It’s simply three video games, however BYU is taking part in its finest post-Richie Saunders harm. Just 12 days after dropping at West Virginia, BYU managed the sport wire-to-wire versus WVU in a 68-48 victory. The competitors steps up considerably as BYU matches up with Houston, who’s effectively rested whereas BYU will play its third recreation in three days.
The recreation suggestions off Thursday at 6:00 CT on ESPN2.
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BYU and Houston by the Numbers
Houston KenPom: 6
NET rating: 7
Record: 26-5 (14-4 Big 12)
Best Wins: Auburn (N), Arkansas (N), Cincinnati (A/H), Texas Tech (H), Baylor (A/H), West Virginia (H), ASU (H), TCU (A), UCF (H), BYU (A), Utah (A), Kansas State (H), Colorado (H), Oklahoma State (A)
Losses: Tennessee (N), Texas Tech (A), Iowa State (A), Arizona (H), Kansas (A)
AP Ranking: 5
BYU KenPom: 22
NET Ranking: 25
Record: 23-10 (9-9 Big 12)
AP Ranking: n/a
KenPom Prediction: Houston 78, BYU 72 — Houston 71% win chance
Point Spread: Houston -8.5
Point Total: 147.5
Houston Overview and First Game Recap
Kansas State and West Virginia are each backside two in KenPom offensive effectivity, and Houston is #1 within the Big 12. Houston is center of the pack in taking pictures, however management the turnover battle. They have the bottom turnover price within the Big 12 and are second in defensive turnover share.
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Houston received the primary recreation in Provo 77-66 again on February 7. AJ Dybantsa had 28 factors and Rob Wright had 17, however Richie Saunders shot simply 1-8 and nobody else stepped up. BYU led 52-50 with about 12 minutes to go earlier than Houston pulled away.
BYU did some issues good that matchup; they’d simply 6 turnovers, held Houston to 7-20 taking pictures from three, and had 14 offensive rebounds in comparison with 13 from Houston. Two issues actually sank BYU — BYU shot simply 16-28 (57%) from the foul line and Houston got here up with key offensive rebounds down the stretch to ice the sport away. Kingston Flemings had 19 factors and fellow freshman Chris Cenac scored 16 and was a mismatch for BYU as a 6-foot-11 faceup 4. Khadim Mboup had simply 2 rebounds in 16 minutes, Dominique Diomande performed 1 minute, Kennard Davis scored 5 factors, and Alexsej Kostic had 0 factors in 9 minutes.
Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp made All-Big 12 First Team whereas Sharp and beginning heart Joseph Tugler made All-Defensive Team.
Prediction
BYU in all probability must do no less than three of those 4 issues effectively to have an opportunity to win: 1) Get to the foul line and make free throws (Houston fouls greater than any crew within the Big 12), 2) preserve the turnover rely shut, 3) preserve the rebound battle even, and 4) AJ Dybantsa must constantly rating in isolation conditions to restrict Houston turnovers and traps.
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The first recreation BYU did 2 and 4 effectively, however didn’t make foul photographs and weren’t adequate on the glass in key moments.
An element can be relaxation versus rust. BYU is taking part in its third recreation in three days whereas Houston is taking part in its first recreation of the event. This BYU crew can be completely different than the final time these groups performed a month in the past. Richie Saunders isn’t round for BYU, however Khadim Mboup, Dominique Diomande, and Alexsej Kostic have larger roles. The first two are particularly notable since they offer BYU extra size and athleticism than they did earlier than Richie acquired damage.
A win for BYU would in all chance safe a 6 seed within the NCAA Tournament and put BYU within the dialog for a 5 seed. It would additionally proceed AJ Dybantsa’s March second as he appears to be like to place his stamp on school basketball in his lone season.
While BYU has proven nice effort defensively these final three video games, I feel Houston is the higher crew and can be capable to put on BYU down within the second half.
Prediction: Houston 78, BYU 68