The 2025–26 campaign will see BYU basketball advance without its best player, Richie Saunders.
Saunders, a program staple, sustained a season-ending ACL injury in the first minute of BYU’s overtime victory over Colorado.
The issue now is, what will BYU do without its “heart and soul” player?
In their matchup against No. 4 Arizona, Mihailo Bošković will start for BYU basketball.
The first test for BYU will be on Wednesday night in Tucson against No. 4 Arizona. According to BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young, the starting lineup will include senior Mihailo Bošković.
Bošković is making the second start of his BYU career. The first one took place in Boston on November 15 of this year against UConn.
The Huskies, who, similar to Arizona, are vying for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, defeated BYU in that game 86-84.
This season, Bošković is averaging 3. 3 points and 2. 0 rebounds each game.
The lineup for tonight against the Wildcats, according to Kevin Young in his pregame radio interview with the BYU Sports Network (heard on KSL NewsRadio), is not a permanent arrangement.
“I’m not endorsing anything from a rest-of-the-season perspective. However, Young stated on the BYU Sports Network, “… from a size perspective and skill set, going with Mihailo (Bošković) for tonight. “It gives us a bit of freedom to play the way we want. ” However, maintain the manner in which we want to protect.
The remaining four players in the starting lineup are Keba Keita, Kennard Davis Jr. , and BYU standout players AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright III.
Arizona is also lacking in depth because star freshman Koa Peat is out with a lower-leg injury, even if BYU lacks Saunders.
“I think it’s a game where it’s going to be a lot of feeling out,” Young later stated during tonight’s contest against Arizona. What they start with, how they’re paired up, when they go “small,” and how large are all factors to consider. Thus, we will see. I believe that it is crucial for us to excel at coaching the game on the go.
Starting Lineups
No. 23 BYU
- G – Robert Wright III
- G – Kennard Davis Jr.
- F – AJ Dybantsa
- F – Mihailo Boskovic
- C – Keba Keita
No. 4 Arizona
- G – Jaden Bradley
- G – Brayden Burries
- F – Ivan Kharchenkov
- F – Tobe Awaka
- C – Motiejus Krivas
No. 23 BYU vs. No. 4 Arizona
Tip-off: 7 p.m. (MST)
TV: ESPN
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)
