CATS ATTACK: Cougars, Wildcats Prep for Huge Games at the Marriott Center | News, sports, jobs

Byu did not grab the Mawot Mag out of the transfer portal to be a score.

But it’s nice to know that he has it in his bag if necessary.

Mag’s defensive reputation went ahead of him to Provo, and this ability has earned him a place in the starting lineup for the last six matches. But on Saturday, MAG scored 19 points in an 81-75 win at UCF, a season high and his best game in a cougar uniform. The 6-foot-7 graduation scored 24 points against Wisconsin while playing for Rutgers last season.

“We’re just trying to find ways to enable our guys to give them the best chance of succeeding,” said Byu coach Kevin Young. “So there was a lot that went into it (decision to start mag). We just felt like MAG’s intensity defensively gave us some better matchups to start the game. We also tried to find ways for cannon (catches) to find more shots that potentially come from the bench. Some games that have been good, some games it doesn’t have. But I think MAG’s experience really has isolated that starting group pretty well. “

Mag shot the ball well (6 of 10 from the field, 3 of 6 from the 3-point line) and also exhausted five assists, which helped relieve the pressure used by UCF on the perimeter and its double team. Cougars ended with 22 assists on 28 made baskets.

“We just have a lot of selfless players,” Mag said. “Everyone is playing together. I feel we are entering the edge, drawing another defender and spray (ball) out, I feel we have good shooters – Trevin (Knell), (Dallin) Hall, Richie (Saunders) – everyone can shoot. I feel like we’ve just played very selfless basketball. We share the ball and we just let the game come to us. “

On Saturday, Byus was fourth equal in league games, the first time the program has done so since the 2020-21 season at the West Coast conference.

“I’m happy and I just said guys in the dressing room,” Don’t be too tall, don’t be too low, just keep getting ready, “said Mag after the victory at UCF. “We have to win, so it’s good to embrace it, but now it’s time to move on and be ready for Arizona on Tuesday and win one back in the Marriott Center.”

Byu is 6-4 in Big 12 Play on the way into showdown with wildcats.

“It’s a gauntlet because of the intensity level of each game,” Young said. “It’s one of the big differences with the NBA season. With the regular season of the college, there are very, very few nights where it is not just a dog fight. In the NBA you get cupcake games all the time because guys are on back to back, or this, the and the other. There are so many variations of what each game looks like while in this one (college basketball), if you don’t bring it you’ll be smuggled. “

Scout Report

It’s been a moment since Byu and Arizona met on the basketball floor, but the last two matchups were pretty memorable.

In 2009, Jimmer Fredette McHale Center-Center stunned by scoring a then school record 49 points in Cougars ’99 -69 victory. The following season, Fredette had 33 when Byu conducted Wildcats 87-65 in the Delta Center (then called Vivint Arena).

As for Tuesday’s late (21.00 MT) ESPN tip in the Marriott Center, both teams come into the game on four-game-winning stripes. The Arizona Guard Caleb Love, which was an average of 24.5 points per Fighting in two wins last week is the reigning Big 12 player this week.

Love is a volume that can run hot or cold. 6-4 senior was only 16 out of 41 (39%) from the course in last week’s two matches, including 9 of 22 (41%) from the 3-point line. In fact, Love has only shot better than 50% off the field twice in the last ten games.

Still, he will be a big problem for the Byu trainers when playing plan for Tuesday night.

“He is an electric player and very experienced,” said Young. “He is a guy who can break out for 30 on a given night, an explosive goal scorer. They give him a lot of freedom and he will make a challenge on us collectively. And it’s not just a guy (to protect him). We have to do a job on him and try to make everything difficult for him. I think it’s the best way to try to disturb very good scores is just trying to make them really have to work super hard for everything they get. “

Mag will probably draw the majority of the assignment against love, but Arizona has others who can do damage including other guard jalen Bradley (11.4 points, 3.9 assists per match), Oakland Transfer Trey Townsend (9.3 PPG, 50% Field Dimensions) and Campbell Transfer Anthony Dell’orso (8.6 PPG, 44% from 3).

“(Arizona trainer) Tommy Lloyd is one of the guys I have little relationship with, and I respect him a lot,” Young said. “He has been on it for a long time and is doing a good job. I’ve actually seen them (on video) a lot. I feel they have played a lot of teams that we have prepared for. I become a good game and a good atmosphere. It will be another opportunity for us to go out and continue to build on what we have done. “

Men’s College Basketball

No. 20 Arizona (15-6, 9-1 Big 12) at Byu (15-6, 6-4 BIG 12)

Tuesday at. 21

Marriott Center, Provo

TV/Streaming: Espn

Radio: KSL 102.7 FM/1160 AM, Byu Radio

Live Statistics: Byucougars.com

The word: Tuesday will be the 40th meeting between Byu and Arizona, with wildcats leading 20-19. … Cougars are 14-4 against Arizona in Provo. … This is the first matchup between the two schools since 2010, an 87-65 victory in the Delta Center (then Vivint Arena) with 33 points from Jimmer Fredette. … Both teams come into Tuesday’s game on a four-game-winning series.