NCAA Tournament: 5 Things We Learned About the BYU Cougars

Keba Keita is a Beast on the Offensive Glass

Alas, the key to the BYU Cougars' offensive success is their ability to out-rebound their opponents on the offensive glass. In that regard, few players can keep up with Keba Keita. 

The Malian has been virtually unstoppable lately. Keita has four or more offensive rebounds in five of his last six, averaging 4.7 per game over that stretch. As expected, the Cougars center has been able to translate those into second-chance points and increased scoring, both of which have served BYU well. 

Alabama is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. Thankfully, Keita shrinks that gap. If he's at his best, he will play an integral role in keeping BYU's championship aspirations alive.

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Home Court Means Nothing

We're entering neutral venue territory, which has already proven to be a deterrent for some teams. But not the BYU Cougars. They've proven capable of deploying a consistent offense, regardless of the arena they play in. 

We saw it through the first two rounds of March Madness. BYU dropped 80 points on 50.0% shooting against the VCU Rams and followed up with a 49.2% shooting percentage in the Round of 32.

Granted, they came up short in the Big 12 Championship Game. Still, the Cougars averaged 91.7 points per game on 51.6% shooting across their previous three away games. Most college teams can't match their offensive intensity outside their friendly confines, but that's been a non-issue for the Cougars.

BYU Needs to be Better From Distance

Not surprisingly, the BYU Cougars have been making it rain from beyond the arc, which correlates with their increase in scoring. Still, there's room for improvement, particularly against a high-octane Alabama Crimson Tide offense. 

BYU has been held to just 32.4% three-point shooting over their last three games. That marks nearly a five-point drop from their regular-season average of 37.3%. More concerningly, they've hit seven or fewer threes in two of those three contests. 

The Cougars can't afford to cede any ground to the Crimson Tide. That means they need to find their rhythm from distance early, or they could be left behind.

The Cougars Can be Too Fierce on Defense

While their offensive acumen is among the best, the Cougars need to find a way to tidy up their play in the defensive half. 

BYU sent Wisconsin to the charity stripe 29 times in the Round of 32. That was the fourth time in six games in which their opponent shot at least 19 free throws. Moreover, it was the second time in three games that their opponent recorded more free throw attempts. 

The Cougars have sacrificed defensive efficiency for offensive success. They can't fall into those same traps if they hope to go on an extended tournament run. 

Keba Keita is a Beast on the Offensive Glass

Alas, the key to the BYU Cougars' offensive success is their ability to out-rebound their opponents on the offensive glass. In that regard, few players can keep up with Keba Keita. 

The Malian has been virtually unstoppable lately. Keita has four or more offensive rebounds in five of his last six, averaging 4.7 per game over that stretch. As expected, the Cougars center has been able to translate those into second-chance points and increased scoring, both of which have served BYU well. 

Alabama is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. Thankfully, Keita shrinks that gap. If he's at his best, he will play an integral role in keeping BYU's championship aspirations alive.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.