Patrick Kinahan: Injuries aren't only reason for BYU basketball collapse

PROVO — From the first game three months ago — when only one player had been lost to a season-ending injury — BYU's basketball team has lacked consistency in rebounding and defense.

For all the issues that have undercut the Cougars so far in this disappointing season, don't solely blame the rash of season-ending injuries. At full strength, aside from losing transfer guard Nate Pickens before the season, BYU has sometimes struggled in vital aspects.

As coaches at virtually every level have said throughout the history of basketball, most notably former Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley, "No rebounds, no rings." Injuries may be exasperating the rebounding deficiencies, but they didn't create them.

Combined with any serious commitment to playing defense, with two games left in the regular season it's easy to see why this team is buried deep in the Big 12 standings. Without an extended run in the conference tournament next week in Kansas City, the Cougars are staring at an NCAA Tournament seed that could lead to an early exit.

In BYU's season-opening win, Villanova used 17 offensive rebounds to stay in game despite missing seven of 15 free throws. Dominating the glass led to Villanova scoring 31 points off those second chances and helped turn a 14-point deficit into a 2-point lead with seven minutes left in the game.

The latest example that has plagued the Cougars came in the most recent game, a 79-71 loss at West Virginia. The Mountaineers scored 15 second-chance points off 18 offensive rebounds.

"We've got to rebound better," coach Kevin Young said during Monday's media availability. "We gave up too many second-chance points down the stretch."

The defense also was awful in the closing minutes, a problem that has been persistent much of the season. Keeping with a basketball axiom, a team or individual can't score enough points to offset poor defense.

In the nine losses, BYU opponents have combined to shoot 50.4% from the field. Overall, in field goal defense, the Cougars rank 157th out of 361 Division I teams at 43.8%.

The best Big 12 teams have consistently torched BYU's defense, which allows open shots at an alarming rate. Four conference teams (Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma State and UCF) have shot at least 53% from the floor. Inexplicably, the Arizona and UCF losses were at the Marriott Center.

With 34 seconds down by 3 points on Saturday at West Virginia, the Cougars needed one stop to have a chance to tie the game. Honor Huff blew past Rob Wright, who literally put up no resistance, to convert an easy shot in the paint to extend the lead to two possessions.

Responding to a video of the play on social media, former BYU assistant coach Tim LaComb posted: "34 seconds and need 1 stop. This is bad man."

Said Young: "I'm not sure what Rob was doing. He was looking over to the bench. Felt like he just had a brain fart in that moment, honestly. We've just got to be better one-on-one, bottom line."

Even with all the injuries, especially losing potential NBA draft pick Richie Saunders, BYU has competed well in all but one of the games since he went down less than one minute into the game against Colorado on Feb. 21. Reaching the program's first Final Four appearance seems like a long shot, but there's still a chance to achieve some success in the NCAA Tournament.

Losing seniors in Saunders and Dawson Baker, who went down in November, also has created a void in leadership. Young has worked with Wright and AJ Dybantsa, who are both in their first season at BYU, along with other starters to provide more leadership.

"It's a growth moment for our guys," he said. "We've got to answer the call."

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