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BYU Basketball: 2019-20 keys for home game against Saint Mary’s Gaels

By J.D. Caldwell

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Mark Pope of the BYU Cougars features to his players during the second half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 27, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Mark Pope of the BYU Cougars features to his players during the second half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 27, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 27: The BYU Cougars bench (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 27: The BYU Cougars bench (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

2. BYU has to win the three-point battle

Both of these teams are full of an amazingly high percentage of three-point shooters.  We’ve already talked about Childs and Fitts.

Before Thursday, Saint Mary’s was ranked #2 in the nation from beyond the arc, shooting 41.0%.  The Cougars are not too far behind.  BYU was ranked #3 at 40.8%.  BYU averages 10.5 three-point shots made per game, #5 in the nation.  Saint Mary’s has made 8.6 treys per game.

The Cougars tend to rely more on the three-pointers, while Saint Mary’s are more likely to take the ball to the hoop.  The Gaels will try to slow the tempo, as well as Saint Mary’s, are ranked #336 in KenPom’s adjusted tempo.

BYU is led by 6’5 senior transfer Jake Toolson.  Toolson has been on fire in conference play.  He is shooting 61 for 126 from beyond the arc on the season for 48.4% (16th in the country).

Along with Toolson, the Cougars also have 6’2 junior Alex Barcello (37 for 78, 47.4%, 22th in the country), 6’6 sophomore Connor Harding (26 for 60, 43.3%), 6’4 senior T.J. Haws (43 for 116, 37.1%) and more.  BYU finished with a mind-blowing 17 three-pointers (17 for 28) in the blowout over Pepperdine Thursday.

Saint Mary’s will fire back with the trio of 6’6 senior Tanner Krebs (45 for 102, 44.1%), 6’1 senior Jordan Ford (60 for 143, 42.0%), and Fitts.  They did one better than BYU in the Portland game by hitting 18 three-pointers (18 for 40).