Nate Pickens is displaying his worth as a bench weapon for BYU

Now, Pickens is rapidly rising as an excellent sixth man for Kevin Younger’s Cougars, together with his presence within the rotation serving to to focus on BYU’s much-improved depth.

“I am simply blessed to be out right here, sitting out so lengthy from harm was powerful, however I simply trusted my work every single day and it confirmed tonight,” Pickens mentioned postgame on Tuesday. “I am simply pleased for the workforce and myself to be simply having enjoyable and simply enjoying with the blokes lastly.”

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Along with his scoring, Pickens offered two rebounds, an help and two steals.

Whereas BYU could have allowed 82 factors to the upstart Queens squad, the Cougars’ total defensive effort to date has come a good distance from that of final yr. Pickens’ depth and disposition on that finish of the ground is a main cause why, and it ought to proceed to affect his teammates as BYU continues to find its identification on protection.

“I really feel like ever since I have been in faculty it is at all times been my factor, simply hanging my hat on protection and that stuff,” Pickens mentioned.

“(Protection) simply jump-starts every thing else for me, so simply being a defensive anchor on the workforce has at all times been my position, I take pleasure in it.”

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By way of three video games, Pickens has averaged 7.7 factors throughout lower than quarter-hour per recreation, capturing 58% from the sector and 50% from deep.

Previous to touchdown in Provo, the previous UC Riverside expertise posted 9.8 factors, 3.5 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists per recreation for the Highlanders whereas netting almost 40% of his 3-pointers, even scoring 18 factors in a matchup towards BYU on the Marriott Heart in 2024.

“I am solely going to say this one time, however (Tuesday’s efficiency) makes you want you’ll have had him final yr, truthfully,” Younger mentioned of Pickens. “That is why we introduced him right here. He can guard guys at our degree, and he could make open 3s.”

Maybe Pickens would have helped change the narrative final season for BYU, because the Cougars proved far too inconsistent in getting stops and hitting pictures.

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However as he instructed the Deseret Information through the summer season, not enjoying final yr lit a hearth underneath him to be even higher when he returned to full well being. The early returns communicate for themselves, and sustaining such momentum will go a good distance in impacting successful for the Cougars.

“He is a man that we belief,” Younger mentioned. “… He is stable. He is an grownup. You may belief him, and I believe he has earned the belief of his teammates as nicely.”