Kevin Young enters his tenure at BYU with a clear mandate: transform the Cougars into the most prolific shooting team he has ever coached. While the first ten minutes of Monday’s season opener against Ohio State suggested the opposite, with BYU missing 10 of 13 field goal attempts—including seven three-pointers—the narrative shifted dramatically once the rhythm took hold. The initial slump proved to be a fleeting anomaly rather than a systemic issue, as the No. 25-ranked squad found its footing and refused to let go, signaling a potential shift in the team’s offensive identity from the very first game of the season.
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Once the shots began falling, they seemingly never stopped, resulting in a statistical anomaly that overwhelmed the visiting Buckeyes. Following the early struggles, BYU shot 64% from the field and 63% from deep, averaging an efficient 1.4 points per possession. This surge allowed the Cougars to bury Ohio State 94-83 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, turning a shaky start into a dominant offensive showcase. The ability to sustain such high-volume shooting against a ranked opponent suggests that Young’s new-look roster possesses the firepower to challenge for a top-tier spot in the Big 12.
The result marks a historic stumble for Ohio State, which had not lost a regular season opener since 2003. By surrendering 60 points in the second half alone, the Buckeyes found themselves in unfamiliar territory, dropping to an 0-1 record and exposing defensive gaps that could haunt them throughout the season. For BYU, however, the victory serves as a definitive early claim to elite offensive status, proving that despite a rocky start, the Cougars have the depth and shooting range to dictate the pace of play against any opponent in the conference.
Source: Yahoo Sports
