BYU could be down two starters for Friday’s matchup against No. 23 Wisconsin
Courtesy BYU Photo
BYU's Richie Saunders (15) shoots a layup against Wisconsin in a second-round NCAA Tournament game at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on Saturday, March 22, 2025.All college coaches have to, at some point, enforce disciplinary measures.
At BYU, that gets a bit more complicated by the Honor Code.
Cougar guard Kennard Davis Jr., who transferred to Provo last spring from Southern Illinois, is currently on an indefinite team suspension after being charged with a DUI on Tuesday, stemming from a two-car accident and subsequent arrest last Thursday.
Davis pleaded not guilty and has hired a lawyer.
BYU head coach Kevin Young said on Wednesday,” I know exactly what happened and I’m very aware of all the details. But at the same time, I let the school handle it the way they’ve asked me to handle it it. That’s for them to be the people that talk about it. If there’s a forum where I’m opened up to speak on it further, I will. But I think at this point, they’ve said what they’ve said.”
So far, all that has been said by BYU is, “We are aware of the allegations and looking into the situation.”
Young also shared his philosophy about discipline.
“Do the right thing, and if you don’t, there’s consequences based on our own internal team rules as well as rules of the university. So there are nuances. That’s just my general philosophy of just trying to get these guys to do the right thing, and at the same time, if there’s ever a situation that comes up where that’s not the case, then we handle it appropriately.”
Young also said it was likely Davis, a starter, won’t play in Friday’s game against Wisconsin at the Delta Center but added, “I think there is a lot of stuff still being sorted out.”
Another starter, senior center Keba Keita, suffered a concussion midway through the first half against UConn last Saturday and his availability is still to be determined.
“He’s trending in the right direction,” Young said. “Anything that deal with medical, whatever the medical people say, I do. I feel I’ve gotten good feedback from in terms of how he is doing better, but at the same time, he’s currently still out. It’s more positive that it’s not, but the situation that he’s in is more of a day-to-day type thing.”
SCOUTING REPORT
BYU and Wisconsin played on of the most exciting games of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament last March in Denver, the Cougars holding on defensively in the final possession for a 91-89 victory.
John Tonje, who torched BYU for 37 points, was a second round pick of the Utah Jazz but the Badgers return 6-foot-4 guard John Blackwell, who scored 21 points in that March Madness game, returns. So does 7-footer Nolan Winter, another starter. Transfers Nick Boyd (6-3 G, San Diego State), Austin Rapp (6-10 F, Portland) and Andrew Rohde (6-6 G, Virginia) make up the rest of the starting five.
Wisconsin is 4-0 with dominating wins against Campbell (96-64), Northern Illinois (97-72), Ball State (86-55) and SIU-Edwardsville (94-69). Boyd (20 points per game) and Blackwell (19.5) form a dynamic backcourt for the Badgers.
Young was asked if he warned his players Wisconsin would be looking for revenge for last spring’s loss.
“I definitely mentioned it,” he said. “I try to address the elephant in the room on all things, that kind of being one of them, but at the same time, stuff like that lasts for, like, a minute. I don’t think you really think about it when the game’s being played. But it’s a prideful team. It’s a good team, They’re well coached and they’re going to try to use the film from last year as both both motivation as well, teaching moments in terms of thing we did or didn’t do.”
Men’s College Basketball
Bad Boy Mowers Series
No. 9 BYU (3-1) vs. No. 23 Wisconsin (4-0)
Friday, 2 p.m. MT
Delta Center, SLC
TV/Streaming: Peacock
Radio: KSL 102.7/1160 AM, BYU Radio-Sirus XM 143,
Live stats: byucougars.com
The Word: Wisconsin leads the overall series with BYU 2-1, with the Cougars winning last season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (91-89) and the Badgers earning a 73-56 victory in 2011. … AJ Dybantsa is one of four players to average at least 20 points per game and shoot 50% from the field in the first four games, joining Michael Beasley (Kansas State), James Anderson (Oklahoma State) and DJ Harrison (Colorado). … BYU is 24-5 all time playing games in the home of the Utah Jazz.


