome group of younger males and an awesome locker room,” Pope mentioned. “It is going to be enjoyable to see what they will do.”
Again on Jan. 15, the Cougars rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the Dons at Battle Memorial Gymnasium, simply days after getting blown out by No. 2 Gonzaga.
This time, BYU is decided to finish its two-game dropping streak. The Cougars are completely satisfied to be again on the Marriott Heart, the place they personal a 12-game profitable streak.
“Positively, coming again house is at all times a plus. We've the most effective followers within the nation with the ROC. It’s going to be a sold-out crowd,” mentioned guard Te’Jon Lucas. “We’re simply blessed to have the ability to play in entrance of a crowd like this. It positively will assist us.”
USF, in the meantime, shall be trying to avenge that loss on the Hilltop a couple of weeks in the past.
The Dons boast two dynamic, explosive guards in Jamaree Bouyea and Khalil Shabazz.
“They’re one of many prime groups within the nation. They’re a top-30 staff or top-35 staff,” Pope mentioned. “These video games are at all times robust. They've an extremely veteran, seasoned backcourt, like we do, in Bouyea and Shabazz.”
Bouyea averages 18.3 factors per sport and he shoots 41.6% from 3-point vary. Shabazz averages 12.3 factors and shoots 30% from 3.
“Bouyea can get wherever on the ground each time he desires to. He is also a extra correct 3-point shooter off the bounce than he's catch-and-shoot. It makes him actually difficult to protect,” Pope mentioned. “Shabazz has given us matches prior to now. He makes photographs that you would be able to’t guard. He’s the quickest, most cellular man on the ground. They’re a veteran, harmful backcourt.”
As regarding as Bouyea and Shabazz are for BYU, it is usually conscious of the Dons’ submit gamers, Yauhen Massalski (14.1 factors, 8.9 rebounds per sport) and Patrick Tape (4.5 ppg). Massalski leads the league in offensive rebounds per sport (3.36).
“Once we have been down there at San Francisco, I used to be stunned by their dimension and physicality,” Pope mentioned. “Tape and Massalski are massive our bodies and actually athletic. They rim-protect, they rebound they usually’re actually aggressive to the glass. Their dimension is eye-opening.”
USF additionally has some function gamers which have given the Cougars hassle, like guard Julian Rishwain, who poured in a team-high 25 factors and drilled 5 3-pointers a 12 months in the past in Provo.
“Rishwain is a man that’s you’re at all times frightened of,” Pope mentioned. “He placed on a present right here final 12 months.”
Guard Gabe Stefanini averages 8.4 factors per sport and Zane Meeks averages 5.1.
“Bouyea and Shabazz are surrounded by plenty of nice shooters,” Lucas mentioned. “These guys are robust to protect. They’re well-coached they usually’re not going to again down from anyone. They’re very bodily. They have been dominating us early on rebounds. They've some massive guys that may harm us.”
“They've depth, they’re actually well-coached, they perceive who they're,” Pope mentioned. “They've dimension and explosiveness they usually can shoot the ball. … We've a eager understanding of what we’re dealing with. It at all times comes right down to effort. The one factor we all know is our guys will give supreme effort. The remainder of it is going to come from scheme and matchups and spacing.”
Little doubt, BYU wants one other massive bounce-back win in opposition to San Francisco.
“They’re a very good staff. Their two guards have been there for some time now. We’ve received to have the ability to struggle,” Lucas mentioned. “They’re an awesome taking pictures and an awesome rebounding staff. Total, we’ve received to have the ability to put collectively 40 minutes. That’s one thing we haven’t finished the final two video games. We’ve received to have the ability to try this this time.”