BYU Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Cougars to defeat San Diego State

3. Make this a low-scoring and ugly game

BYU already benefitted from Barcello’s 17 last game but was only one of three players to score more than seven points. The issue will be who steps up outside of him, Haws and assumably Toolson? Maybe Harding can emerge for a double-digit game but the likeliest outcome will involve a collective effort of the role players all chipping in 5-7 points for the Cougars to succeed in this game.

The reality for this program is that until Yoeli Childs returns in eight games, BYU will just have to scrape by on offense and win games in the 60s and low-70s. Thing is though – that’s exactly what San Diego State wants to do. Even after Steve Fisher retired, head coach Brian Dutcher still deploys a grind-it-out style when games are rarely even a shootout. Their trio of guards (Malachi Flynn, Jordan Schakel and KJ Feagin) can each score 20+ on any given night and have multiple big men to work with. Texas Southern isn’t expected to be a juggernaut themselves but allowing just 42 points is notable.

But low-scoring games make an upset all the more likely to happen, which is all BYU can ask for. For them to remain a viable at-large contender, they’ll have to sneak in an upset or two in these first nine games without Childs around.

While the Aztecs are a legit opponent who should be favored in this contest, being at home combined with facing a team who won’t run you out the building gives the Cougars real hope. We’ll find out Saturday at 4:00 pm ET if they can get the win.