Houston Cougars vs Byu Cougars Picks and Predictions March 14th 2025

BYU’s High-Powered Offense Faces Houston’s Elite Defense in Big 12 Semifinals

BYU’s explosive offense was on full display in its 96-92 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals. But on Friday night, the 17th-ranked Cougars (24-8) will face a much tougher test against No. 2 Houston (28-4), the tournament’s top seed and the nation’s best defensive team.

With a spot in the Big 12 championship game on the line, this semifinal clash in Kansas City, Mo., will be a battle of strengths—BYU’s prolific scoring attack versus Houston’s lockdown defense.

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Can BYU Crack Houston’s Top-Ranked Defense?

The Cougars put on an offensive clinic against No. 12 Iowa State on Thursday, shooting 51.7% from the field and an incredible 50% (18-of-36) from three-point range—setting a tournament record for made threes.

“That’s a season high for us, 18 makes,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “I just told the guys in the locker room, you don’t just show up to the gym and go 18-of-36 from three. It’s not even just the shot-making. It’s how those threes are generated.”

BYU’s ability to stretch the floor and create open looks has been its hallmark all season. The team averages 81.8 points per game and is shooting 37.6% from beyond the arc.

However, Houston presents a completely different challenge. The Cougars lead the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 58.1 points per game. They held BYU to a season-low 55 points in an 86-55 win on January 4 in Houston.

But Young believes his team has come a long way since that early-season blowout.

“We played them super early in our first Big 12 road game,” Young said. “They smacked us. We’ve grown a lot since then. We’ve found more of our identity. We just have to go out there and be the best version of ourselves.”

Richie Saunders led BYU with 23 points against Iowa State, while Trevin Knell was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting all four of his three-point attempts. Their ability to find good shots against Houston’s stifling defense will be crucial.

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Houston’s Mentality: Just Keep Winning

Houston had to grind out a 77-68 win over Colorado in its quarterfinal matchup, never quite shaking the Buffaloes despite leading by as many as 14 points.

“When we get to this time of year, I think it’s really important not to over-analyze anything,” Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “We can certainly play better, and I’m sure we will.

“It’s called a win. I like that. The way we played doesn’t matter. We’ve got a game tomorrow, 6 o’clock, and that’s really all I care about.”

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Houston’s defensive game plan will focus on limiting BYU’s three-point shooting. Guard Milos Uzan said the Cougars are prepared for the challenge.

“You want to take away the three,” Uzan said. “That’s what they’re really good at. Coach Sampson is going to have a good game plan for us. We’ve just got to follow through on it.”

Houston enters the game on an 11-game winning streak, while BYU has won nine straight. With both teams surging at the right time, this semifinal could come down to whether Houston’s defense can neutralize BYU’s shooting.

What’s at Stake?

The winner of this game will advance to Saturday’s Big 12 Tournament final, where they’ll face the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2 seed Texas Tech and No. 3 seed Arizona.

For BYU, a win would not only avenge its earlier loss to Houston but also serve as a statement that its high-powered offense can break down even the toughest defenses. For Houston, the mission is simple—keep winning and continue proving why they’re the No. 1 seed.

With two elite teams clashing in contrasting styles, this semifinal is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the tournament.