No. 9 BYU vs. Miami: Three Thoughts Entering Thanksgiving Day Matchup
Nov 27, 2025, 12:01 AM
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Enjoy Thanksgiving Day with some BYU basketball as the Cougars take on the Miami Hurricanes in the ESPN Events Invitational.
The game will tip off at 3 p.m. (MST)/5 p.m. (EST) on ESPN and KSL NewsRadio.
BYU enters the matchup with a 4-1 record and No. 9 ranking in the AP Top 25, and is 10th in KenPom ratings.
Miami from the ACC is 5-1 overall and is 46th in the KenPom ratings.
It’s the first meeting between these two programs since 1989, when BYU was in the WAC, and Miami was a Division I Independent.
The series is tied all-time at two games each.
BYU vs. Miami: Three Thoughts
Here are three thoughts entering the matchup.
1. BYU played its most complete game of the season last week. What’s the follow-up act?
BYU’s win over Wisconsin was the most complete performance of the season, and one of the best games in the Kevin Young era (dating back to last season).
How do they follow that up?
Lean more on the “Big Three” of AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Rob Wright.
But also on the defensive end.
Everyone knows that Kevin Young-coached teams at BYU are going to be good on offense. However, the toughness on defense, limiting a high-powered Wisconsin offense to just 24% from three, was impressive.
Richie Saunders looked like he had found his rhythm playing alongside Dybantsa and Wright. The senior leader scored 26 points against the Badgers.
AJ Dybantsa will have to avoid foul trouble. BYU built a lead without Dybantsa on the floor against Wisconsin in the second half, but that’s not the ideal formula every night.
2. Miami loves to get to the rim
Jai Lucas’ Miami Hurricanes squad is an up-tempo offense that loves to get up and down the floor and get to the rim.
The Hurricanes are in the top 30 in two-point field goal percentage this season.
Miami is 307th in three-point field goal attempts per game this season. So defending the paint will be key for BYU today.
“Offensively, they score it at the rim, in the paint, at an extremely high rate, and get to the foul line quite a bit,” said Kevin Young. “So, you know, it’s going to test our toughness, our ability to be connected on the defensive end.”
3. Business trip
BYU basketball didn’t go inside the Walt Disney World parks when they arrived in Orlando. Instead, it’s been all business. Some players checked out Disney Springs on Wednesday night, but the focus for this team is on getting two wins and claiming the invitational crown.
Thanksgiving games in basketball can be strange, as they take place in a neutral-court environment that lacks much energy or excitement. But at the same time, it’s an opportunity to bring the team closer together.
“I think it’s a big part of the season,” Young said on traveling as a team during a holiday. “You’re able to spend so much time with your teammates and with your coaches. When you go out on the road, it’s kind of all you have–especially over the holidays. To have a group kind of bond together is cool.”
No. 9 BYU vs. Miami
2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational
Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Tip-off: 3 p.m. (MST)/5 p.m. (EST)
TV: ESPN
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
