‘Playing with character’: How Mark Pope’s basketball DNA is translating into success on the court for the BYU basketball team

BYU head coach Mark Pope shouts instructions as guard Connor Harding looks to pass during game against Utah State at Vivint Arena. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

First-year BYU coach Mark Pope begins his assault on the West Coast Conference on Saturday in Provo against LMU. Will his regime break the Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s stranglehold?

Mark Pope, welcome to the West Coast Conference.

The first-year BYU coach and his 2020 edition of the Cougars host Loyola Marymount on Saturday night in their league opener in the Marriott Center. LMU defeated San Diego 69-58 on Thursday as a lead-in to the trip to Provo. Pope’s team, meanwhile, is on a five-game win streak.

So far, what do we know about the Pope era at BYU, as brief as it has been?

His team has taken on his personality. It is high wattage.

What we’ve seen in the Cougars is a team that plays with a lot of energy and chemistry and focus. Pope has also brought a defined identity to BYU’s offense; it looks purposeful.

None of this is lost on former BYU and EuroLeague star Travis Hansen, who also played for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.

“Playing with character is in coach Pope’s DNA,” said Hansen. “His teams play with aggressiveness, intensity and a warrior-like fighting spirit. I am proud of the character Pope has brought back to BYU.”

The Cougars are 11-4 with one of the toughest preseason schedules by a BYU team at this point in a season. The schedule is ranked 23rd by Sagarin, 31st by ESPN and 35th by KenPom.

One of BYU’s losses came to undefeated No. 13 San Diego State and another came against No. 2 Kansas without senior Yoeli Childs. The other two losses were overtime defeats on the road at Boise State (sans Childs) and at rival Utah, with Childs being helped off the floor at crunch time after leading by 16.

Pope’s team had an adjusted offensive efficiency ranking of 67 in November after wins over Houston, UCLA and Virginia Tech. But with Childs, since December, that ranking has moved to No. 10 nationally.

BYU is ranked among the top 20 in several offensive statistical categories, including field goal percentage (14th), 3-point field goal percentage (8th), 3-point field goals per game (9th), assists per game (11th) and assist-turnover ratio (8th).

Despite lacking a rim protector like the injured Gavin Baxter, Pope’s players are defending better than past seasons, keeping in front of opponents longer, smartly switching ball screens, and they are more effective at positioning for help-side defense. At times, as shown against top-10 rebounding team Oral Roberts, they can get rebounds in key moments late in games.

One glaring statistic defensively is the gap between BYU 3-point shooting at 40% and opponents making just 29%, proof Pope’s defense is effectively fragmenting opponent accuracy from distance.

One of the more impressive features of Pope 1.0 is the blending of former WAC Player of the Year at UVU Jake Toolson and All-WCC guard TJ Haws and making them complement one another with role-playing that works.

So far, Toolson is shooting 46.5% from the field and 43.9% from distance. He is 85% accurate from the line and averages 5.1 rebounds and 14.7 points a game. Toolson has 63 assists, Haws 73 (the latter averages 43% from the field, 34% from beyond the arc and 12.5 points per game).

Toolson’s consistent range complements Haws’ ability to break down a defender off the dribble with the threat of occasional bombs.

“The thing that most impresses me about this team is their ability to get better,” said Mark Durrant, color man on KSL Radio game broadcasts. “They have leadership and maturity to recognize and address deficiencies and make them strengths. Obviously, Yoeli makes them better as well, but this team is unselfish and has great leadership, and that is making the difference and gives me great hope to have success in the West Coast Conference.”

Then there is Arizona transfer Alex Barcello, the icing on Pope’s backcourt cake. He is effective with 49% shooting from the field; 43% from 3.

The WCC is lumped together once again as a top-heavy league led by arguably the nation’s No. 1 team, Gonzaga, followed by Saint Mary’s and then BYU. After that, the dropoff is significant.

The Zags rank No. 6 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, followed by Saint Mary’s at 29 and BYU 34. The next WCC team ranking is Santa Clara at 88.

Most the WCC teams have already tipped off their season.

Pope gets his chance Saturday night.

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