It would appear at first glance that these two teams are completely different in style. But really, they are somewhat similar. BYU and K-State both outrebound opponents by 5.1 per game. Both teams shoot a lot of 3s, and both depend on good guard play to win.
The Wildcats get better than 35 points per game from Pullen and Clemente. BYU gets more than 46 points per game from its three guards, not including Jonathan Tavernari, who is a 6-foot-6 swing man who comes off the bench and averages 10.3 points per game.
BYU ranks No. 3 in the country in 3-point field goal percentage, making better than 42 percent from behind the arc. The Cougars have three players who have made at least 60 3s or more on the season, and as a team have made 287.
The Wildcats don't have to shut down Fredette, and that's a good thing, because not many have been able to do that this year. If they can simply contain him by wearing him down with physical defense, they will probably be on the winning end, unless there's an unexpected 'X' factor.
In BYU's victory over Florida in double overtime, guard Michael Loyd Jr. was that unexpected difference-maker. Loyd Jr, who averaged just 13 minutes and 4.6 points per game this season, scored 26 against the Gators. At one point, he scored 10 straight points for the Cougars.
Watching Fredette against Florida, it became apparent that he has a knack for getting to the rim and is deceptively quick. But I expect K-State to rotate both Pullen and Dominique Sutton on the 6-foot-2 guard.
The Cougars haven't seen the type of defense this year the Wildcats are going to play. K-State's physical tenacity could wear them down both mentally and physically. BYU played nine players in 50 minutes in its double-overtime victory over the Gators Thursday. With more than 50 hours of time to rest, the lactic acid in the legs of BYU players will probably be fine.
But one thing Florida did do is rough up BYU a little bit, and the Cougars at times struggled against the physical play. Florida coach Billy Donovan said after the game it was one of the most physical games his team had played all season.
K-State will have the advantage in the paint. The Cougars get just more than 10 points per game combined from their two starting big men Chris Miles and Noah Hartsock. The Wildcats' Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels, who both average double figures in scoring per game, should find success inside.
BYU can get up the floor, but it appeared against Florida that it is susceptible to not getting back on transition defense. The Gators got several layups from fast break opportunities. If K-State can create broken-floor opportunities at a decent rate, it should be OK.
But this will not be an easy game for the Wildcats. No game is, as proven by Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame and Marquette on Thursday and Temple on Friday.
BYU is ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25, and No. 16 in the coaches' poll. Therefore, the voters believe this is a top-five seed in the in the 65-team field. Yet the Cougars sit as a seven seed with a 30-5 record.
Still, there's a reason K-State is the two seed. The Wildcats have played a much tougher schedule and are a more physical team. They are the better team. Whether that shows up in the final score Saturday night will be determined. But if K-State plays its game, I expect them to be in Utah next Thursday playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time in 22 years.
