BYU basketball head coach Mark Pope reacts because the Brigham Younger Cougars play the Loyola Marymount Lions within the second spherical of the 2022 West Coast Convention males’s basketball match on the Orleans Area in Las Vegas on Friday, March 4, 2022. BYU gained 85-60. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
LAS VEGAS — BYU coach Mark Pope has been saying for a few weeks that “I imagine our greatest basketball is forward of us.”
Within the second spherical of the West Coast Convention Event at Orleans Area on Friday, his workforce’s efficiency was near what he had in thoughts.
The No. 5-seeded Cougars seized management of the sport early in opposition to No. 8 Loyola Marymount, going up 15 at halftime, they usually by no means let go in a powerful 85-60 victory.
“I assumed we did an ideal job of getting an edge once we stepped out on the courtroom. It’s March. That’s what groups need to play with,” stated Cougar guard Alex Barcello, who completed with a team-high 22 factors in 26 minutes.
The win units up a quarterfinals matchup with No. 4 San Francisco Saturday (8:30 p.m. MST, ESPN2).
“I like the sting the fellows method the sport with. It begins with Alex. He's carrying an enormous burden for us as a result of he’s received to do all the pieces,” stated Pope.
“However that’s what the very best gamers within the nation do. They need to do all the pieces. … We've got to play our greatest basketball proper now. The one probability you need to win within the postseason is that if guys step up, and our guys did.”
Offensively, BYU (22-9) displayed crisp ball motion, and it outscored the Lions 48-30 within the paint. Defensively, the Cougars held LMU (11-18) to 41% taking pictures.
In addition they outrebounded the Lions 44-25.
After the competition, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe hugged Barcello as they exchanged some phrases.
What was the message?
“Simply maintain profitable. That is my final go-round. I don’t wish to go house,” Barcello stated. “I wish to dance so far as we will and produce championships to Provo. He’s on board with that. We simply wish to maintain profitable. It’s enjoyable while you win.”
Barcello definitely performed like he didn’t wish to go house — and so did his teammates.
Freshman Fousseyni Traore continued his torrid play, recording a double-double with 15 factors, on 6 of 8 taking pictures from the sector and 11 rebounds.
“Simply the extent he’s enjoying at proper now as a freshman, it’s actually superb,” Barcello stated of Traore. “He’s an enormous a part of our workforce.”
Trevin Knell got here off the bench to attain 15, tying a season-high, together with a pair of 3-pointers.
In his final sport within the WCC Event, a loss to No. 1 Gonzaga within the championship sport final March, Knell scored a career-high 20 factors, hitting 5 of 10 3-pointers.
“It’s enormous for us,” Barcello stated of Knell’s efficiency. “That’s what we count on.”
Added Pope: “Trev loves this health club. He loves this health club like no participant I’ve ever seen. He loves this place. This dude, we hadn’t even landed but and there was a sparkle in his eye and a confidence.
“If this enviornment ever will get a house workforce, they should draft Trevin Knell as a result of he loves it. He’s so essential to us. He scored in numerous alternative ways at the moment. I used to be truly most happy with his defensive effort. I assumed he was practically flawless defensively. He had some toughness and he dealt with his task and he was actually vocal.”
Caleb Lohner added six factors and pulled down 10 rebounds.
Barcello stated he advised each Lohner and Knell that the Cougars wanted “to have all people firing on all cylinders. Caleb didn’t have the best scoring evening however he was making performs for us offensively. The best way he was preserving our tempo on offense … it opened rather a lot of issues up.
“It seemed like the sport was slower to him on the market. I’m simply proud of how guys are enjoying. All of us have to be enjoying our greatest basketball proper now.”
LMU guard Joe Quintana poured in 31 factors to tie his profession excessive, together with eight 3-pointers, in Thursday’s first-round win over Pacific. Barcello drew the defensive task in opposition to Quintana to begin Friday’s sport, then Spencer Johnson got here off the bench to defend Quintana.
“This Joe Quintana, in opposition to a very good defensive workforce yesterday, placed on a present. He was unconscious,” Pope stated. “Normally in back-to-back video games, that doesn’t go away. We have been terribly involved about that. Alex had that task solo to begin the sport. The tone he set was unbelievable. It’s what we have to have to remain alive. Everyone else adopted go well with.”
Barcello stated the Cougars have been efficient at pressuring Quintana, who completed with 12 factors on 1 of 6 taking pictures from 3-point vary.
“Collectively, we labored very well. A man that got here off a 30-point sport, him not having an evening like that,” Barcello stated. “I assumed Spencer did an outstanding job.
“I don’t suppose he will get all of the credit score he deserves on the defensive finish generally. He’s received such a excessive IQ on the defensive finish. He did an incredible job within the second half.”
Lion star Eli Scott scored a 24 factors, however he didn’t get sufficient assist.
“He’s an excellent participant. He’s sturdy. He’s sensible,” Traore stated of Scott. “He is aware of what he’s doing.”
Ahead Keli Leaupepe, who has been injured just lately (he scored 26 in opposition to BYU on Feb. 10) warmed up earlier than the sport however didn't play.
In that sport in Los Angeles, LMU opened up a 17-point lead on the Cougars early within the second half earlier than BYU rallied to win in extra time.
There was no such drama this time.
On the 18:12 mark of the second half Friday, BYU prolonged its result in 19, which stretched to 25 with six minutes remaining.
“We got here to play, and we’re going to return to play tomorrow,” Barcello stated. “It’s March — and it’s win or go house.”
TIP-INS: On Friday, Barcello made his ninetieth consecutive begin for BYU. … Former BYU head coach Dave Rose and former BYU assistant Dave Rice attended Friday’s sport. … The Cougars had 19 second-chance factors, in comparison with three for LMU. … BYU had 14 assists and 12 turnovers. The Cougars scored 19 factors off of 11 LMU turnovers.