BYU Basketball 2025-26: Kevin Young's First Season and What's Next
BYU basketball is in transition. Mark Pope left for Kentucky, and Kevin Young — a former NBA assistant with zero college head coaching experience — took over. The expectations were low, but BYU is exceeding them. Here's how Young is doing in his first season and what it means for the program's future.
Kevin Young: from the NBA to Provo
Kevin Young spent 15 years as an NBA assistant, most recently with the Suns. He's never been a college head coach, and he's never recruited at this level. BYU took a gamble on him, and so far, it's paying off.
Young's NBA background shows in how BYU plays. They run a lot of pick-and-roll, they space the floor, and they play with pace. It's a modern offense that's different from what most Big 12 teams run, and it's been effective.
The challenge for Young is recruiting. College basketball is all about relationships and recruiting pipelines, and Young doesn't have those yet. He's relying on transfers and international players to fill out the roster, which works in the short term but isn't sustainable long-term.
The roster: transfers and returners
BYU lost most of their roster when Pope left, so Young had to rebuild from scratch. He brought in a mix of transfers and kept a few key returners.
Richie Saunders is the leading scorer, averaging 16 points per game. He's a 6'5" wing who can shoot and create off the dribble. He's not a star, but he's a solid lead option.
Fousseyni Traore is the big man, a 6'8" forward who transferred in from BYU's previous roster. He's averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds, and he's the anchor of the defense.
The rest of the roster is a mix of role players and freshmen. It's not a deep team, and injuries have been an issue, but they've found ways to win.
Big 12 competition
BYU joined the Big 12 this season, and it's been a brutal adjustment. The Big 12 is one of the best conferences in college basketball, and BYU is learning that the hard way.
They've had some good wins — they beat Kansas State at home and took Texas to overtime. But they've also had some bad losses — they got blown out by Houston and lost to Oklahoma State by 20.
The Big 12 is a grind, and BYU is still figuring out how to compete at this level. They're 8-8 in conference play, which is respectable for a first-year team in a new conference.
Tournament hopes
BYU is on the bubble. They're 19-10 overall, and their NET ranking is in the 50s. They have a few quality wins, but they also have some bad losses that hurt their resume.
To make the tournament, BYU needs to finish strong. They have three games left in the regular season, and they need to win at least two. Then they need to make a run in the Big 12 tournament — probably win at least one game, maybe two.
If they do that, they're in. If they don't, they're in the NIT. It's that simple.
What's next for BYU
This season is about building a foundation. Kevin Young is learning how to be a college head coach, the players are learning a new system, and the program is adjusting to life in the Big 12.
Next season will be the real test. Young will have a full offseason to recruit, he'll have a year of experience under his belt, and the players will be more comfortable in the system. If BYU can make the tournament this year, it'll give them momentum going into next season.
But if they miss the tournament, the pressure will be on. BYU fans are used to winning, and they won't be patient forever. Young has done a good job so far, but he needs to prove he can sustain it.