BYU produced one of the most legendary theatres in the history of the NCAA tournament. This was courtesy of a layup who won the Coast game from Danny Ainge's coast at Sweet 16 in 1981.
The Cougars gave Zimmer Fredette (Zimmermania!), one of the most popular stars of the century in college basketball.
Soon, BYU basketball may be bigger than ever.
The Cougars have participated this season without a victory in the NCAA Tournament over 13 years. There were no 16 appearances in the program's history and head coach Mark Pope left for Kentucky.
BYU is projected to finish ninth in the Big 12 preseason polls, introducing new head coach Kevin Young.
“If I really started thinking about it,” Young said earlier this season.
Young, 43, served as the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA, spent four seasons with the Suns after three seasons with the 76ers, gaining support from Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Young, who previously coached the G League for nine years, was interviewed for his head coaching job with at least nine NBA teams. The offer could have been inevitable.
Instead, Young, a native of Utah and a member of the Latter-day Saint Church of Jesus Christ, brought the pros to Provo.
Young has signed Russian star Egor Denin, a potential lottery pick.
He added another next-level talent, Kanon Catchings, to a program that had no players undrafted since 2011.
Young hired NBA strength coaches, nutritionist and directors of analysis, and multiple G-League coaches.
“When you can say, 'This is how we stop Damien Lillard,' it gives them the right eye,” Young said. “The style of play, the shot diet, the things like that, I think it's probably where you see a lot of things that are similar to some NBA operations. … From a recruitment perspective, I planted the flag when I got the job.
Young built an offense that ranks one of the most efficient and explosives in the country, earning 11 wins from BYU (26-9), sixth in the last 12 games, and won 2 Alabama (27-8) at Prudential Center for Thursday's Sweet 16 matchup.
“It was amazing because every play he runs works,” said fifth-grade senior Trevin Knell. “He's a super competitive guy. He's also very humble. He's always looking for different advice from us on the university side. …We all trust him.”
Young has brought BYU back to prominence.
The school's wealthy Nir supporters were able to ensure that the coaches keep the Cougars there and recently landed a commitment from AJ Dybantsa, the top 2026 prospect of the 2026 NBA Draft.
“Who doesn't want to play for the NBA coach who's already there?” Knell said. “Who really doesn't want to be at BYU?”
