Make some noise: BYU basketball teams introduced at Marriott Madness
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- BYU’s Elijah Crawford leaps over Cosmo the Cougar during the dunk contest at Marriott Madness in the Marriott Center on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2024.
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- BYU men’s basketball coach Kevin Young is introduced during Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2024.
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- The BYU Dunk Team performs during Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2024.
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- BYU’s Keba Keita is introduced during Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2024.
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- BYU’s Trey Stewart approaches the basket during the dunk contest of Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2024.
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- BYU’s Amari Whiting is introduced during Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2024.
Kevin Young took over the BYU men’s basketball program in April, but there have been precious few chances to actually see his team in action outside of an occasional social media video clip.
At Marriott Madness on Thursday, the Cougars were present and showed they know how to throw a party.
Well, at least the BYU Marketing Department does, and the Cougars were the guests of honor in front of enthusiastic group of college students, as well as a few older folks intrigued by what Young and his coaching staff have put together in the past six months.
Young, a much more reserved soul than previous showman coach Mark Pope, took a few moments to address the crowd that filled the lower section of the Marriott Center in his low-key style.
“Your amazing,” Young told the fans. “You have this unbelievable reputation, for obvious reasons. We’re not even playing a game and you almost have this place filled to the brim. The ROC (Roar of Cougars), I’ve heard so much about it.”
Young had newcomer Keiba Keta and returning senior guard Dawson Baker execute a rebound and kickout for a 3-pointer, instructing the crowd to yell out “Bingo!” as Baker tossed up the shot.
It went in, much to the delight of the fans and Baker’s teammates.
From simple beginnings, Marriott Madness has evolved into a fun night for college students to (as they were repeatedly told to do by a live DJ) make some noise. The night was complete with hip hop music, a light show and smoke as both the men’s and women’s basketball teams were introduced. Delaney Gibb, a highly regarded freshman from Canada, had a hair flip for the fans as her named was called and Cosmo the Cougar carried out senior walk-on Kylie Krebs. Assistant coach Josh Edwards came out to rap and hyped up the women’s program for the crowd.
When the men’s team was introduced, the loudest responses were for freshman Egor Demin and returners Dallin Hall, Richie Saunders and Fousseyni Traore, the latter honored with a long “Fooooos” cry from the fans..
There was a knockout shooting contest of for a game system and one student won a 75″ TV in a raffle, though how she’s going to carry that home or make it fit in an apartment with five roommates remains to be seen.
The BYU dunk team performed, jumping off of trampolines while music from “Space Jam” pounded out of the speakers. The Cougarettes and cheerleaders were also there as part of the entertainment.
As for live basketball, well, there was a little. Demin and Marya Hudgins competed against Baker and Kemery Congdon in a 3-point shooting contest (Baker and Congdon won) and three Cougars (freshman Elijah Crawford, senior Trey Stewart and freshman Kanon Catchings) all threw down slams in a dunk contest, eventually won by Stewart.
Next up for the men’s team is the Blue & White Game next Wednesday, followed by an exhibition game against Colorado Christian on Oct. 30 and the season opener at home against Central Arkansas.
The Cougars will also participate in a secret scrimmage at Boise State, according to social media reports. On Friday, the Big 12 will announce its preseason poll and All-Big 12 team. Last year, BYU was picked 13th but finished in a tie for fifth.
The women’s team has an exhibition matchup with Westminster on Oct. 29 and opens the season in the Marriott Center on Nov. 6. The Cougars were picked to finish 12th in the Big 12 preseason poll after a tie for ninth in 2023-24.
