No. 19 BYU Looks to Bounce Back Against West Virginia

Cougars aim to avoid slow start after lopsided loss to UCF

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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No. 19 BYU will travel to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers in a Big 12 Conference matchup. The Cougars are coming off a disappointing 97-84 home loss to UCF, where they trailed by 24 points at halftime. BYU will be without third-leading scorer Richie Saunders, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL. The Mountaineers have lost three straight games and are fighting to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for both teams as they look to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes. BYU has lost six of its last nine games and needs to get back on track, while West Virginia is trying to avoid falling out of the bubble conversation entirely. The outcome of this matchup could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.

The details

BYU coach Kevin Young was highly critical of his team's effort in the loss to UCF, saying they were "sleepwalking" and that it was a disappointing performance "all the way around." The Cougars will need to find a way to replace the production and leadership of the injured Richie Saunders, who was averaging 18 points per game. West Virginia has been led by guard Honor Huff, who scored 20 points in the Mountaineers' recent overtime loss to Oklahoma State.

  • BYU suffered the lopsided loss to UCF on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.
  • Richie Saunders suffered his season-ending torn ACL injury on February 14, 2026.

The players

Kevin Young

The head coach of the BYU Cougars basketball team.

Richie Saunders

BYU's third-leading scorer who suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury.

AJ Dybantsa

BYU's leading scorer, averaging 25.1 points per game.

Robert Wright III

BYU's second-leading scorer, averaging 18.1 points per game.

Honor Huff

West Virginia's leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“We were sleepwalking out there. I'm super disappointed in our guys, super disappointed in myself and our coaches. It was a night that was not good all the way around, with every breakdown you could imagine.”

— Kevin Young, BYU Head Coach (statenews.net)

“You miss his intensity; he's a guy that wakes up ready to just get after it every day in life. So we miss his intensity for sure. That's where Rob and AJ have to grow. They don't have it in them naturally to be hair-on-fire-type of guys. But when you aren't naturally that way, when you aren't naturally a vocal leader, you have to learn to lead sometimes. That's a challenge they are going through right now, and it's a growth process for both of them.”

— Kevin Young, BYU Head Coach (statenews.net)

“When you watch the NCAA Tournament at the end of the year, it's usually some little guys running around because it's so hard to get the ball close to the basket. There's physicality, size and teams defend each other at such a good rate.”

— Bob Hodge, West Virginia Head Coach (statenews.net)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game is a crucial test for both BYU and West Virginia as they look to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes. The Cougars will need to find a way to overcome the loss of Richie Saunders and avoid another slow start, while the Mountaineers are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. The outcome of this matchup could have significant implications for both teams' futures.