Demin, Cougars hope 'just being yourself' creates more NCAA Tournament content

DENVER — Egor Demin, the often humble and sometimes-humbled standout guard of the 17th-ranked BYU men's basketball team who many still consider a top-tier NBA draft pick after one season in Provo, has one area of his life where he isn't afraid to admit he's the best.

It's not leading the Cougars' offense, which averages 81.0 points per game and has been key in leading BYU to wins in 13 of the last 16 games including nine in a row before last week's Big 12 tournament semifinal loss to Houston.

It's not even the best passer on the team, though he certainly has an argument with his team-high 5.4 assists per game — many of which leave spectators' jaws on the floor for his vision, anticipation and wizard-like movement with the ball.

No, ask Demin if he's the best on the team at this one thing, and he doesn't hesitate to answer yes. He's quick, sure and confident in his abilities.

It's content creation, where the 6-foot-9 native of Moscow, Russia who moved to Spain when he was 15 to train with Real Madrid's academy has been a regular on the Cougars' traveling vlog and gameday social media.

Trey Stewart's a close second. But Demin takes the crown, he says.

"I think it's just being yourself; that's the main thing," he told KSL.com. "Off camera, on the camera, I'm the same person. I'm just trying to make everybody's lives a little bit funnier and happier. I'm just having fun."

For BYU to get past 11th-seeded VCU in the first round of the Cougars' third NCAA Tournament in five years, Demin will need to be himself on the court.

The five-star freshman averaged 10.3 points, 5.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game on 41.0% shooting during the regular season, but was most effective during an eight-game winning streak to end the regular season that vaulted the Cougars from solid Big 12 team into national contender with wins over the likes of Kansas, Arizona and Iowa State.

Denim scored in double figures five times during that eight-game run, dished out three or more dimes in five games including a Big 12-high 10 in a 91-81 win over Arizona State, and shot better than 45% from the field in half the contests.

But regular-season success doesn't always translate to the tournament. No team knows that better than BYU, whose 32 tourney appearances without a Final Four leads the country and who hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2012.

That includes a 71-67 loss to Duquesne last year, another A-10 champion with a departing head coach that shot 46.4% from the field and held the Cougars to 38.6% in the bracket-busting upset.

"It was our first time with this opportunity, and we got freaking smacked," said BYU's Richie Saunders, the team's leading scorer and Big 12's most improved player who had 4 points on 1-of-5 shooting in 26 minutes off the bench a year ago. "We take a few key things right there; one is we've got to come out and be the aggressor.

"We've been around the block now, it feels like, as a team — and a lot of guys have been here in this spot before," he added. "Just with having all the confidence in the world and all the focus of just getting the job done and being the tougher team, that's my takeaway."

Under first-year coach Kevin Young, the Cougars re-tooled with additions like Demin, four-star freshman Kanon Catchings — who has been day-to-day with a leg injury since March 1 but went through BYU's open practice Wednesday at the Ball Center — and transfers from Rutgers and Utah in Mawot Mag and Keba Keita, respectively.

But they also retained a key core of talent from last year's tournament team, including Saunders, a junior, and seniors Trevin Knell, Fousseyni Traore and Trey Stewart.

Add in the likes of point guard Dallin Hall, the former starter who now leads the Cougar reserves and has been instrumental in Young's 11-man rotation, and there's a reason why Young calls his team's readiness "high" for the madness that is March.

"I think that's what's great about the Big 12," the first-time college head coach said. "You go through a lot of battles throughout the course of the regular season, even the postseason. So I think our guys are ready. We have a mature group and are definitely relying on their experience, as well."

For players like Knell, Traore, Stewart and Mag, the last chance to break BYU's dubious losing streak in the Big Dance is now. In the age of the transfer portal, it may be the same for some underclassmen, as well.

There's a decent chance it is for Demin, who hasn't revealed his future plans but has clear sights on the NBA.

And there'd be no better way to repay the program that embraced the recently turned 19-year-old from Moscow than with a tournament win.

"We're super grateful," Demin said. "Me personally, I'm living my best life being a BYU student and a BYU player. It's so great to be here, next to (the fans), around them. I feel like it's home, and it's a big family."

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