Overview
- BYU confirmed senior wing Richie Saunders tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season after exiting 45 seconds into the Cougars’ overtime win over Colorado.
- Saunders was a First Team All-Big 12 performer averaging roughly 18 points and six rebounds while leading BYU in steals and three-pointers, removing about one-fifth of the team’s scoring.
- With Saunders sidelined, AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright III are expected to shoulder more offense after combining for 59 points against Colorado, including Wright’s career-high 39.
- BYU’s already thin rotation heightens the challenge, as the Cougars rank No. 351 nationally in bench scoring and previously lost contributors such as Dawson Baker for the season.
- Arizona has dropped two straight and will play without Peat and Aristode; tip is 7 p.m. MT on ESPN for the first meeting in Tucson since the Wildcats’ 86-83 win in Provo last month.