The Rise of BYU Basketball: How the Cougars Are Closing the Gap on Football
The first year of competition in the Big 12 has come and gone for the BYU athletic department, and what a year it has been. While the football team stumbled to the finish line, losing their last five games and missing a bowl game, the basketball team exceeded expectations, finishing fifth in the Big 12 and earning a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The BYU basketball team celebrates their successful season
Following the basketball season, Mark Pope left for Kentucky, and BYU made a splashy hire in Kevin Young. Young and his staff have made some promising additions to the roster, retaining Dallin Hall and Richie Saunders after they entered the transfer portal.
Despite the undivided attention on basketball over the last few months, interest in BYU football still exceeded interest in BYU basketball in the first Big 12 year. According to Google trends, peak search interest in BYU football exceeded peak interest in BYU basketball by 6%. Search volumes about BYU football peaked in late September when BYU was coming off an upset win over Arkansas and preparing for their first Big 12 game against Kansas.
“Football success is a rising tide that lifts all boats.” - Unknown
However, BYU basketball definitely closed the gap on BYU football during the 2023-2024 academic year. From 2011-2022, interest in BYU football exceeded interest in BYU basketball by an average of 65%. You would have to go back to 2010-2011, Jimmer Fredette’s senior year, to find the last time interest in BYU basketball exceeded BYU football.
Jimmer Fredette, the BYU basketball legend
BYU is a football school - the data proves it over the last decade. But winning creates interest, and BYU basketball won at a much higher clip than football last year. Basketball’s success has allowed it to close the gap on football in a hurry.
For the long-term health of the athletic department, BYU needs football to be successful. Football success is a rising tide that lifts all boats. In reality, BYU football isn’t competing against BYU basketball. The success of one is good for the other, and success builds the BYU brand overall.
Once BYU football is able to be more competitive in the Big 12 and even compete for a Big 12 championship, the interest in BYU football will reach an all-time high. Never before has BYU had this level of access and exposure in college football. The ceiling is high for BYU football, but it’s up to the current staff and players to realize that potential.
In the meantime, interest in BYU basketball will continue to grow while BYU is in the Big 12. The Cougars have already made a splash with the addition of Chisom Okpara from Harvard, a 6-8 forward who averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from 3-point range.
Chisom Okpara, the newest addition to the BYU basketball team
The nation’s number one recruit, AJ Dybantsa, will conclude his prep career at Utah Prep in Herriman, Utah. Dybantsa, a five-star wing, will play the 2024-25 season at Utah Prep, which will begin operations based out of Southern Utah in Hurricane this upcoming academic year.
AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s number one recruit
As BYU continues to grow and thrive in the Big 12, one thing is certain - the Cougars are on the rise. With a strong basketball team and a football team looking to rebound, the future is bright for BYU athletics.
