BYU star senior Richie Saunders suffers season-ending ACL tear

In a game in which BYU barely defeated Colorado, BYU senior Richie Saunders tore his ACL, ending his season and career with the Cougars.

This is the fourth season-ending injury for the BYU basketball program after it already lost players Dawson Baker, Nate Pickens and Brody Kozlowski earlier this year.

“My story has never been one of ease. And while I didn’t plan for this, my career is not over,” Saunders announced via Instagram. “I will return with more fight and more grit than before. My goals haven’t changed.”

The injury comes on the back end of BYU losing four of its last six games, adding to an already difficult stretch for the program.

The senior BYU star has seen multiple teams and coaching changes during his time in Provo. He played for Mark Pope and stayed with the program when former NBA assistant coach Kevin Young took over.

Saunders led the basketball program to its first Sweet Sixteen in fourteen years and earned the nickname “Tator Tot King.”

Saunders loyalty and competitive edge made him a fan favorite in Provo, showing he was much more than just a three-point shooter, but also physical, and a tough rebounder.

“To end my BYU career like this is heartbreaking. I’ve loved every moment and every challenge that came with representing the school I love,” Saunders said. “These past four years have shaped who I am — on and off the court.”

Saunders has averaged 18 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 31 minutes a game for the Cougars this season, relying on his hot 3-point shooting.

Before the injury, Saunders had potential NBA suitors despite his age (24) being relatively old by NBA standards. This injury no doubt sets him back in that trajectory, but he showed teams just how valuable he could be doing everything on the court.

BYU came into the year with lofty aspirations, bolstered by a talented roster highlighted by players like AJ Dybantsa, Rob Wright III and Saunders. This trio for BYU didn’t disappoint and has averaged 55 or more points per game the entirety of the season.

The problem for this Cougar team was never the talent at the top of the roster, but instead the contributions of the role players on this team, which now more than ever will need to step up.

This news gives the opportunity for players like Kennard Davis and Keba Keita to emerge into bigger scoring roles with Saunders' absence.

BYU will need its bench players to start knocking down 3-point shots at a much higher clip if the Cougars want to be able to stay above water in their final six regular-season games and into March Madness.

Without Saunders, the program will have a much harder time advancing without his scoring, but more importantly, they will miss his experience and leadership for the program.

Though this is a heartbreaking end to the season for Saunders, he will go down as one of the best players to ever have played for BYU, as well as a fan favorite.