The BYU Cougars men’s basketball team is looking to get back on track Saturday when they welcome their rival University of Utah Utes, to Provo at 3 p.m. for an afternoon face-off.

Fresh off their first Big 12 loss of the season at Texas Tech 84-71 back on Jan. 17, BYU found itself slipping two spots in the national rankings to a season-low 13. 

With a 14-2 record on the year, Cougar Head Coach Kevin Young and his Freshman phenom, AJ Dybantsa, will be looking to make a statement to the ranking committee against the Utes Saturday. 

Meanwhile, Ute Head Coach Alex Jensen and his team have been pushing national powerhouses to their limit over the past two weeks, but have continually fallen shy of that season-making statement victory. 

The closest of these near misses for the Utes came against Young and his Cougars earlier this month, when BYU escaped an amped-up Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City with an 89-84 victory back on Jan. 10.

(Caption: Player introductions at the Marriott Center. Photo Credit: Rhett Vasseur)

BYU Senior Forward, Richie Saunders, was the key to victory for his team last time out against the Utes, powering the Cougs with 24 points and 14 boards. 

Young will be looking for a similar inspired performance from Saunders on Saturday, given that this is the final rivalry game for the Riverton, Utah native, and lifelong Cougar fan-turned Senior leader for BYU.

BYU will also look for more from Dybantsa, along with Senior big man Keba Keita, who struggled in the Texas Tech loss. Keta was held off the scoresheet, with zero points and just four rebounds, while Dybantsa contributed 13 points, almost 10 points below his season average of 22.5.

Sophomore Guard Robert Wright III was electric for the Cougars against Texas Tech, pouring in 28 points and five boards; however, he also had four turnovers. 

Turnovers have been a kryptonite this season for BYU, as they had 12 giveaways in their latest loss. Valuing the basketball should be a major emphasis for the Cougar coaching staff this week. 

Basketball going through the hoop | Image credit: Rhett Vasseur

With that in mind, here are three keys to BYU getting back in the win column Saturday:

Win the turnover battle

BYU’s fast-paced mentality is one of its calling cards. The Cougs thrive on steals, leading to runouts and easy transition buckets. 
There is something about a towering Dybantsa fast-break throwdown that swings the momentum BYU’s way and sends the Cougar fans into a frenzy. They need to look for opportunities to run Saturday afternoon. 

Along with that, they have to end each offensive possession with a shot, made or missed. This will allow their ferocious offensive rebounders to go to work and prevent the Utes from gaining extra possessions. 
The more possessions and shot attempts for BYU, the more chances for Dybantsa to suddenly catch fire, as he often does.

Big-game feel in Provo | Image credit: Rhett Vasseur

Get to the line

So often in these closely-contested rivalry games, it is the simple things that make the difference. Saturday will be no different; BYU needs to get downhill and put pressure on the rim.

In doing so, the Cougars put Utah in a tough position. The Utes simply can not match the athleticism and leaping ability of Wright III, Saunders, Dybantsa and Keita. This leaves them with the choice of conceding the hoop or fouling.
Handing out rim runs like they’re candy is not a recipe for success for the Utes, meaning BYU will likely be pushing 30 free throw attempts Saturday.

Of course, going along with shooting free throws is the importance of making them. The Cougars are shooting 75 percent on the year from the charity stripe. BYU will want to be up over 80 percent Saturday to capitalize on their opportunities. 
Look for BYU to play downhill early on Saturday as Dybantsa might want to get himself going right away with some easy buckets.

BYU Cougars gear | Image credit: Rhett Vasseur

Have your stars be stars

Speaking of scoring, Dybantsa, Saunders and Wright III will likely have to shoulder the scoring load once again for the Cougs Saturday. This is nothing new for the BYU’s big three, as they have combined to average just under 60 points a game this year.

Dybantsa’s off night against Texas Tech was a large reason why BYU came up short, but if there is one thing he has shown this year, it’s that Dybantsa has an uncanny ability to bounce back.

Saunders and Wright III have taken their games to the next level of late. Adding a determined Dybantsa to the mix takes BYU from a fun team to a national title contender. 

It would not be surprising for Coach Young to look to establish Dybantsa in the early minutes, forcing the Utes to double-team him. When that happens, look for him to find Saunders or Wright III for an open look. 

Along with his elite scoring ability, Dybantsa has also proven to be an elite passer over the course of this season. AJ should be on triple-double watch Saturday afternoon.

Packed house in Provo watches on | Image credit: Rhett Vasseur

With all this in mind, Utah is not coming into Provo on Saturday to lose. BYU should expect a fight when they square off Saturday at 3 p.m. in front of a fired-up Marriott Center crowd.

BYU has not lost at home since an 85-74 defeat at the hands of the University of Arizona Wildcats on Feb. 4, 2025. The Cougars will have a chance to repay the Wildcats for that when they host them once again Monday night.

In the meantime, BYU remains laser-focused on the task at hand. A chance to sweep the season series with their rival Utes.
Tip-off Saturday is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Fox.