Mad about Cougars: ‘Marriott Madness’ lights up BYU basketball fans
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- BYU’s Collin Chandler greets fans during Marriott Madness on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
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- BYU fans enjoy the festivities during Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
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- BYU mascot Cosmo the Cougar flies in for a dunk during Marriott Madness on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
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- BYU freshman Bruce Branch III takes a jumper during a shooting contest at Marriott Madness on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
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- A photo of Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
If there’s one constant about BYU Basketball’s “Marriott Madness,” it’s that the event is never the same.
From the infamous “Men in Black” jerseys during the Steve Cleveland era (OK, it was held in the Smith Fieldhouse for some reason that year, but no one ever saw those jerseys again) to fans charging the court and being treated to dinner by Mark Pope into the wee hours of the morning, the hype is always the main point.
On Tuesday, Marriott Madness took on a different tone than the previous year. In 2025 — after introductions and a shooting contest — officials put an hour on the clock to allow the men’s team to warm up and a short scrimmage followed.
This year, all the fans got was the hype and party games, which they ate up, of course.
Loud music and some fan training, which included the “Woosh, Kevin!” chant for free throws, was followed by a dance number from the Cougarettes, a “Lights up, lights down” session with fan’s cell phone flashlights and the BYU Dunk Team doing their thing — although there was one member of the group who was already out for the season with his leg in a brace.
Turns out jumping 20 feet into the air off a trampoline to dunk a basketball has its risks.
The women’s team, which won 26 games and advanced to the finals of the WBIT last season, was introduced to the home fans first. Head coach Lee Cummard told the crowd, “We play fast, we shoot the 3 and we make it miserable for the other team.”
The men’s players were introduced next and there will be plenty of “boos” in the Marriott Center this season. Well, they weren’t booing, they were saying “Bruuuuuce!” (for freshman Bruce Branch III) and “Boooop!” (for junior Khadim Mboup).
In a shooting contest, the team of Branch and sophomore Kailey Woolston beat the team of junior Collin Chandler and sophomore Liza Astakhova 50-46. Woolston, by the way, seems to remember how to shoot pretty well after returning from a church mission last fall.
In a game of “Heads Up!” the men’s pair of junior Tyler Betsey and senior Jake Whalin topped women’s pair of sophomore Olivia Hamblin and junior Delaney Gibb nine correct answers to eight.
Men’s head coach Kevin Young finally took the mic and talked about the experience of seeing a game in the Marriott Center.
“If there’s one thing you’ll see out of both the men’s and women’s teams is that they will play for each other,” Young said.
Afterward, Betsey and Woolston were made available to media.
“It was crazy,” Betsey said. “I played in this building (when he was at Houston) so kind of had an idea of what the ROC section was like. But’s it’s a little different when they’re rooting for you, for sure.”
The men’s team is still awaiting final word on the eligibility of center Jaxon Kohler, who played four seasons at Michigan State and is attempting to win a fifth year.
“We just have the approach that we try and get better every day,” Betsey said. “So we don’t really worry about things that we can’t control as far as stuff like that. The things that are uncertain, they’re out of our control.”
Betsey, who transferred from Syracuse, said he thinks the Cougars are in for a big season.
“I think we’re going to be good,” he said. “I’m definitely biased because I’m part of that, but it’s just the way we fit as a team. Rob Wright as a point guard, I think he’s going to be the best point guard in the country. He’s definitely one of the best players I’ve ever played with, just in the way he sets the table for us. It all starts with him. I think it just goes down the line. We’re all unselfish and we have people that can shoot. All the pieces just fit.”
Woolston, who returned from her church mission last October, brings elite shooting to a very experienced team that brings back four starters.
“We are a very connected group and we enjoy spending time with each other,” she said. “I think everybody wants everybody else to succeed, which is pretty rare in a team to have that kind of camaraderie so early.”
The men’s team takes to the court on Oct. 16 with an exhibition game in the Marriott Center against Nebraska. The women’s team begins play on Oct. With an exhibition meeting with Western Colorado, also in Provo.
