Last season — the Cougars’ first in the league — saw Dallin Hall, Spencer Johnson, Jaxson Robinson and Fousseyni Traore earned All-Big 12 honorable mention, but BYU was shut out of first team, second team, third team, the All-Defensive Team, the All-Newcomer Team and the All-Freshman Team.

Saunders is putting together a pretty good resume to be named to the first team.

“The thing you love about Richie is just how he attacks every day,” Cougar coach Kevin Young said. “Because of how he attacks every day, I think that really allows him to be consistent. It doesn’t happen by chance. He’s one of our most consistent workers and hardest workers. I think the guys do a great job of getting him the ball. He’s made some huge, huge plays down the stretch.”

During Big 12 play, Saunders is second in points per game (18.1) and in field goal percentage (.535), which is unusual for a high-scoring wing. He’s also first in 3-point field goal percentage (.466).

Saunders has made an improvement offensively in every season with the Cougars, and has made a big jump this year:

• Freshman (2022-23)

  5.5 points per game, .453 field goal percentage, .333 3-point percentage, .684 free throw percentage

• Sophomore (2023-24)

  9.6 points per game, .523 field goal percentage, .364 3-point percentage, .712 free throw percentage

• Junior (2024-25)

  15.9 points per game, .520 field goal percentage, .446 3-point percentage, .757 free throw percentage

Saunders is a three-level scorer who can shoot the 3-pointer, has a great floater on a pull-up move and is crafty at the rim. He’s even getting some attention from NBA scouts who like how he’s developed under Young.

“We talk a lot about spacing,” Young said. “We talk a lot about trying to get to the corners and transition. That kind of flattens the defense out. we try. We have a term and we call it ” Paint to Great” where we try to drive the ball in the paint, play off two feet, and kick it out when the defense over-helps.”

Saunders has nine 20-point games as a junior after getting two last season and none as a freshman. He’s scored 22, 23 and 26 points in the past three BYU games. He also earned the Cougars first Big 12 Player of the Week award and national recognition for his performance.

“I’ve hit some shots, and those things are cool, and I’m very grateful,” Saunders said. “But those are really a team award, you know?”

Traore said, “Richie has been shooting at a different level. He just doesn’t miss. Nobody can stop his drive. He’s the guy, you know what I’m saying?”

SCOUTING REPORT

BYU started its current five-game winning streak in Morgantown on Feb. 11, getting a big 3-point play off the bench from Mihailo Boskovic in a 73-69 victory against West Virginia.

Since that time, the Mountaineers (17-11 overall, 8-9 Big 12) have gone 2-2 with an overtime loss to Baylor (74-71), a win against Cincinnati (62-59), a loss to No. 9 Texas Tech (73-51) and a victory against TCU (73-55).

BYU’s defensive effort against West Virginia in the last meeting was key to the win. Mawot Mag and Trey Stewart helped hold high-scring Javon Small to just four field goal attempts and nine points, though he did manage nine assists.

Small is coming off a 23-point, 10-assist game in the win against TCU.

“We did a good job on him, so I’m sure he’s going to be licking his chops to play us,” Young said. “We’ll have a very hard task at hand with that team. We’ve got to continue to approach it the right way, which our guys have. They’ve been really diligent trying to lock into the game plans. We’ll have our work cut out for us.”

Men’s College Basketball

West Virginia (17-11, 8-9 Big 12) at No. 25 BYU (20-8, 11-6 Big 12)

Saturday, 8 p.m. MT

Marriott Center, Provo

TV/Streaming: ESPN2

Radio: KSL 102.7 FM/1160 AM, BYU Radio

Live stats: byucougars.com

The Word: This will be the fifth all-time meeting between BYU and West Virginia, with the Cougars holding a 3-1 lead in the series. … BYU won in Morgantown 73-69 on Feb. 11, starting its current five-game winning streak. … The Cougars made 17 3-pointers in the win at Arizona State on Saturday, the fourth-most triples in a game in program history.