Utah Basketball’s Mason Madsen Praises BYU Home Game Environment
Mar 10, 2025, 4:56 PM
The Utah Utes team warms up before a basketball game against the Brigham Young Cougars at the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University in Provo on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – Following the Utes’ loss to BYU in the Marriott Center on Saturday, a Utah basketball guard spoke about the game and what it was like to play in front of Cougar fans.
It was Mason Madsen’s first season with Utah which meant his first time playing in Provo. He went in-depth on the experience on his YouTube channel.
Utah Basketball Guard Mason Madsen Salutes BYU, Marriott Center Environment
Madsen talked about the game from the Utes’ perspective, his own perspective, and also gave his take on BYU fans and the Marriott Center.
Shockingly, at least when compared to the history of the rivalry, he gave mostly props to the Cougars and their fans.
“In all seriousness, definitely one of the best (environments) I’ve played in,” Madsen said. “It lived up to the hype. I had heard good things about the arena. Kudos to all of the fans that were there.”
COUGAR NATION >>> pic.twitter.com/Z2qPeUWCU6
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 9, 2025
As a fifth-year senior, the next step in Madsen’s basketball career will be as a professional, which he alluded to shortly after.
“I will say, it would be fun to play for BYU and have those fans,” Madsen said. “That was pretty sick. That’s something that I hope to experience in the future, not that I haven’t at certain places, to play where people really care about basketball. It really adds to the game and just the experience for everyone.”
Regarding the actual on-court product, Madsen gave more props to the No. 23 Cougs.
RELATED: BYU Soars AP Top 25 Rankings Entering Postseason Play
He said that Utah was well aware of the task in front of them and put up a good fight with the odds stacked against them. Madsen retained a positive outlook on the game and the state of the team in his recap.
“They were playing really well,” Madsen said. “We knew it going in. They were going to be hard to beat at their place. We had a chance. Miro (Little) played really well. Also, Hunter (Erickson) had the nastiest dunk I think I’ve ever seen in my life.”
We’re soarin’, we’re flyin’ ✈️
Hunter Erickson with the SLAM!#Big12MBB | @UtahMBB pic.twitter.com/EpNnKVh3Ph
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) March 9, 2025
The positivity continued as Madsen talked through his feelings and future perspective.
He was frustrated with his lack of burn in Provo but a team-first mindset shined through as he previewed the Big 12 Championships in Kansas City.
RELATED: Big 12 Conference Releases Official Men’s Basketball Championship Bracket
“It’s not worth dwelling on what could have been,” Madsen said. “Instead, (I) take what I can from my current situation and apply it in the future. Try to finish the season strong, who knows what can happen, get hot at the right time. It’s March, anything can happen.”
