No. 12 BYU hopes to build on surprising start as debut Big 12 season opens

PROVO, Utah (AP) — In order to hold its own in what is arguably the top basketball conference in the country, BYU knew it had to make some major changes. Upon receiving an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference in 2021, Coach Mark Pope and his team began to revise their roster, fully aware of the imminent challenges. Mostly relying on less-experienced freshmen and sophomores last season, BYU had its fair share of hardships. However, fast-forward one year, and the Cougars are showcasing their intention to make a significant impact in their first Big 12 season, boasting an impressive 12-1 record.

The team's current performance marks their best since they began the 1987-88 season with 17 consecutive victories. The Cougars are dominating all over the court, averaging 90.4 points per game, with a 58.5 percent effective field goal average, and allowing only 61.5 points per game. These statistics place them amongst the top 12 nationally in all three categories.

The current team is a stark departure from their last season in the West Coast Conference, where they finished fifth with a 19-15 record. Despite this change, many pundits ranked them 13th in a 14-team Big 12 poll. Coach Pope’s strategy of prioritizing rebounds, making extra passes, and aggressive outside shooting has clearly paid dividends as BYU is now performing at an elite level, leading the nation with 22.5 assists per game and maintaining a first-place ranking with a 2.31 assist-to-turnover ratio.

These achievements have been made despite the team dealing with injuries. Fousseyni Traore, the team's top scorer from the previous season, and lead scorer Jaxson Robinson, alongside Aly Khalifa, Dawson Baker, and Dallin Hall, all faced injuries but the team's solid depth has allowed them to sustain their momentum.

Players like Robinson, Khalifa, and Noah Waterman have provided significant contributions, with Robinson being the top scorer with 16.0 points per game average. Waterman, on the other hand, is the team’s second-highest scorer and leading rebounder. Khalifia boasts the nation’s best assist to turnover ratio.

However, the real test is yet to come as the Cougars commence conference play this Saturday against Cincinnati. With 12 Big 12 teams featuring in the top 100 of the NCAA NET rankings and nine in the top 50, the challenges are likely to intensify. But Pope is optimistic and believes his team stands a chance.