Latest news with #RichieSaunders
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What Greg Gard said about Wisconsin basketball's 2025 non-conference game against BYU
Wisconsin basketball head coach Greg Gard shared his views on his team's recently scheduled nonconference matchup against the BYU Cougars on Tuesday. Roughly one week after reports surfaced regarding the Nov. 21 bout against the Cougars in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Utah Jazz's Delta Center, the program officially announced the game with a press release. Advertisement "We're really excited that we're able to schedule this game with BYU," UW head coach Greg Gard told "Our game last year was one of the best of the NCAA Tournament and I think both fanbases will enjoy seeing a rematch this season. We have always tried to challenge ourselves in the non-conference schedule to prepare the team for Big Ten play and beyond and this game certainly will do so." The Badgers will certainly gear up for another highly anticipated test against Kevin Young's crew. The Cougars secured a 91-89 victory in the most recent contest between the two teams on March 22, which featured a 37-point performance from former star Badger John Tonje and a 25-tally finish from BYU veteran Richie Saunders. While Tonje will not return to the hardwood for the Badgers in Utah, the Cougars will return Saunders, send out starting center Keba Keita and welcome in freshman small forward A.J. Dybantsa, a five-star recruit and projected No. 1 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. UW, meanwhile, projects to start former San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, Virginia wing Andrew Rhode and Portland forward Austin Rapp alongside two returning starters in John Blackwell and center Nolan Winter. The Badgers' non-conference slate will also include a neutral-site match against the Villanova Wildcats at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on December 19th, an exhibition against the Oklahoma Sooners on Oct. 24 in Milwaukee and an appearance in the Rady's Children's Invitational in late November. Advertisement Games outside the Big Ten have traditionally enabled the Badgers to gauge where they stand against potential NCAA Tournament participants down the line. Those games also allow Gard to experiment with rotations and evaluate how his athletes perform alongside one another. With Dybantsa at the helm for BYU, Wisconsin's Nov. 21 bout vs. the Cougars will also draw eyeballs. The battle is expected to be the first of a home-and-home, with BYU set to travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2026. Before then, Gard and company will look to notch an early signature win to start the 2025-26 regular season. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard comments on BYU game
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
CBS Sports analyst drops bold prediction for BYU Basketball next season
BYU Basketball is getting national hype going into the next season. After top recruit AJ Dybantsa arrived on campus the feeling around the program has intensified. This comes months after Kevin Young's first year with the Cougars ended in a Sweet 16 loss to Alabama. Most analysts have BYU as a top 10 team going into the 2025-26 college basketball season. Jon Rothstein believes this could be a historic year for Young's team and sees a deep tournament run on the horizon. "I think if you're a BYU fan now and you went to the Sweet 16 without a talent like [AJ Dybantsa], the goal and the realistic expectations for BYU should be to go to a Final Four. And I don't even think that's anything that should blink at," Rothstein said on his podcast. BYU not only has Dybantsa, but Baylor transfer Rob Wright will be one of the best guards in the nation. Richie Saunders is a proven All-Big 12 talent and put off the NBA to "run it back" in Provo. While Dybantsa already said he's out after the upcoming season, he'll be a leader on this team and a likely candidate to be the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Advertisement Related: BYU Basketball players are turning heads for unexpected choice If BYU can reach the final phase of March Madness, it would be unprecedented. The Cougars have only experienced one Elite Eight run under the current NCAA tournament format. Danny Ainge led the Cougars to the best result in 1981. Since then, the 2011 team came close with a 83-74 Sweet 16 overtime loss to No. 2 seeded Florida. Related: AJ Dybantsa admits BYU wasn't top school, blown away by NBA ready program Needless to say, the expectations are high for BYU this year. If they come together and play outstanding basketball, the sky's the limit. It's not unrealistic to say the Cougars could be the team to beat in the Big 12.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Richie Saunders makes announcement about his future at BYU
Richie Saunders announced he'll return to BYU for his senior season on Saturday. The Cougars standout tested the NBA waters but decided to run it back one more time. After leading BYU in scoring last season and earning All-Big 12 First-Team honors, Saunders' decision gives BYU a real shot at a special 2025-26 campaign. Kevin Young and his staff have built an incredible starting five around top recruit AJ Dybantsa. Saunders was sensational throughout the year, averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting an efficient 52% from the field and 43% from three-point range. His all-around impact helped push BYU to the Sweet 16 for the first time in over a decade. Advertisement Related: BYU Basketball lands top four-star transfer guard With Saunders returning, the rest of BYU's roster looks loaded. He'll join forces Dybansta and two high-level scorers in Rob Wright and Kennard Davis Jr., who transferred this past week. All three are capable of putting up double figures, and Dybansta could be the best scorer on the team. For Saunders, it's a dream setup after carrying a major burden last season. He'll now find himself surrounded by elite offensive talent, allowing him to play free and more efficiently. Related: BYU's AJ Dybantsa reveals all-time NBA starting five BYU will likely enter the season as a preseason favorite in Big 12, and it could be the most anticipated year in the history of Cougar basketball. Saunders already helped lead BYU to one Sweet 16. Now he has a chance to do something no BYU player ever has, which is to make it twice. Young's Cougars will be a force with all eyes on Provo next year.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU Basketball turns heads with new era in Provo
BYU kicks off 2025-26 basketball season with elite recruits, veteran leadership, and a Top 5 national ranking — fans are already buzzing. It wasn't just another Monday at the Marriott Center Annex — it was the beginning of a new era for BYU basketball. With hype building around the Cougars' highest preseason ranking in program history, fans finally got their first look at what's being called one of the most talented rosters in college hoops. Kevin Young Sets the Tone Advertisement Head coach Kevin Young wasted no time establishing expectations for the season. In BYU's first summer practice, Young focused less on scheme and more on identity. 'Individually, get better. The team stuff is gonna come over time,' he said in a behind-the-scenes video posted to BYU's social channels. 'Now we want to get our identity with this group of talent we assembled.' With NCAA rules allowing eight weeks of summer workouts, BYU's staff has a crucial runway to blend new faces with proven veterans. AJ Dybantsa Makes His Debut All eyes were on 6-foot-9 freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa, who officially hit the court wearing No. 23. The nation's No. 1 overall recruit, Dybantsa brings pro-level length, athleticism, and scoring instincts to Provo. Dybantsa is expected to be a one-and-done prospect — but BYU fans are hoping it's a historic year. His first practice marks a major milestone in BYU's transformation into a national contender. Advertisement Richie Saunders Returns for One Last Run While newcomers drew headlines, it was the return of veteran guard Richie Saunders that provided stability. The First Team All-Big 12 standout surprised many by forgoing the NBA Draft and committing to one more season. Saunders' leadership and two-way play give BYU a foundation to build around — and he's clearly embracing the challenge. Along with Dybantsa and Saunders, BYU also has freshman big Xavier Staton, and stud transfers Rob Wright, and Kennard Davis to lean on. The Energy Is Real BYU basketball isn't easing into the season — it's charging forward with national expectations, elite talent, and a hungry coaching staff. For Cougar fans, the countdown to tipoff just got real. Advertisement Related: AJ Dybantsa shares heartwarming moment with his mom before BYU journey Related: BYU to face ACC opponent at Jimmy V Classic
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness Gets Crispy: Ore-Ida Teases 'Richie's Tater Shots'
Ore-Ida Richie Saunders of BYU is having a March to remember. The BYU standout isn't just making noise on the court, he's claiming his crown as the 'Tot King,' earning national attention for both his game and his golden family legacy. As the great-grandson of F. 'Nephi' Griggs, inventor of the Tater Tot and founder of Ore-Ida, Saunders has turned a viral nickname into a full-blown NIL partnership with the frozen food giant. Advertisement And now, as BYU advances to the Sweet 16, Ore-Ida is going all in with a campaign that blends basketball history, family heritage, and some seriously crispy fanfare. Richie Saunders Leads BYU's Historic Run To Sweet 16, Earns 'Tot King' Crown Ore-Ida Saunders has been instrumental in BYU's historic postseason run. He led the Cougars in scoring during the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, helping the team set a new tournament record and reach the semifinals for the first time in program history. Their momentum didn't stop there, BYU's latest win marks their fourth consecutive victory over a Top 25 opponent, the school's longest such streak since 1951. Advertisement With a Sweet 16 berth secured and a hot hand on the court, Saunders is living up to the "Tot King" title in every sense, and Ore-Ida is celebrating accordingly. Ore-Ida Partners With BYU's Richie Saunders For Free Tots Promo Just hours ahead of BYU's win over VCU, Ore-Ida revealed its partnership with Saunders in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "We're teaming up with basketball hotshot Richie Saunders, the great-grandson of Ore-Ida founder and inventor of Tater Tots, to give away free tots if Richie's team wins today," the company wrote in a press release sent to The Blast. "If they win, the countdown for our 30-minute 'Tot Clock' will begin at the link in our IG bio post-game." Advertisement Following any Cougars victory, Ore-Ida activates a 30-minute 'Tot Clock,' giving fans half an hour to visit the link in the brand's Instagram bio and claim a free Ore-Ida Tater Tots product. 'TATER TOTS!' Chant Echoes After BYU Win As Richie Saunders Embraces Viral Nickname Ore-Ida Tater Tots had their moment in the spotlight during Thursday's CBS broadcast, with Dana Jacobson featuring a short segment on Saunders' viral nickname. After BYU's big win, the celebration continued as his teammates greeted him in the locker room with enthusiastic chants of 'TATER TOTS!' 'Isn't that hilarious, man,' he told BYUtv Sports Nation after Thursday's game. 'It's been a cool little thing, but it's been funny. The stadium was yelling 'Tater Tots' at me and stuff. I wouldn't have even dreamed of that happening to be honest. It's hilarious.' Advertisement BYU's victory marked the program's first trip past the opening round of the NCAA Tournament since 2011. 'It means so much,' Saunders told reporters, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. 'We've had such ups and downs this season, but we're not ready to be done yet.' Ore-Ida Unveils Tot-Worthy Campaign Ore-Ida Leading into Thursday night's high-stakes game, Ore-Ida is honoring its founding family's star athlete with several major moves. First up, limited-edition tots. If BYU wins the NCAA Tournament, Ore-Ida will release a brand-new, limited-edition product: 'Richie's Tater Shots,' inspired by Saunders' smooth jump shot. It would be the brand's first limited-edition Tater Tot in over two decades and the first to ever feature an athlete on the packaging. Advertisement Plus, in a first for the company, Ore-Ida will temporarily rebrand itself as Ore-Richie beginning Thursday, March 27. The playful renaming will remain in effect for as long as BYU continues its March Madness run. Free Tots For All Ore-Ida To mark BYU's deepest tournament run in nearly 15 years, Ore-Ida is extending its beloved Tot Clock. Win or lose, fans across the U.S. can claim free Tater Tots during Thursday's game, from tip-off to the final buzzer (approximately four hours). Redemption details will be available via links in Ore-Ida's social media bios. While the spotlight shines on Saunders' tournament performance, his journey is also a tribute to tradition. From swishing threes to honoring a family invention that changed freezer aisles forever, the BYU guard is proving that greatness runs deep, both in bloodlines and brackets. Advertisement Whether or not BYU brings home the championship, one thing's certain: March has a new king, and his throne is golden and crispy. Fans can tune in Thursday, March 27, at 7:09 PM ET to cheer on the "Tot King."
