UVU Coach Mark Madsen Describes ‘Special Moment’ Of Beating BYU
Dec 2, 2021, 5:19 PM
Utah Valley University coach Mark Madsen directs his players during a basketball game against BYU at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Valley men’s basketball head coach Mark Madsen described his team’s upset of No. 12 BYU as a “special moment.”
Madsen’s Wolverines beat the Cougars in overtime on Wednesday, December 1.
The next morning, the head coach joined The Zone Sports Network’s Hans Olsen and Scott Garrard to discuss the victroy.
“Well, I just think it was a special moment. It was a special moment,” Madsen said. “Number one for our players. I mean, there were a number of our players that had parents, extended family siblings that had flown in for this game. Because, you know, there’s so much respect between the programs.”
Madsen said that players from BYU and UVU know each other well and play together during the summer. That familiarity made the upset more meaningful.
@UVUmbb head coach Mark Madsen talks about the impact this win will have for Utah Valley basketball. #UVU pic.twitter.com/Ih33Jh9NwB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 2, 2021
After the game, UVU students and fans stormed the court in celebration. Madsen said that was another part of the “special moment.”
“For our players to be able to play in front of their families, their parents, a packed UCCU center, the student body of UVU, which was just — they rushed the court you know,” Madsen added. “All pandemonium was breaking loose after the game. The joy could be felt in the arena.”
🚨 UPSET 🚨 @UVUmbb takes down No. 12 @BYUMBB 72-65. pic.twitter.com/Kkr2VXvQPk
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 2, 2021
For Madsen, the “special moment” also involved his family.
“For me personally, you know, my wife and daughter were up there,” Madsen said. “My daughter’s four months old and her bedtime is 6:30 p.m. but Hannah, my wife, decided to bring her. And so just to be able to share that with my wife and daughter, it meant a lot for me personally as well.’
With the win, the Wolverines improved to a record of 7-1 this season, including 3-0 at home.
WHAT. A. NIGHT. #GoUVU #UVUmbb #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/U6madCn1zq
— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) December 2, 2021
Utah Valley’s next game is against the Yellowstone Christian College Centurions on Friday, December 3 at 6 p.m. (MDT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
