In an impressive display of talent, first-year head coach Kevin Young’s BYU Cougars have captured the attention of the college basketball community following their remarkable 91-57 victory over Kansas at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday.

The Cougars have been highlighted across various sports blogs, podcasts, and national TV programs due to their historic win against one of college basketball’s elite teams. This achievement has also helped BYU secure a stronger position on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

As indicated in the latest Bracket Matrix projections, BYU is represented in all 108 evaluated brackets. For the first time this season, BYU has cracked the top 30 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, standing at 30th in the crucial KenPom ratings.

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According to ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, BYU is currently projected to be an 11 seed, although they rank as a 9 seed, reflecting the influence of their policy against playing on Sundays.

Following the noteworthy win over the Kansas teams, Young commented, now is a great time for Cougars fans, as the team celebrates winning three consecutive games and achieving a record of three games above .500 (9-6), a first for them in the Big 12 Conference.

How long will this positive momentum continue?

The on-fire Cougars will quickly have the chance to prove themselves, as they prepare for two away games in Arizona, starting with a match against the No. 19 Arizona Wildcats on Saturday at 8 p.m. MST (ESPN) at the packed McKale Center in Tucson. After Saturday’s contest, they will travel to Phoenix before taking on the Sun Devils on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. MST (ESPN+) in Tempe.

Young shared on his coach’s show Thursday evening that the team enjoys their time together and is eager for the season’s longest road trip.

“This could be an excellent opportunity for team bonding as we approach the end of the year and help break the routine,” he stated.

How will the game unfold? Can BYU (18-8, 9-6) pull off an upset against the powerful Arizona (18-8, 12-3) after the Wildcats defeated them 85-74 at the Marriott Center on February 4? A victory would likely secure BYU’s NCAA Tournament spot and boost the Cougars, currently in fifth place, into contention for a coveted top four seed in the Big 12 Tournament, along with the benefits that come with it.

Currently ranked No. 9 in the NET and No. 11 in KenPom, Arizona stands alone in second place in the conference. While the win over a struggling Kansas squad was significant, a triumph at McKale on Saturday would be monumental, marking BYU’s first visit since Jimmer Fredette scored 49 points in a dominant 99-69 victory in 2009.

“They are really impressive,” Young remarked about Arizona. “They possess a fantastic roster, and their coach, Tommy Lloyd, has extensive experience in the college sphere. They operate like a finely-tuned machine.”

Historically, Arizona leads the series against BYU with a record of 21-19, including 15-4 in Tucson. Arizona recently defeated No. 13 Texas Tech 82-73 at home before suffering two consecutive losses — 73-70 to Kansas State and 62-58 to No. 6 Houston — but bounced back with a 74-67 win over Baylor on Monday.

Young emphasized that the key to victory on Saturday will be for BYU to break through Arizona’s intensity.

“I believe we are a more physical team now than we were the first time we faced them. They are likely the most physically dominating offensive team we’ve encountered,” Young added. “We need to maintain the level of physicality we have demonstrated in our recent games.”

Instilling a winning mindset is equally important.

“Maintaining that belief in ourselves is vital, and we need to carry that confidence onto the court,” Young remarked.

Arizona has opened as a 7.5-point favorite for the matchup.

Backup point guard Dallin Hall, who contributed 16 points in the 80-65 triumph against Kansas State and 10 points against Kansas, stated that the next objective for BYU is to replicate their strong performance on the road.

“We’re really looking forward to the trip to Arizona,” Hall expressed. “I’ve heard the atmosphere there is amazing. They got the better of us in our last encounter, but we will review the film and prepare comprehensively. We plan to give everything we have against both Arizona and Arizona State.”

Head coach Lloyd, familiar with BYU’s program from his time as a Gonzaga assistant, recognized BYU’s significant win over Kansas during a media briefing on Friday.

“BYU played exceptionally well, while Kansas struggled. It was an impressive performance. I won’t form opinions about Kansas because we won’t face them for a while,” Lloyd stated. “BYU certainly showcased their capabilities and will come into this game feeling confident.”

Later, Lloyd noted that all previous encounters, including the one on February 4, will be irrelevant once the game begins.

“BYU is a solid team that can win at McKale, and we must approach that with respect. Their recent success cannot be overlooked,” he concluded.