BYU Starters Egor Demin, Richie Saunders Set To Return Against ASU

PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball tips off Big 12 play on Tuesday, and some of their top players will return from injury.

Starters Egor Demin and Richie Saunders are expected to return to the lineup when BYU takes on Arizona State on New Year’s Eve.

BYU coach Kevin Young on Egor Demin and Richie Saunders' availability for Tuesday's Big 12 opener against Arizona State:

"Barring anything unforeseen, those guys should be available."

"They've been able to practice quite a bit. They look good. Still monitoring those guys to…

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 30, 2024

“Barring anything unforeseen, those guys should be available [against Arizona State],” said BYU head coach Kevin Young on Monday.

Demin suffered a knee contusion in the opening minutes of BYU’s road loss at Providence on December 3. Saunders suffered a concussion on the game’s first possession in a win over Wyoming at the Delta Center on December 14.

Demin missed only three games with the light schedule for BYU in December, and Saunders missed one.

Now, they gear up for the start of the gauntlet known as Big 12 Conference play.

Egor Demin & Richie Saunders should be available against Arizona State

Young says Demin and Saunders have performed well in practice in their ramp-up to the Big 12 opener against the Sun Devils.

“They look good. Still monitoring those guys to make sure everything checks out,” Young said. “I wish we could have played even more, honestly, just to get those guys more run. But I know they’re both eager and ready to get back out there with their teammates.”

Demin, a projected NBA lottery pick, has shined in his first season in college basketball. The 6-foot-9 guard is averaging 13.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.6 rebounds while shooting close to 50% from the field.

A 6-foot-5 forward, Saunders has settled in as a starter for the first time in his collegiate career—the Riverton native is averaging 12.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

BYU vs. Arizona State

Date: December 31, 2024

Tip-off: 2 p.m. (MST)

TV: ESPN2

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. It allows you to stream live radio and video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

Follow @Mitch_Harper