Entering the 2020-21 season, BYU had lost 70% of its scoring production from the previous year.
The Cougars had seven seniors and three proven, productive and consistent scorers on the roster — Yoeli Childs, Jake Toolson and TJ Haws. In fact, Childs finished No. 6 (2,031) all-time in scoring in BYU basketball history and Haws placed No. 7 (1,899) all-time in scoring.
Last season, Childs averaged 22.2 points per game, followed by Toolson’s 15.2 and Haws’ 14.
When BYU needed a crucial bucket, it had plenty of options.
The Cougars’ leading returning scorer is Alex Barcello, who averaged 9.3 points per game.
Before the season, Childs, who recently signed a deal with the Washington Wizards, was asked about his impressions of this BYU team.
“The biggest question mark for those guys is, can they have enough guys to score the ball? Last year, we had me, Jake and TJ, three guys that could get you 20 points on any given night, or 30,” he said. “It will be interesting to see who steps up as scorers. Man, defensively, they’re going to cause teams some trouble. They’re going to be one of the better defensive teams in the country.”
Five games into the season, Barcello has certainly done his part in picking up the scoring void. The senior guard is averaging 18.4 points. He scored a team-high 20 points in Wednesday’s 74-68 win over St. John’s.
The Cougars (4-1) visit Utah State Saturday at 7 p.m.
Barcello was one of five Cougars to score double figures against the Red Storm, along with Gideon George (13), Brandon Averette (12), Connor Harding (11) and Trevin Knell (11). Some players are learning new roles and trying to become more of a scoring threat.
For the season, only one player besides Barcello is averaging double figures — Averette, who’s scoring at a 10.2 clip. Harding and Knell are both averaging 8.4 points per game while Purdue grad transfer Matt Haarms is at 8.3. George is averaging 6.8.
So far, this team is accumulating its points by committee. That’s what coach Mark Pope expected before the season tipped off.
“It’s going to be a way different feel. Clearly, we have some weapons. This Matt Haarms has proven to be a really, really talented and capable scorer from all three levels — especially from behind the 3-point line and at the rim,” he said. “Alex Barcello is the No. 1 most efficient player in the West Coast Conference last year in catch and he can shoot 3s. He’s proven the ability to score. He’s showing a lot off the bounce right now.”
Pope added that he has several players that could “carry some of the load” this season.
“I don’t think this is going to be a team necessarily where we’re calling a guy’s number as often as we did last year. Last year, we spent a lot of time calling Yoeli’s number specifically to put him in an action if not guarantee him a shot,” Pope said. “We did the same thing with Jake and TJ. We were really heavy in the direction of those three guys. Our players became accustomed to finding them in our continuity looks. I don’t think it’s going to be like that. I think it’s going to be more committee and more team-oriented. We were a team’s team last year but more like the team trying to find the best shot for whoever happens to be available. I think we’ll dictate a little bit less. I think we have a lot of guys that are really capable. It’s going to be a little bit different feel.”
And that’s been the case early on this season.