# HYPE: BYU Basketball Eyes Sweet 16—Rob Wright, Bruce Branch III & Jaxon Kohler LEAD High-Floor Squad | Lance Anderson Explains Challenge of Playing Bear Bachmeier, LJ Martin & BYU Football

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-cougars-daily-podcast-on-byu-cougars-football-basketball-935433/hype-byu-basketball-eyes-sweet-16-rob-wright-bruce-branch-iii-jaxon-kohler-lead-high-floor-squad-lance-anderson-explains-challenge-of-playing-bear-bachmeier-lj-martin-byu-football
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-cougars-daily-podcast-on-byu-cougars-football-basketball-935433/hype-byu-basketball-eyes-sweet-16-rob-wright-bruce-branch-iii-jaxon-kohler-lead-high-floor-squad-lance-anderson-explains-challenge-of-playing-bear-bachmeier-lj-martin-byu-football.md
Podcast: [Locked On Cougars - Daily Podcast On BYU Cougars Football & Basketball](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-cougars-daily-podcast-on-byu-cougars-football-basketball-935433)
Published: 2026-09-03T21:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-cougars/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/63a296/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/df3adc55-2f40-437c-852e-1d8b8122e2c6/episodes/dce63c17-37e0-441b-9319-d0ade233e157/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=df3adc55-2f40-437c-852e-1d8b8122e2c6&awEpisodeId=dce63c17-37e0-441b-9319-d0ade233e157&feed=DzohBBeS
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/locked-on-cougars-daily-podcast-on-byu-cougars-football-basketball-935433/episodes/hype-byu-basketball-eyes-sweet-16-rob-wright-bruce-branch-iii-jaxon-kohler-lead-high-floor-squad-lance-anderson-explains-challenge-of-playing-bear-bachmeier-lj-martin-byu-football
Duration seconds: 1658

## Resource

BYU men's basketball stands at the brink of another breakthrough, with Kevin Young’s squad reshaping expectations across the Big 12 and beyond. Can incoming star Bruce Branch III match AJ Dybantsa’s legacy as a projected top NBA pick, and how high is this program’s new floor? Jake Hatch examines ESPN’s latest projections, which put BYU’s ceiling at 26 wins and a Sweet 16 appearance—despite continued uncertainties surrounding key roster pieces like Jaxon Kohler and Jakub Urbaniak. Even with questions at center and that one open scholarship slot, the national spotlight remains fixed on BYU, thanks to relentless recruiting, deep roster talent, and a Big 12 schedule that all but assures NCAA Tournament relevance. Hatch highlights the BYU Cougars’ incredible evolution from WCC afterthoughts to coveted Big 12 contenders, dissecting why experts are bullish on BYU even in a fiercely competitive league. Listeners get a detailed analysis of the squad’s depth, from Robert Wright III’s return and the eligibility rollercoaster with Kohler, to the versatile scoring touch of Branch III and influx of other blue-chip talents like Collin Chandler and Jake Wahlin. The segment explores what makes BYU’s ceiling so much higher this season, the potential pitfalls if injury or eligibility issues emerge, and the unthinkable prospect of snaring multiple future No. 1 NBA picks under Young’s leadership. Is this the start of the most dynamic stretch in BYU basketball history? The conversation then pivots to football as Hatch welcomes Utah Tech head coach Lance Anderson for an exclusive inside look at Saturday’s matchup. Anderson provides unique perspective on facing BYU in Provo, sharing what makes Kalani Sitake’s teams so formidable—physicality, depth, and a fiercely competitive recruiting footpr…

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