Fousseyni Traore

ANALYSIS
Traore needed just 23 minutes off the bench to post a career-high 29 points on a nearly perfect night from the field. The senior center scored 20 of his 29 in the second half, including a stretch in the second half where he posted 16 points, four rebounds and a block in less than 5:30 of game time that helped the Cougars pull away. Traore was initially expected to start but has filled the same bench role that he assumed last season for 18 of the 26 games he played. Whether starting or coming off the bench, BYU plays a deep rotation that limited Traore to 18.3 minutes per game last season and has kept him at 19.5 minutes thus far this season. The possible loss of starting center Keba Keita, who was helped to the locker room with an injury and did not return, could net Traore some extra minutes if Keita were to miss some time. However, as evidenced Saturday, Traore does not need to play many minutes to fill up the box score.