Kansas City-Research and revenge “is not really the way we drive,” said the goalkeeper by Byu Trevin Knell Thursday afternoon after cougars n ° 17 exceeded State 12 of Iowa at the T-Mobile Center in a quarter-final match of the Big 12 tournament.
No, Knell did not speak of beating the cyclones, the national power against which Byu is now 3-1, remarkably, in the Big 12 games.
He referred to what is following: a confrontation in the semi-finals with Houston n ° 2 Friday evening (6 p.m. MDT, ESPN2) to have the chance to play for the title of Big 12 of the tournament during their second season in one of the best conferences of university basketball in the country.
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Of course, Houston (28-4) crushed Byu (24-8) 86-55 at Fertitta Center on January 4 at the only regular team meeting this year. Last year, cougars at the Port of Rouge preceded Byu 75-68 in Provo.
“It’s a really well trained team. They are one of the best defensive teams in the country. So, it’s going to be great to play against them, mainly because I want to see where we are standing, “said Knell, who had 4 for 4 deeply and raised 14 points in the victory in the quarter -finals of the cougars on Thursday. “Like, people talk about them as a Final Four team, and I have the impression that we are a completely different team from the one when we played them at home, when they did us quite well. I am therefore delighted to show what byu is and to put ourselves on the map and to run in the Big 12 tournament and to prepare for the playoffs. “”
Houston did not have too many problems with Colorado on Thursday, ending the Buffaloese Cinderella race with a 77-68 decision set by 19 Emanuel Sharp points.
But the team of coach Kelvin Sampson faced a disturbing setback; The Jewan Roberts center trampled on its right ankle and only scored two points in 18 minutes. Roberts, who on average 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, is one of the best players in Houston and it would not be surprising if Sampson “saves” for the big dance last week, just like the iowa state may or may not have saved the starters Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert against Byu.
“The only thing I remember is that they embarrassed us, you know?” They beat us 30 points. So we are super excited to play them again. »»
– Byu Center Foot Trare
Roberts said he would be “prudent” to move forward, “in particular knowing that March Madness is fast approaching,” he told Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.
The cougars carrying blue, for their part, will put caution in the wind – with or without trying to take revenge.
“I thought they really struck us in the mouth in Houston, but we have gone a long way to team since then,” said Dallin Hall de Byu, who collected seven points, seven assists and a rebound against the ISU. “We must correspond to their physique. We have to play intelligent and aggressive and on our toes. These are a few things that jump on me.
Byu was never really in the match in Houston defeat in front of 7,035 fans – The second match of the Big 12 season. Houston forced 15 reversals, held byu at 37.5% shooting (18 out of 48) and limited byu to eight 3 points. Byu did 18 triple Thursday.
“The only thing I remember is that they embarrassed us, you know?” They beat us 30 points. So we are super excited to play them again, “said Péné Traore de Byu, who had 15 points on Thursday.
In the January competition, Knell was the only two -digit byu player, with 12, while the Richie Saunders star was held at nine on 3 of the 8 shots. Houston won the 37-24 rebound battle.
“It’s quite simple: we have to play physical because they arrive and take your comfort zone and what you are good at you,” said Keba Keita. “I think we just have to be more physical and get rebounds and play our game.”
Blue cougars must also be able to manage the famous defense on the Houston ball and the way in which its guards accumulate, seized and opponent. Red cougars are surely aware of how the state of Iowa forced 29 byu reversals when cyclones were at full power on March 4.
“I thought they really struck us in the mouth in Houston, but we have gone a long way to the team since then.”
– Guard byu Dallin Hall
“We have already played against them, so we know what it is a bit,” said Boskovic’s Byu Mihailo striker. “We just have to understand what we are going to do in attack, and defense, and bounce the ball. And that’s it. It’s a very good rebound team. »»
When Sampson de Houston was questioned on Byu, making 18 points at Iowa state, he shrugged and said he didn’t know how Houston was going to keep Byu.
“We will watch a film tonight and play them tomorrow at 6 pm (CDT),” he said.
Byu coach Kevin Young said Houston’s 28-4 record is talking about himself.
“For us, we played them very early,” said Young. “They were our first Big 12 road match and they hit us. We have grown up a lot since then. We have the impression that we have found our identity since that time. … We will go there and will be the best version of ourselves. »»
Cougars in the air
N ° 17 byu (24-8) against n ° 2 Houston (28-4)
Friday, 5 p.m.
In the T-Mobile Center
Kansas City, Missouri
TV: ESPN2
Radio: byu Radio 107.9 FM / byuradio.org / byu Radio Application
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