NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Creighton, LSU continue to rise

BYU returns to the Top 25 this week after a pair of home wins over Pepperdine and St. Mary’s. The Cougars have been a tad inconsistent this season but deservedly warrant attention at the back-end of these rankings just about every week. They hold a 17-7 (6-3 WCC) record for the season and have secured a decent number of quality wins already this season. Head coach Mark Pope has really done an excellent job with this roster and BYU will be exceptionally dangerous as long as Yoeli Childs is able to stay healthy.

Childs has only played in 11 of 24 games so far this season (partially due to a suspension) but has been absolutely superb while on the floor. He is averaging 21.0 points (61.4% FG, 56.5% 3P), 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game as the leader of this squad offensively. Add in the fact that the supporting cast around him features a ton of very capable 3-point threats and it is easy to see why this team can be so dominant offensively.

BYU currently holds the fifth-best adjusted offensive efficiency rating in the entire country and that is largely due to their effectiveness from beyond the arc. Childs is the star but the Cougars are shooting 42.0% from three on the season while attempting perimeter jumpers at high volumes. They are quite simply one of the toughest teams to cover in the entire country when it comes to 3-point shooting.

BYU moves the ball very well and works as a team to create the best possible look on each possession. It rarely turns the ball over and can either snipe from distance or feed Childs anywhere on the floor.