BYU’s season ends with a 23-11 record.
Here are some takeaways from the defeat.
How was BYU surprised by Duquesne’s physicality?
When the matchup was announced on Selection Sunday, the instant talking point on the Duquesne Dukes was their physicality on defense.
Duquesne entered the game as a Top-30 defense in Ken Pom adjusted efficiency metrics. After Thursday, they looked like a group that stole a page from their football neighbors in Pittsburgh, the Steelers. Duquesne put on their best “Steel Curtain” physicality on BYU.
BYU appeared shocked by the Dukes’ physicality when the ball was tipped.
How did that happen?
In a win-or-go-home setting, you have to bring the intensity and physicality. BYU did not.
Cougar forward Noah Waterman tried to ignite a spark at the beginning of the second half by contending for a rebound on the deck with Duquesne’s Fousseyni Trame. But then Trame tossed an elbow, making the message clear the Dukes would win the physicality battle.
“They played themselves, and they were really, really physical, and kind of punched us in the mouth early,” said Mark Pope.
A slow start sunk BYU again
BYU started the game down 7-0 before they could blink. It was another chapter of BYU not only starting slow in the NCAA Tournament but in this season.
The same issues that happened in the Big 12 Tournament against Texas Tech reared its ugly face against Duquesne.
There was debate of whether BYU should change up its starting lineup coming into the game.
Should Jaxson Robinson have been inserted into the starting five?
BYU head coach Mark Pope said he wouldn’t “reinvent the wheel” entering the matchup with the Dukes.
But the slow starts were detrimental to BYU in many games, especially the final two, which brought BYU’s season to an abrupt close.
“I’m not really sure what the answer is to that,” said BYU guard Jaxson Robinson on the slow starts. “I think it’s something that we as a team, not just the coaches, but the players, have, like, reiterated over the season, trying to get better at it. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t start the game how we wanted to. That’s all I have to say about that.”
Jaxson Robinson was excellent on the March Madness stage
BYU reserve guard Jaxson Robinson finished with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field.
Robinson was the star BYU needed in a postseason game. But his star didn’t shine bright until after BYU was facing a deficit
