BYU's men's basketball team hit rock bottom with a 68-90 defeat to Cincinnati on Tuesday night, trailing by double digits for most of the game. The Cougars struggled defensively, allowing 90 points and 10 three-pointers at 44% efficiency. This loss highlights ongoing issues in rebounding and defense that have plagued the team beyond their injuries.
BYU basketball has faced a disappointing stretch in Big 12 play, culminating in a lopsided 68-90 loss to Cincinnati. The Cougars trailed by double digits for 29 of the final 31 minutes, appearing disconnected on defense and committing 15 turnovers that led to 21 points for the Bearcats. Cincinnati, the Big 12's worst three-point shooting team entering the game, hit 10 of 23 attempts at 44%, exposing BYU's defensive vulnerabilities that have persisted all season.
The game marked BYU's first in March, a critical time for peaking toward the postseason, but instead, it underscored a collapse. Just 10 days prior, BYU secured a pivotal win over Iowa State, going 8-7 in conference. However, a blowout against UCF followed, where the Cougars trailed by over 30 points in the second half—the worst performance since a 2023 WCC tournament loss. The West Virginia game saw a double-digit first-half deficit prove insurmountable, dropping BYU to 8-8 in the Big 12.
Defensive and rebounding inconsistencies have been evident since the season opener. In that win over Villanova, the opponent grabbed 17 offensive rebounds for 31 second-chance points. Against West Virginia, Cincinnati's 18 offensive rebounds yielded 15 second-chance points in a 79-71 defeat. BYU ranks 157th nationally in field goal defense at 43.8%, with opponents shooting 50.4% in nine losses. Four Big 12 teams, including Arizona and UCF at home, shot at least 53% against them.
Coach Kevin Young emphasized rebounding after the West Virginia loss: "We've got to rebound better. We gave up too many second-chance points down the stretch." A critical moment saw Rob Wright fail to contest Honor Huff's drive, with Young noting, "I'm not sure what Rob was doing. He was looking over to the bench. Felt like he just had a brain fart in that moment, honestly. We've just got to be better one-on-one, bottom line."
Injuries to Richie Saunders (February 21 vs. Colorado), Dawson Baker (November), and Nate Pickens pre-season have hurt, but Young insists these issues predate the rash of losses. True freshman AJ Dybantsa has shouldered much of the load as the team's top scorer, though expecting consistent superhuman efforts is challenging. BYU's 16-1 non-conference start ensures an NCAA Tournament berth, but with two regular-season games left and the Big 12 tournament ahead, momentum is needed. Young views it as a "growth moment for our guys. We've got to answer the call." Former assistant Tim LaComb commented on social media about the West Virginia lapse: "34 seconds and need 1 stop. This is bad man."
