Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope talks with the team.
FILE — Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope talks with the team in Provo on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Joe Coles

By Joe Coles

BYU basketball head coach Mark Pope is cheering for former BYU player Elijah Bryant and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks — up 3-2 in the series — are taking on the Phoenix Suns tonight, vying for their first NBA title since 1971, when Milwaukee was led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Pope arrived at BYU wearing his old No. 41 Bucks jersey. He played two seasons for Milwaukee from 2000-2002. Also wearing Bucks gear was guard Te’Jon Lucas, who was born in Milwaukee and played two seasons for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before transferring to BYU this offseason.

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Guard Alex Barcello, born in Phoenix, will be cheering for the Suns tonight, but didn’t show up in Phoenix gear, leading to some light ribbing from his coach.

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“The Suns fans know what’s going to happen! Suns in 7!!” Barcello replied.

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