BYU jumps into AP Top 25 after back-to-back wins over ranked opponents

PROVO — One week ago, the BYU men's basketball team faced a program many called the hottest team in the country and put a stop to Kansas State's six-game winning streak and launching the Wildcats into three straight losses.

The Cougars may have claimed that title.

BYU's four-game winning streak, which includes consecutive victories over then-No. 23 Kansas and No. 19 Arizona, has yielded a boost in most metrics — including votes in the Associated Press Top 25, where the Cougars ranked 25th when the poll refreshed Monday.

Auburn, Duke and Florida lead the top 25, followed by Houston and Tennessee.

It's the first time since March 18 of last year that BYU (19-8, 9-5 Big 12) has been ranked.

Behind a pair of double-digit scorers in Richie Saunders (15.5 points per game) and Egor Demin (10.9 ppg, 5.6 assists per game), the Cougars have been playing some of their best basketball of the season of late.

Saunders was named Big 12 player of the week, the first such honor for the Cougars since joining the Big 12 two years ago.

The junior from Riverton averaged 22.5 points on 73.9% shooting in leading BYU to back-to-back wins over AP Top 25 opponents for the first time since 1988. His team-high 22 against then-No. 23 Kansas paced a 91-57 win, the largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in BYU history.

Since the start of the four-game win streak on Feb. 11 at West Virginia, BYU is playing like the fourth-best team nationally, according to barttorvik.com. The Cougars have the No. 3 adjusted offense in the country and No. 57 defense by the metric, coming in behind only Duke, Clemson and Houston.

"We learn, right?" Saunders said after the Cougars' 96-95 win over Arizona. "Every game, you get an opportunity to learn. And we took a lot out of the last game (against Arizona), and even this one.

"By losing, as hard as that it is, it's a chance to learn."

Expand the window to Jan. 21 — when BYU beat Colorado 83-67 for the Cougars' first true road win of the year that started a run of eight wins in 10 games — and the Cougars rate 11th nationally with the the second-highest rated offense (131.8) and a top-75 defense (101.2).

BYU also moved up to No. 27 in KenPom and No. 29 in the NET. The biggest movers in that run, though, came against Kansas — currently rated No. 20 in the NET — and Arizona, which rates ninth nationally.

"I have so much respect for good programs and good coaches, especially as I've learned what it takes to win in college basketball, particularly on the road and especially a place like here," BYU first-year coach Kevin Young said in Tucson. "I was watching the game before our game, and they had a stat about Arizona's home record over 50-some odd games; it didn't give me a lot of good feelings about being able to win in this environment.

"My message to our group is, whatever the next challenge is in front, we're trying to attack it. I know that sounds cliche, but that's been the recipe for us: to not look farther than that moment."

Seven Big 12 teams rate inside the NET's top 30, including four of the top-nine led by No. 3 Houston.

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