The Brigham Young University (BYU) basketball team kicked off their highly anticipated 2024-25 season with an impressive 93-49 exhibition victory over Division II opponent Colorado Christian. While the outcome was lopsided, it was the team's unselfish play and the standout performances of their talented freshmen that caught the attention of the enthusiastic Cougars fanbase.

Passing Prowess and Youthful Exuberance Fuel Cougars' Dominant Display

Unselfish Play Leads to Impressive Assist Numbers

The statistic that pleased BYU head coach Kevin Young the most was the team's 24 assists on 31 made baskets. Young emphasized the importance of unselfishness, noting that 10 different players recorded an assist. "The stat I liked the most, and this is just who we have tried to be since I have gotten here, is unselfish," Young said. "I think 10 guys had an assist. So just in terms of them carrying over things that we have talked about quite a bit, I like seeing that."

Highly Touted Freshmen Shine in Debut

The Cougars' highly anticipated freshmen class lived up to the hype, with several standout performances. Five-star recruit Egor Demin, an 18-year-old from Russia, showcased his playmaking abilities, recording eight assists, five rebounds, two steals, and a block in the first half alone. Demin delighted the crowd with alley-oop passes to teammates Keba Keita and Kanon Catchings for thunderous dunks, while also finding open shooters like Richie Saunders, Trevin Knell, and Dawson Baker for 3-pointers.Another freshman, Elijah Crawford, also impressed with his well-rounded game, finishing with nine points, five rebounds, and five assists. Coach Young praised Crawford's ability to get to the paint and disrupt the defense, stating, "He is unique for us because he can get to the paint and he can pick up and be a disruptor defensively."

Catchings Leads the Way with Efficient Scoring

Kanon Catchings, a returning player, showcased his scoring prowess, pouring in 14 points in the first 15 minutes on 6-of-8 shooting. He finished the game with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, leading the Cougars' offensive charge.

Depth and Versatility on Display

Despite the absence of presumed starting point guard Dallin Hall and forward Fousseyni Traore, who were held out for precautionary reasons, the Cougars' depth and versatility were on full display. Serbian newcomer Mihailo Boskovic, who is still awaiting NCAA approval, made the most of his limited playing time, scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds in just over seven minutes.

Emphasis on 3-Point Shooting Pays Off

Another statistic that pleased Coach Young was the team's 18-of-36 shooting from 3-point range. After struggling in a secret scrimmage against Boise State, the Cougars made 3-pointers a point of emphasis in practice, and the results were evident in the exhibition game. "It is something in our secret scrimmage that we didn't do as well as I would have liked. So it was a point of emphasis the last couple of days. It was nice to see guys carrying that over," Young said.

Impressive Attendance Reflects Excitement Around BYU Athletics

The exhibition game against Colorado Christian drew a crowd of 16,323 fans, a testament to the excitement surrounding BYU athletics. Coach Young acknowledged the high level of interest, stating, "A lot of excitement with just BYU athletics in general. The football team is killing it. Happy for those guys. It was cool Jake (Retzlaff) was in the building tonight. I mean, this place is special."As the Cougars look ahead to their regular-season opener against Central Arkansas, the exhibition game has provided a glimpse of the team's potential. With their unselfish play, talented freshmen, and a focus on 3-point shooting, the Cougars have set the stage for an exciting and promising 2024-25 campaign.