San Francisco, CA
After loss to USF, BYU coach Mark Pope points finger where only he can: at himself
Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes
PROVO — Tyrell Roberts should actually like taking part in BYU.
In final yr’s NIT quarterfinal, the Washington State guard scored 11 factors in a 77-58 street win over the Cougars. One yr and a switch later, Roberts out-did even that.
The graduate switch poured in a career-high 30 factors, together with 4 3-pointers, for San Francisco because the Dons raced out to a giant lead and by no means seemed again in a 82-74 win over BYU at Warfare Memorial Fitness center on the Sobrato Middle in San Francisco.
Khalil Shabazz added 21 factors and 5 rebounds for the Dons (14-9, 3-5 WCC), and Zane Meeks scored 13.
Rudi Williams scored a season-high 28 factors on 10-of-12 capturing to steer the Cougars, who’ve now misplaced three of their final 4 video games. It is the fifth time all season Williams has topped the 20-point plateau, coming off the bench in all however a kind of video games.
Jaxson Robinson added 11 factors, 4 rebounds and two assists for the Cougars; and Gideon George had 12 factors, 5 rebounds and three steals. Fousseyni Traore added 10 factors and three rebounds for BYU (14-9, 4-4 WCC).
As a substitute of getting ready for a standalone sport with league leaders Saint Mary’s subsequent Saturday, the Cougars now should flip inward after what’s arguably the worst stretch of the season, the one four-game run with three losses and solely the third time they’ve had back-to-back setbacks in 2022-23.
“Sadly for us, it isn’t a laser-focus week for Saint Mary’s,” stated BYU coach Mark Pope, who took all the blame for the loss himself in his postgame interview with BYU Radio. “The wheels fell off the bus tonight, and that is disappointing.
“We took a significant step again, and that is 100% on me,” he added. “I’ve received to get my act collectively and we must always discover some solutions.”
The top coach later stated the Cougars did not win “any aspect” of the sport and had been “brutally out-coached,” one thing that was “actually, actually regarding.”
“We have good gamers they usually wish to get higher they usually wish to win, however we took a significant step again and that is 100% on me,” Pope stated. “I’ve received to get my act collectively and discover some solutions as a result of we must always by no means have a efficiency like that — ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.”
But, this one had an identical theme as 48 hours beforehand at Santa Clara: 15 turnovers resulting in 25 factors. The important thing distinction? BYU by no means led Saturday night time.
Very similar to Thursday, the Cougars received off to a torrid begin. San Francisco hit 4 3-pointers within the first six minutes, and the Dons used a 13-3 run to take a 16-5 lead with 14:44 left within the half.
USF turned 11 turnovers into 18 factors within the first half, however BYU battled again and creeped inside 5 on George’s layup with 5:39 to go — his first made area purpose in almost three video games.
However Roberts had 16 factors, and the Dons made seven 3-pointers and went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line to assist the hosts to the 37-28 halftime benefit.
San Francisco led by as a lot as 16 within the second half, however BYU shot over 59% from the sector to chop the deficit inside single digits a number of instances.
The Cougars simply could not get any nearer because the Dons knocked down 12 3-pointers and made 24-of-27 free throws to coast to the end, overcoming 17 turnovers that BYU become 19 factors.
Satirically, the Cougars completed plus-two in turnover margin, because of 11 steals that helped power 17 turnovers. The 19 factors off turnovers helped preserve it shut, however solely thus far.
“We have to get our hearts proper first,” Pope stated. “That is essentially the most disappointing half, and that comes from my management. Then we have to get our minds proper. Then we have to have the ability to execute.
“This lies with me. It is not these guys; it is 100% on me.”