BYU Coach Reflects on Team's Growth After Star Player's Injury

Kevin Young praises Cougars' resilience in bouncing back from Richie Saunders' season-ending ACL tear

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:37pm

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BYU head coach Kevin Young has been impressed by his team's ability to rebound after losing star player Richie Saunders to a season-ending ACL injury in February. Despite a rough patch, the Cougars have surged late in the season and Young calls their recent success "rewarding" after overcoming "dark times."

Why it matters

Saunders was BYU's second-leading scorer when he went down, leaving a major hole in the team's lineup. Young's ability to guide the Cougars through this adversity and back into contention for the NCAA Tournament showcases his coaching acumen and the team's resilience.

The details

Saunders was averaging a career-high 18.0 points per game before suffering the injury in the opening minute of BYU's win over Colorado on Feb. 14. The Cougars went just 1-4 in their first five games without Saunders, their emotional leader. But they've since rebounded, winning three straight games including a historic victory over Kansas State and a blowout of West Virginia.

  • Saunders suffered his season-ending ACL injury on February 14.
  • BYU went 1-4 in its first five games without Saunders.
  • The Cougars entered their Big Ten Tournament rematch with Houston on a three-game win streak.

The players

Kevin Young

The 44-year-old head coach of the BYU Cougars, who has led the team to the Sweet Sixteen in his first season in 2025.

Richie Saunders

BYU's second-leading scorer who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in February, leaving a major hole in the Cougars' lineup.

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What they’re saying

“Very, very [rewarding]. I can see it on the guys. Everyone in our locker room is extremely competitive. We had some dark times, even recently, but we were able to just push through it. There's always a way… It's been rewarding because when you go through adversity, it really does bring groups together. I think it's brought our group closer together; I think it's brought our fan base closer together… It's really galvanized Cougar Nation. It's galvanized our locker room, our coaching staff.”

— Kevin Young, Head Coach (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

BYU is now awaiting its opening-round March Madness assignment after going 3-4 in its last seven games.

The takeaway

Kevin Young's ability to guide the BYU Cougars through the adversity of losing their second-leading scorer Richie Saunders to a season-ending injury showcases his coaching prowess and the team's resilience. Despite a rough patch, the Cougars have surged late in the season, galvanizing their fanbase and locker room in the process.