BYU players warmup during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Jackson Payne
By Jackson Payne
Jackson has been writing about sports for the Deseret News since 2023.

No. 6 seed BYU (24-9) vs. No. 11 seed VCU (28-6)

  • Tip: Thursday, 2:05 p.m. MDT
  • Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
  • TV: TNT
  • Radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM
  • Series: BYU leads 1-0 (most recent meeting: 1983)

The trends

  • For BYU: Won nine of its past 10 games, 8-7 in Quad 1 opportunities, No. 25 in NET and No. 24 in KenPom
  • For VCU: Fresh off an Atlantic 10 tournament championship, 2-1 in Quad 1 opportunities, No. 31 in NET and No. 31 in KenPom

The stakes

For BYU: The Cougars are searching for their first NCAA Tournament win since 2012, having lost each of their past five appearances in the big dance. Additionally, a victory Thursday would be the first NCAA Tournament win of Kevin Young’s career.

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For VCU: Similar to BYU, the Rams haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2016. Their head coach, Ryan Odom, has been connected to a number of coaching vacancies in the current cycle, and VCU’s tournament showing could help to determine his future with the program and beyond.

Players to watch

  • For BYU: First Team All-Big 12 selection Richie Saunders and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection Egor Demin.
  • For VCU: Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Max Shulga and Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP Jack Clark.
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young surveys the arena during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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A ball with March Madness branding is pictured during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars center Fousseyni Traore (45) takes a shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars center Keba Keita, right, slaps hands with center Fousseyni Traore (45) during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars center Keba Keita (41) takes a foul shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU players warmup during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) takes a shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) laughs with center Fousseyni Traore (45) during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Trey Stewart (1) passes the ball to a teammate during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU players warmup during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) takes a shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) controls the ball as part of a drill during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars assistant coach Tim Fanning passes the ball to a player during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) takes a shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young looks to the court before a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) takes a foul shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars center Keba Keita (41) takes a foul shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) and guard Dawson Baker (25) sign shirts after a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars center Fousseyni Traore (45) signs a basketball after a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guards Dawson Baker (25) and Dallin Hall joke around after a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young watches his players warmup during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) signs a basketball as guard Trey Stewart (1) greets fans after a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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A ball with March Madness branding is pictured during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young watches his players warmup during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU fans watch players warmup during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young talks with his players before a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU players warmup during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) holds his follow-through on his shot during a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU players, coaches and staff pose for a photo after a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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Nick Hansen, of Aurora, Colo., high-fives BYU Cougars forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) after a practice held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell, left, listens as forward Richie Saunders answers a question from a reporter about the two of them during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Mawot Mag speaks during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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From left, BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell, forward Richie Saunders and forward Mawot Mag field questions from reporters as Saunders speaks during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young answers a question from a reporter during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young answers a question from a reporter during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders speaks during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell speaks during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young answers a question from a reporter during a press conference held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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