BYU Cougars
Overall Rank: #44
Conference Rank: #2 WCC
Coming off their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2006, BYU entered the 2019-2020 campaign with relatively high expectations. However, the Cougars took a small step back and finished just 18-11 overall. That still was a decent season though and now Coach Jeff Judkins and company will look to turn a few of those losses into wins and reach the NCAA Tournament.
2019-20 Record: 18-11, 13-5
Coach: Jeff Judkins
Coach Record: 367-175 at BYU, 367-176 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Brenna Drollinger, Guard, 12.2 ppg
Jasmine Moody, Forward, 6.7 ppg
Shalae Salmon, Forward, 5.0 ppg
Leilani Otuafi, Guard, 1.9 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Paisley Johnson Harding, Senior, Guard, 15.2 ppg
Sara Hamson, Senior, Center, 7.0 ppg
Maria Albiero, Senior, Guard, 6.0 ppg
Babalu Ugwu, Junior, Forward, 4.9 ppg
Malli Perri, Junior, Forward, 1.8 ppg
Kaylee Smiler, Sophomore, Guard, 1.8 ppg
Tahlia White, Freshman, Forward
Key New Players
Kyra Beckman, Freshman, Forward
Kayla Belles-Lee, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Michigan State
Shaylee Gonzales, RS Sophomore, Guard
Tegan Graham, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Colgate
Lauren Gustin, Freshman, Forward
Tahlia White, Freshman, Forward
Projection:
Senior guard Paisley Johnson is back after leading the Cougars with 15.2 points per game. She knocked down 38.3 percent of her attempts from long range and overall is a very efficient scorer. Maria Albiero is another experienced senior guard. She is not a great scorer, but Albeiro is a threat to shoot the ball and dished out 3.2 assists. Sara Hamson and Babalu Ugwu are back to handle much of the frontcourt duties. Hamson is a decent interior scoring threat and is one of the best rebounders in the WCC after averaging 7.9 rebounds per game. She also added an notable 4.7 blocks per game. That is an impressive core of players to build around, but Coach Jeff Judkins also welcomes a couple experienced transfers. Kayla Belles-Lee was a part-time starter during her two seasons at Michigan State and Tegan Graham is a grad transfer from Colgate who averaged 9.2 points last season. As long as BYU can find some depth from the younger players, BYU should find themselves towards the top of the WCC standings with a shot at reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: WNIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 60.2 (265th in nation, 10th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 54.8 (12, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 39.1 (206, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 32.2 (2, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.5 (118, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.2 (116, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 39.1 (206, 8)
Rebound Margin: 1.8 (130, 5)
Assists Per Game: 14.7 (69, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.8 (61, 3)
