2022 Record: 17-14 (7-9 WCC)

Head Coach: Mark Pope (Career Record 169-98) (BYU Record 85-40)

Projected Rotation:

PG: Dallin Hall (7.3 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 3.2 Ast)

SG: Spencer Johnson (11.1 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

SF: Jaxson Robinson (8.5 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

PF: Fousseyni Traore (12.9 Pts, 7.8 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

C: Aly Khalifa (Charlotte 11.7 Pts, 6.3 Reb, 2.7 Ast)

6: SG Dawson Baker (UC Irvine 15.3 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

7: SG Trevin Knell (2021-22 6.4 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

8: SF Noah Waterman (4.6 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

9: C Atiki Ally Atiki (3.8 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 0.5 Ast)

10: SG Richie Saunders (5.5 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

11: PG Trey Stewart (1.5 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

BYU is in for a huge wake up call when they join the Big 12. This is a huge step up for the WCC and it will be very challenging for them to get adjusted to the new level of play. BYUs leading returning scorer is Fousseyni Traore who is really a forced to be reckoned with on the inside. He shoots an impressive 61% from the floor overall while averaging nearly 8 rebounds per game. He is also an elite interior defender and it will be interesting to see how he lines up against Big 12 bigs. Another player the Cougars return is guard Spencer Johnson. He averaged the most minutes on the team per game last season. Johnson is going to be the best shooter on the team next season with an impressive 46% clip from beyond the arc. Being a senior, BYU will rely heavily on his leadership in the jump to the Big 12.

Dallin Hall returns at point guard for the Cougars. He is a true coaches player that does everything he’s asked for and does a lot of the little things really well. He will take on an even bigger role with the departure of Rudi Williams this past offseason. Hall could take on more of a scoring role next season. He is known for his passing but the scoring could come along in a big way this year with more reps. BYU also returns athletic wing Jaxson Robinson who was a former Arkansas and Texas A&M player. Robinson took on a much larger role last season and wasn’t afraid to let it fly. He is only player on the team that has previous high major experience which is a positive because he knows what to expect in level of play. Trevin Knell is a player that missed the entire 2022-23 season but can be a very productive scorer and shooter off the bench for the Cougars this season.

Other returners for the Cougars include Noah Waterman, Richie Saunders, and Trey Stewart. Waterman is a big guard that plays the majority of his time on the perimeter and takes a lot of shots from beyond the arc. At 6-11 he is truly a unique player that is still developing. Saunders is another player that can add a spark for the Cougars off the bench. This roster is very guard heavy and there won’t be play time for everybody, but nearly everyone on the team adds value and could be part of the rotation. Trey Stewart is the most inexperienced of the bunch and has struggled from the field recently.

The Cougars also went to the portal to complete their roster where they landed commitments from UC Irvine transfer Dawson Baker and Charlotte transfer Aly Khalifa. Both players are expected to make immediate impacts and could even find their way into the starting lineup. Baker is entering his senior season after spending 3 years at UC Irvine. He is an experienced scorer that is capable of scoring from all 3 levels. He could start at some point in the season, but would also fit in that 6th man role with Spencer Johnson getting the start. Aly Khalifa is a terrific offensive big man that would fit perfectly in the system. He’s an incredible passer for a center and often finds players cutting to the basket for easy twos. He also has the ability to stretch the floor and make some three when called upon. Atiki Ally Atiki is also on the roster and is going to backup Khalifa at the center position. He scores well around the rim and blocks shots at a decent rate as well.

Next season is going to be very tough for BYU. With them entering the Big 12, one of the toughest conferences in the country, they could easily find themselves towards the bottom of the standings following the conclusion of the season. They will almost certainly be in the bottom 4 of the conference next season even though they have a ton of talent on the roster. With the league being so competitive, they could still find their way into postseason play if the finish with at least a .500 record.