BYU Basketball Hosts San Francisco Dons Team Heading In Wrong Direction
Feb 24, 2021, 10:45 PM | Updated: 10:45 pm
Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (4) and San Francisco Dons guard Khalil Shabazz (0) fight for the ball in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. BYU won 90-76. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball heads into the final week of their 2020-21 regular season as they host the San Francisco Dons. This game was a recent addition to the schedule after the WCC modified the schedule for the final week of the season.
Originally, these two teams were going to meet on January 30th in Provo, but San Francisco had to postpone the game due to COVID-19 issues in their program.
#BYU's Matt Haarms has been all class this season.
"I've had such an amazing time here representing BYU that I want to give the fans a year to remember. Accomplishments so far, we've won a lot of regular season games, but a lot still left for us."#BYUHoops @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) February 24, 2021
Since the Dons went on break, it hasn’t gone well for USF. San Francisco has lost four consecutive games and five of their last six. This includes a 72-63 setback against BYU on the Hilltop back on January 16.
BYU, on the other hand, is starting to play their best basketball at the right time. The Cougars are winners of four of their last five games. In the four victories, they’ve defeated their opponents by an average of 24.5 points per game.
#BYU head basketball coach Mark Pope said there will be "less than 2,000 fans" in the Marriott Center for this week's home games.#BYUHoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/vgjeebTwSH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 23, 2021
BYU is projected in every major Bracketology projection for the upcoming NCAA Tournament in March, and they continue to rise up the NCAA’s NET rankings. The Cougars are at No. 20 in the NET as of Wednesday.
This will be the first home game at the Marriott Center that will feature fans this season. BYU home games this year have been limited to only friends and family of the players and coaches. There will be less than 2,000 fans according to head coach Mark Pope to watch the Cougars play the Dons.
BYU vs. San Francisco – West Coast Conference hoops
Where: Marriott Center
Location: Provo, Utah
When: Thursday, February 25, 2021, 7 p.m. (MT)
BYU/San Francisco: How To Watch
TV: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: TBA
Which Channel: DirecTV (221), Dish Network (158), Verizon FiOS (594), Comcast Xfinity (753 in Salt Lake City).
BYU/USF: How To Listen
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)
Radio Stream: KSLnewsradio.com
Mobile App: KSL NewsRadio app on iOS and Google Play
Pregame coverage of BYU vs. USF begins Thursday at 6 p.m. (MT) on your legacy home of the BYU Cougars, KSL NewsRadio.
How To Stream
Stream: CBS Sports app or cbssports.com/cbs-sports-network. Log in with your television provider credentials.
Who To Follow on Social Media
- KSL Sports: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
- Mitch Harper: Twitter | Instagram
- Matt Baiamonte: Twitter | Instagram
BYU Fast Facts
2020-21 Record: 17-5 overall, 8-3 WCC
NET Ranking: 20
KenPom: 19
BPI: 28
Sagarin: 29
KPI: 14
Head Coach: Mark Pope (2nd year at BYU, 6th year as Division I head coach)
Pope’s Coaching Record at BYU: 41-13
Pope’s record against USF: 2-1
USF Fast Facts
2020-21 Record: 10-11 overall, 4-7 WCC
NET Ranking: 108
KenPom: 102
BPI: 116
Sagarin: 122
KPI: 132
Head Coach: Todd Golden (2nd season at USF, same as Division I head coach)
Golden’s Coaching Record at USF: 32-23
Golden’s record against BYU: 1-2
Where each team ranks in the WCC Adjusted Win Percentage Standings
1. Gonzaga – 13-0 (0.960 AWP)
2. BYU – 8-3 (0.798)
3. Pepperdine – 6-5 (0.638)
4. Saint Mary’s – 3-5 (0.562)
5. Pacific – 5-6 (0.508)
6. LMU – 6-4 (0.502)
7. Santa Clara – 4-4 (0.446)
8. San Francisco – 4-7 (0.330)
9. San Diego – 2-6 (0.242)
10. Portland – 0-11 (0.008)
Last Game Starting Lineups
BYU
G – Alex Barcello, Sr.; 6-2, 180
G – Brandon Averette, Sr.; 5-11, 185
F – Gideon George, Jr.; 6-6, 190
F – Caleb Lohner, Fr.; 6-8, 230
F – Matt Haarms, Sr.; 7-3, 250
San Francisco
G – Khalil Shabazz, Jr.; 6-1, 170
G – Jamaree Bouyea, Sr.; 6-2, 180
F – Josh Kunen, Soph.; 6-8, 210
F – Dzmitry Ryuny, Jr.; 6-9, 205
F – Taavi Jurkatamm, Sr.; 6-9, 210
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.
