BYU coach Mark Pope yells throughout recreation towards Missouri State on the Marriott Middle in Provo on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. BYU grounded out a 66-64 win and is now headed to The Bahamas to face USC within the opening spherical of the Battle 4 Atlantis tourney. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
BYU’s Rudi Williams goes for a layup towards Nicholls State Colonels on the Marriott Middle in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Williams mentioned it was the chance to play in occasions just like the Battle 4 Atlantis tourney that landed him in Provo. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
Two years in the past, BYU was scheduled to play in a match within the Bahamas — the Junkanoo Jam — but it surely was canceled as a result of COVID-19.
Now the Cougars have journeyed to Atlantis Paradise Island within the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis match.
“These tournaments are at all times nice. Everybody proper now could be attempting to get mileage underneath their belts and attempting to study their staff and determine how guys operate collectively in numerous conditions.” — BYU coach Mark Pope
BYU (3-1) takes on USC (3-1) Wednesday (3 p.m. MST, ESPN2) at Imperial Enviornment.
For a younger staff just like the Cougars, it is a probability to get expertise on an enormous stage towards distinguished opponents in a prestigious multi-team occasion in an unique location.
The opposite applications within the eight-team subject are No. 3 Kansas (the defending nationwide champions), North Carolina State, Dayton, Wisconsin, No. 22 Tennessee and Butler.
The winner of BYU-USC takes on the winner of Tennessee-Butler on Thanksgiving Day. The loser of the primary recreation additionally squares off Thursday.
All these groups are set to play three video games over three consecutive days. The Battle 4 Atlantis concludes Friday.
“These tournaments are at all times nice. Everybody proper now could be attempting to get mileage underneath their belts and attempting to study their staff and determine how guys operate collectively in numerous conditions and get totally different appears to be like,” mentioned coach Mark Pope. “The truth that we are able to squeeze all of this information and all of this recreation movie into three days is nice. It’s among the best issues about MTEs. That is the most effective occasion there may be.”
Taking part groups obtain $2 million to play on this match.
For guard Rudi Williams, enjoying in a match like that is one purpose why he transferred to BYU.
“It form of provides you a chance to uplift your self and get seen by the fitting individuals,” he mentioned. “So after they have been recruiting me, I knew what I used to be getting myself into coming right here. I knew the schedule. That additionally intrigued me as a result of I wish to play towards the most effective guys and be in the fitting place the place all the higher gamers are.”
How will Pope measure success for his staff this week?
“The politically right method, and true method, to reply that query is, we’re so excited to be right here to study extra about who we're,” he mentioned. “We’re going to get an unbelievable alternative to play among the most elite applications in all of faculty basketball proper now and provides ourselves a gauge of the place we're and the way we have to get higher.
“The reply from our coronary heart is, we’d like to return win all of the video games. That’s why we’re right here. We’d prefer to win these video games. We’re going to should play actually, actually, very well to do it. The one recreation that issues, in fact, is the sport tomorrow towards USC. That’s our hope and ambition — attempt to win that recreation tomorrow.”
BYU’s Rudi Williams goes for a layup towards Nicholls State Colonels on the Marriott Middle in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Williams mentioned it was the chance to play in occasions just like the Battle 4 Atlantis tourney that landed him in Provo.
Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
Coincidentally, as a result of BYU wasn’t in a position to play within the Bahamas two years in the past, it ended up enjoying within the Romans Legends Traditional at Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Of their first recreation, the Cougars misplaced to USC 79-53.
The Trojans’ size proved an excessive amount of for BYU as brothers Evan and Isaiah Mobley dominated. Evan, a 7-footer now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, had 17 factors and 11 rebounds whereas Isaiah, a 6-11 ahead, completed with 11 factors and 11 boards.
Guard Drew Peterson scored a game-high 19 factors. Peterson continues to be on the Trojans’ roster — he’s averaging 15.8 factors, 7.8 rebounds and eight assists per recreation.
“We confronted them a few years in the past and received drilled. It was actually difficult for us. On the time, they have been so lengthy. However they have been so ridiculously lengthy,” Pope recalled. “Additionally they have been new. They'd youth on their staff, younger stars, similar to they do now.
“This staff isn’t fairly as lengthy and it could have extra of a veteran presence in Drew Peterson when it comes to having been by way of this system for fairly some time and having a ton of success. However they’re good. They've some younger expertise that hasn’t had an opportunity to burst onto the nationwide scene but. They’re going to be a very good staff. They’re tremendous proficient they usually’re going to be a handful.”
USC ranks No. 4 nationally in blocked pictures, with 7.3 per recreation.
Actually, Imperial Enviornment is a singular venue. It’s positioned in a ballroom between the Seashore and Coral Towers on the Atlantis resort. Whereas the courtroom is bathed in mild, the stands are stored darkish throughout play. However some blue lighting creates a bluish hue across the enjoying floor. The lighting setup may trigger depth notion challenges for shooters.
“I just like the fitness center. It’s received the (Madison Sq. Backyard) lighting,” Pope mentioned. “I prefer it lots the place there’s mild actually targeted on the courtroom and also you lose all the things else within the backdrop as a result of it’s a darkish setting behind the ring. It’s just a little little bit of a brand new really feel for our guys and I’m positive it's for lots of the fellows coming into this fitness center. It’s a very good venue.”
Williams mentioned he's “tremendous excited” to be in The Bahamas and that his staff is prepared for this three-games-in-three-days problem.
“We really feel like we’ve grown in 4 quick video games. Every recreation, coach at all times mentions that he sees us rising in sure departments,” he mentioned. “It makes me tremendous excited as a participant figuring out that everybody thinks that we’re a younger staff however we’re rising up on the fly. That’s big-time for us.”
On Thanksgiving week, Pope is grateful for this problem for his staff.
“It’s going to be a enjoyable, hoops-filled Thanksgiving,” he mentioned. “We’re tremendous grateful for that chance.”
Battle 4 Atlantis on the air
BYU (3-1)
vs. USC (3-1)
Wednesday, 3 p.m. MST
Imperial Enviornment in Paradise Island, Bahamas
TV: ESPN2
Radio: BYU Radio/1160 AM