The redemption of BYU basketball's big men

There was a point in time this season where BYU had a sub-.500 Big 12 record and sat on the outside looking in when it came to the NCAA tournament.

A big reason for the Cougars' poor level of play was the production from Keba Keita and Fousseyni Traore, and the limitations that the two big men possess.

Flash forward to this Thursday when BYU won a first round game in the tournament for the first time since 2011. This time, Keita and Traore were the difference makers for the Cougars.

Photo by BYU Photo

The low point for BYU's two main centers came on Feb. 8, when the Cougars lost at Cincinnati. In the game, both Keita and Traore were benched for Serbian big, Mihailo Boskovic.

This loss put the Cougars at 6-6 in Big 12 play and head coach, Kevin Young, did not hold back on Traore's recent level of play at his following weekly Monday press conference.

"He's got to be better," Young said. "We're at that point in the season ... where I can't give pep talks and motivational this, that, and the other. Guys gotta go out and produce."

Defensively, Traore was not rotating fast enough, and running plays through him on offense took too long to set up when BYU was trying to mount a fast comeback.

Keita also posed limitations on the offensive end, since he is primarily a lob threat and not a danger with the ball in his hands.

But in that Cincinnati loss, Young saw something. From that point on, he began to give Boskovic more minutes, often pairing him with Traore to make up for the lack of height. Since then, the Cougars have won 10 of their last 11, and each big man has had their moments to shine.

Against West Virginia on March 1, Traore put up a 20-point double-double on a way to BYU's sixth straight win.

Keita's 15-rebound and five-block game at Iowa State on March 3 was highlighted by a fast break, chase-down block of a sure-thing Iowa State dunk. That block potentially saved the game for BYU in overtime.

But in the biggest win for BYU basketball in 14 years, Keita and Traore both came to play.

Against VCU, Keita scored nine points, grabbed nine rebounds — four offensive —, and had four monster blocks.

Traore scored 13 points, snagged 9 boards — he also had four offensive rebounds —, dished out two assists, and went 5 of 6 from the line.

BYU had 18 more paint points and nine more second chance points than the Rams, in large part to Keita and Traore's presence down low.

The two's production has improved so much, that Boskovic did not even need to come in to ease the load.

Keita and Traore's role might look different Saturday against Wisconsin, as the Badgers' primary scorer, John Tonje, does a lot of his damage from the perimeter.

No. 6 BYU will face No. 3 Wisconsin for a chance at reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011 on Saturday at 5:45 MDT.