Provo • San Francisco has managed to beat BYU in three straight meetings, winning the last two after rallying from twin 14-point deficits. So what will the Cougars have to do to prevent a fourth loss to the Dons Saturday at Marriott Center?
BYU coach Mark Pope acknowledged this week that he didn’t have all the answers. But he did know that the Cougars’ first step toward solving a vexing issue was to beat Portland on Thursday. And BYU did just that, with a 31-point win over the Pilots in Portland.
Pope blamed himself after the 83-82 loss to USF on Jan. 25.
That night, the Cougars watched the Dons erupt for a 21-0 second-half run, erasing what seemed like a secure, 14-point BYU lead.
“It starts with me — it’s my problem,” Pope said after that loss. “I mean, what a disastrous coaching job. ... You let a player go 10 for 10 and 6 for 6 and don’t adjust and don’t fix it — that’s inexcusable. And it wasn’t out of any actions or any sets, it was just … I let San Francisco play in isolation all night long and that’s really embarrassing.”
One thing that will probably change in the Saturday rematch is BYU’s defense. Two weeks ago, the Dons’ Khalil Shabazz went 10 for 10 from the field to lead USF to victory. He’s shot just 10 for 32 since.
On Thursday, BYU put up a big defensive effort against Portland, keeping the Pilots to 28% shooting from the field. Obviously, the Cougars would like to continue that trend Saturday.
“Our guys played great and they played really hard,” Pope said after the win over Portland. “We didn’t play perfect. We had seven turnovers in the first half that was a little disconcerting and we missed some shots we don’t normally miss, but we stayed locked in on the defensive end the entire game and I am so proud of them for that.”
And it’s not like the Dons are giant killers.
Against BYU, San Francisco shot 55% from the field and 52% from the 3. But in a loss to Pacific on Thursday, the Dons shot 28% from the field and 13% from the 3-point line.
And the Cougars’ offense continues to click.
Meanwhile, the Cougars have been shooting at 50% or better in their last eight games, the longest streak since a BYU-record nine-game run in 1988-89.
After Thursday night’s 12 of 28 from beyond the arc shooting, BYU has taken the national lead in 3-point percentage (42.5%).
SAN FRANCISCO AT BYU
At the Marriott Center, Provo
Tipoff » Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
TV » BYUtv
Radio » KSL AM 1160, KSL FM 102.7, Sirius XM 143
Records » BYU 18-7; USF 16-9
Series » BYU leads 19-9
Last meeting » USF 83, BYU 82 (Jan. 25, 2020)
About BYU » The Cougars are on a three-game winning streak after defeating Portland on the road, 85-54. … The Cougars hit 50.9% from the field against Portland, the eighth-straight game the Cougars have hit 50% or better. It is the second-longest streak of 50-plus percent shooting in team history. … Yoeli Childs reached 20-plus points for the seventh time this season and 40th in his career, finishing with 22 points at Portland.
About USF » The Dons are on a two-game losing skid after falling to Gonzaga and, most recently, Pacific. … San Francisco was held to 27.6% shooting from the field and only 12.5% 3-point shooting against Pacific. … Jimbo Lull posted a double-double and led the Dons with 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds. … Once vying for second place in WCC standings, the Dons are now tied for fifth in the conference.
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