Byu Cougars vs West Virginia Mountaineers Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

No. 25 BYU Pits Balanced Attack vs. Javon Small, WVU

No. 25 BYU is virtually locked into the NCAA Tournament, but West Virginia still has work to do if it hopes to secure a spot in March Madness. The Mountaineers look to bolster their tournament résumé when they visit Provo, Utah, on Saturday night for a Big 12 showdown against a red-hot Cougars team.

West Virginia (17-11, 8-9 Big 12) kept its tournament hopes alive on Tuesday with a 73-55 home win over TCU, marking just its second win in five games. Meanwhile, BYU (20-8, 11-6 Big 12) has won five straight games, showcasing one of the most potent offenses in the nation.

West Virginia Leaning on Javon Small’s Brilliance

The Mountaineers’ success this season has largely depended on the play of Javon Small, and he delivered another standout performance against TCU. The point guard finished with 23 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, recording just the eighth 20-10-5 stat line in program history.

Small has been a lifesaver for West Virginia, averaging 18.4 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. His ability to take over games has helped compensate for the loss of Tucker DeVries, the team’s expected star, who suffered a season-ending injury in December.

Head coach Darian DeVries knows every game is crucial at this stage.

“They’re all critical at this time of year,” DeVries said. “It doesn’t mean your season is over if you lose it, but it certainly would have put us in a tougher spot.”

While Small has carried the scoring load, West Virginia’s depth stepped up against TCU. Sencire Harris and Joseph Yesufu, who average a combined 12.4 points per game, delivered 27 points, with Yesufu contributing 14 off the bench.

Despite their recent success, scoring remains an issue for West Virginia. The Mountaineers rank 305th in Division I in points per game (68.6) and shoot just 42.8 percent from the field. They will need another big offensive night to keep pace with BYU.

BYU’s Explosive Offense Firing on All Cylinders

The Cougars enter Saturday’s game riding a five-game winning streak, with their offense reaching historic levels. BYU has scored at least 91 points in three consecutive games, including a 91-81 road win at Arizona State on Wednesday.

According to StatsPerform, BYU became the first Division I team this century to achieve the following feat in three straight games:

• 90+ points scored
• 50%+ shooting from the field
• 12+ made three-pointers
• Fewer than 12 turnovers

First-year head coach Kevin Young has emphasized selfless basketball and elite floor spacing, and the results have been staggering.

“We have a really unselfish group,” Young said. “Our guys play for each other, whether that is making the extra pass, whether that is sprinting the floor. We try to get to the corner so we can space teams out.”

Unlike West Virginia, BYU doesn’t rely on a single star, instead spreading its scoring across multiple players. Richie Saunders (15.9 ppg) has emerged as a key offensive weapon, while Egor Demin (10.6 ppg) provides additional scoring punch. Seven other players contribute between 6.0 and 9.7 points per game, making the Cougars one of the deepest scoring teams in the nation.

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BYU Looking to Sweep the Season Series

BYU already owns a win over West Virginia, earning a 73-69 road victory on Feb. 11. In that game, Demin led the way with 16 points, helping the Cougars improve to 3-1 all-time against the Mountaineers.

Now, with both teams fighting for postseason positioning, Saturday’s matchup carries even more weight:

A BYU win would solidify its NCAA Tournament seeding and extend its winning streak.

A West Virginia win would significantly boost its tournament résumé and keep its hopes alive.

With one of the best offenses in the country taking on a desperate team led by one of the Big 12’s best playmakers, expect a high-intensity battle in Provo.