BYU’s first real look at Tyler Betsey has been more about what he does away from the ball than what he does with it.
The Syracuse transfer has started both exhibition games for the Cougars, but the box score hasn’t exactly jumped off the page. Betsey has made just 1 of 6 shots from the field in a little more than 40 minutes, a quiet offensive opening for a player who drew strong reviews after arriving over the offseason.
Still, BYU coach Kevin Young isn’t sounding any alarms.
“He’s been quiet offensively, mainly because he’s not getting shots,” Young admitted. “But I think he’s been tremendous defensively and that’s really been the area we’ve put a lot of focus on for him is defensive and rebounding.
I never worry about his ability to make shots. He can really really shoot it.”
That confidence comes with some real backing. Betsey hit nearly 40% from 3-point range at Syracuse, and at 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, he brings the kind of frame that can hold up inside. Right now, Young sees him as a dependable interior defender who can help Jaxon Kohler, Khadim Mboup and Jake Wahlin around the paint.
The offense, Young believes, is only a matter of time.
“We haven’t really shown our full offensive package in these preseason games,” he said. “There’s some stuff that we kind of want to hold on to when we get to the real games that I think will allow not just Tyler but even more of our guys to just have a little bit more dynamic nature to what we’re doing offensively.
“I think that will help our ball movement and help us find more threes, so I think he (Betsey) will benefit from that. I’ve been super impressed with his defense in both the exhibition games and what he’s done in practice, and excited about for him him being able to find more shots in these real games.”
Even without much scoring, Betsey has still made his presence felt in the two exhibitions. He finished with seven rebounds and two assists, and BYU posted a plus-7 with him on the floor against Nebraska and a plus-14 against UNLV.
Monday’s opponent brings a different kind of challenge.
Ohio State enters at 0-0 after going 21-13 overall and 12-8 in Big Ten play last season, then falling 66-64 to TCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes lost leading scorer Bruce Thornton, who averaged 19.9 points per game and was taken in the second round of the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks before his rights were traded to the Houston Rockets. Forward Devin Royal, who scored 13.7 points per game, also moved on, transferring to Villanova.
But Ohio State still has plenty to work with. Junior guard John Mobley is back after averaging 15.7 points per game and knocking down 97 3-pointers last season. Sophomore forward Amare Bynum returns as well after putting up 9.7 points per game.
Jake Diebler also added help through the transfer portal, bringing in Cal guard Justin Pippen, who averaged 14.2 points per game, and Duquesne guard Jimmie Williams, who averaged 15.1 points per game in his fifth season. Freshman forward Anthony Thompson, a 6-9 recruit from Lebanon, Ohio, is also expected to make an impact.
The Buckeyes split their two exhibition games, losing to Cincinnati 79-68 and beating Butler 82-73. Bynum scored 23 against Butler, while Mobley added 17.
CBS Sports picked Ohio State to finish seventh in the Big Ten this season.
Young sees the matchup as one between two teams still trying to define themselves.
“Obviously you’ve got two two good teams who are kind of rebuilt,” Young said. “Both are trying to carve out an identity.
At least that’s what’s on my mind. I don’t want to speak for Coach Diebler, but I’d imagine that’s on his mind as well.
“I know I’ve personally liked playing teams from power conferences (to open the season), especially in these NBA arenas. I think that’s that’s something that we’ll look to continue doing.”
BYU and Ohio State tip off Monday at 7 p.m. MT at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The game will air on FS1, with radio coverage on BYU Radio and live stats available at byucougars.com.
In Other News...
BYU Heads Into Utah Week With One Awkward Tie And Injury Drama
Utah week always carries extra weight for BYU, but Keanu Tanuvasa adds a personal layer to the rivalry. The defensive lineman spent time in Salt Lake City before transferring across the aisle, and he still has enduring connections there, including with Utah head coach Morgan Scalley. Even with that history, Tanuvasa sounded eager for the chance to line up at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the emotion of the matchup will be matched by a very different kind of family milestone as his wife is expecting their first child soon.
On the injury front, BYU is still sorting out two important names before kickoff. Coach Kalani Sitake said running back LJ Martin and cornerback Evan Johnson will continue to be evaluated over the next few days as the Cougars try to determine whether either can go against Utah. For a game that already has plenty of edge, the availability of both players could shape how BYU approaches one of its biggest tests of the season. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces A Huge Holy War Test After Its Uneven Stretch
BYU left Tempe with a 27-20 win over Arizona State, but the bigger picture now shifts quickly to the road and to the kind of game that can define a season. Kalani Sitake has made it clear the Cougars still need to sharpen up after an uneven stretch, and the timing could hardly be more demanding with No. 3 Utah waiting on Saturday morning in Salt Lake City.
The Holy War has a way of stripping everything down to urgency, and BYU enters this one trying to keep its momentum while also proving it can play cleaner football against a top-tier opponent. The Cougars will get their shot on November 7, with kickoff set for 10 a.m. MST, and the stakes are obvious: a chance to extend their winning streak against Utah and show that the recent bumps have not knocked them off course. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces A Defining Big 12 Test With Playoff Stakes Rising
November is arriving with the Big 12 suddenly looking like one of the deepest races in the country, and BYU is right in the middle of it. The league has five ranked teams heading into the month, with Utah, BYU, Texas Tech, Houston and Arizona all still carrying real weight in the conference picture. For the Cougars, the next stretch is about more than staying in the hunt for Arlington. It is about proving they belong in the conversation as the playoff field starts to take shape.
The timing makes every remaining game feel bigger, especially with Utah and BYU among the matchups that could reshape both the Big 12 Championship Game race and the College Football Playoff pecking order. The first CFP rankings are coming soon, and the door is open for multiple Big 12 teams to make a case if they keep winning. For BYU, that means the margin for error is shrinking fast, and the path forward is starting to look like a weekly test of staying power. [Read more 🡒]