There are two types of games that can never be considered “trap games,” BYU basketball coach Kevin Young said this week as the No. 13 Cougars prepared to face Utah on Saturday at the Marriott Center.
Rivalry games can never be called trap games, and neither can Big 12 games, given how good the league is, top-to-bottom, the coach said on his weekly television show Thursday and during his weekly press briefing Friday.
On paper, Saturday’s 268th meeting — BYU leads the ultra-tight series 136-131 — has the makings of a game the Cougars (4-1, 16-2) could look past because they will turn around quickly and host No. 1 and unbeaten Arizona on Monday at the Marriott Center.
The Wildcats (6-0, 19-0) host struggling West Virginia on Saturday in Tucson.
“Look, with Utah, if we went up to Salt Lake and beat them by 30, maybe (it is a trap game),” Young said. “If we weren’t coming off a loss (at Texas Tech), maybe. It is a chance to compete. … It is a human (nature). I am not going to act like (overlooking opponents) doesn’t exist.
“But look, Utah’s a good team,” he continued. “They’ve played every team in our league, for the most part, very competitively. They have two of the best scorers in our league, so everyone understands what the task at hand is. I don’t think there’s going to be any type of letdown or distraction, given everything I just said.”
The Utes are led by 6-foot-3 guard Terrence Brown, who recently scored 33 points against Kansas State and had 25 against Utah in Round I in SLC. Backcourt running mate Dom McHenry had 21 against the Cougars and 15 against the Wildcats.
KenPom favors BYU by 19 points, and it will be a Quad 3 game for the Cougars in their hunt for as high of a seed as possible in the NCAA Tournament.
The only other remaining Quad 3 game on BYU’s schedule is Feb. 14 against Colorado, the day in which it will retire Jimmer Fredette’s No. 32.
Utah hasn’t won in Provo since a 65-61 breakthrough on Dec. 10, 2014, when coach Larry Krystkowiak’s team was ranked No. 13 in the country. BYU has won seven of the last 10 overall matchups.
The Cougars are trying for their first three-game winning streak over Utah since 2020-22, when the rivals would meet only once a year as members of different conferences.
Young said the Cougars didn’t underestimate the Utes two weeks ago, but did get a good reminder of just how difficult rivalry games can be, regardless of records.
“A rivalry game on the road is going to be a tough game, and they played well,” he said. “Those two guards, man, they’ve been torching the entire Big 12. They’re doing it to every team.
“I have a lot of respect for coach (Alex) Jensen and what they’re trying to do there. They played good, and we had to really gut it out, but I thought it was good for our guys to have to be in a hostile environment and find a way to win.”
Now it is time for Utah (1-5, 9-10) to get a taste of that hostility, although nearly half of the fans in the seats on Jan. 10 were cheering for BYU.
“As a competitor, man, you love playing in games like that, where there’s maybe a hint of bad blood and — not a hint, but just full intensity — with the fans,” Young said.
“I know BYU fans will want to return the favor and make this an amazing atmosphere, down here, given what they did up there. I know our guys are looking forward to playing in that.”
Young is 8-0 in Quad 3 games the past two seasons, and 23-2 in home games. BYU has won 12 straight home games dating back to last season, tied for the 18th-longest streak in NCAA Division I basketball.
Young described BYU’s practices as being “ornery” after the Cougars gave up a nine-point lead late and lost 84-71 last Saturday at now-No. 12 Texas Tech.
“I thought (Friday’s) practice was great,” he said. “A couple (other) days, a little bit more of a grind out. … I thought our guys found a way to help themselves get better and be more focused, but still kind of be ticked off that we didn’t get a win on the road.”
Having to play a game Monday night has also thrown an interesting twist into this week. Because BYU doesn’t practice on Sundays, it will not have much time to physically prepare for Arizona.
“We’ve talked about different things that are above-board that we could do on Sunday to just make sure that we don’t just show up on Monday and play the game,” Young said.
“We’ve gone through the necessary channels to make sure we’re following what’s in line there, and we’ll attack it that way, but like I said, we are not losing sight of the task at hand, which is to beat Utah.”
Although center Keba Keita tweaked a bothersome ankle sprain, star freshman AJ Dybantsa had a wrap on his shoulder and redshirt freshman Khadim Mboup sustained a lower leg injury against Texas Tech, Young said the overall health of his team is good.
“Guys are banged up this time of year all across the board,” Young said. “As it relates to Khadim, I don’t think it was as bad as it looked. We’ll see (when) the reports, or the updates come out (Friday night).”
Cougars on the air
Utah (1-5, 9-10) at No. 13 BYU (4-1,16-2)
• Saturday, 3:30 p.m. MST
• At the Marriott Center
• Provo, Utah
• TV: FOX
Radio: BYU Radio 107.9 FM/BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app