BYU’s Redemption Tour Starts Now - But First, Handle Oklahoma State
BYU’s journey through the gauntlet that is the Big 12 continues this week, and if the Cougars are going to make a statement, it starts with a must-win on the road.
No. 16 BYU (17-4, 5-3 Big 12) heads to Stillwater on Wednesday to face Oklahoma State, a team that may not carry a number next to its name but still demands respect.
For BYU, this isn’t just about bouncing back - it’s about proving they belong in the upper tier of college basketball’s toughest conference. And then, just a few days later, comes the real test: No.
8 Houston rolls into the Marriott Center on Saturday night.
This week? It’s a two-game stretch that could define the Cougars’ season.
A League That Doesn’t Let You Breathe
The Big 12 is relentless. You don’t just play a tough game - you play another one two days later.
And while BYU’s losses to then-No. 1 Arizona, No.
11 Texas Tech, and No. 14 Kansas sting, the beauty of this league is that redemption is always just around the corner.
Win at Oklahoma State. Beat Houston at home.
Suddenly, those earlier losses start to fade into the background.
“That’s the blessing and a curse of being in this league,” head coach Kevin Young said after BYU’s 90-82 loss at Kansas. “It feels like every night, for the most part, is a night where you have an opportunity to get a big win.
We are a battle-tested group. We’re a couple of shots away from having some of those.”
Young’s not wrong. BYU hasn’t been blown out. They’ve been in these games - just a few possessions short of flipping the narrative.
February: The Month of Opportunity
The calendar has flipped to February, and with it comes a stretch that could either elevate BYU into a top-tier seed come March or leave them scrambling to stay in the national conversation.
On deck: Houston, Arizona (on the road), Iowa State, Baylor, Colorado, UCF, and West Virginia. That’s not a schedule - that’s a playoff bracket.
And March doesn’t slow down. A road trip to Cincinnati and a season finale against Texas Tech will set the stage for the Big 12 Tournament, which could be BYU’s final chance to polish the résumé before the NCAA Tournament field is announced.
A Familiar Script - And a Chance to Flip It
Senior guard Richie Saunders has seen this movie before. Last season, BYU didn’t land its first signature Big 12 win until mid-February, when they knocked off No.
23 Kansas in Provo. That win lit the fuse.
From there, they avenged an early loss to Arizona with a road win in Tucson, broke into the Top 25, and swept No. 10 Iowa State - once in Ames, and again in the Big 12 tournament.
Despite nine losses, BYU secured a No. 6 seed and danced their way to the Sweet 16, finishing the year ranked No. 13.
“I’ve been in this position many times throughout my career,” Saunders said after dropping a career-high 33 points at Kansas in front of a small army of NBA scouts. “I know the flip side of what’s waiting for us.”
That flip side? It starts with Oklahoma State. Because none of the big dreams matter if BYU doesn’t take care of business in Stillwater.
First Half Woes, Second Half Surges
There’s no denying BYU’s second-half energy. They’ve been one of the best teams in the country after the break - but the problem is, they’ve often needed to be. Playing from behind has been a recurring theme, and in the Big 12, digging out of early holes is a dangerous game.
If the Cougars want to make the leap from “dangerous” to “elite,” it starts with 40-minute basketball. Not 20.
Not a late surge. They’ve got to come out with pace, poise, and purpose - from tip to buzzer.
No Time to Look Ahead - But Everyone Is
Sure, fans have circled Saturday’s showdown with Houston in red ink. And who could blame them? It’s a top-10 matchup at home, a chance to make a national statement on their own floor.
But for BYU, the focus has to be squarely on Oklahoma State. Because in this league, looking ahead can get you beat. Redemption might be waiting on Saturday, but it doesn’t mean much if Wednesday goes sideways.
The Big 12 doesn’t offer many breathers. Every game is an opportunity - and a landmine. And right now, BYU is walking that tightrope between contender and question mark.
The Cougars have the talent. They have the experience. And if they can string together a few signature wins, they’ll have the résumé.
Now it’s time to go earn it.