Mark Pope Sees a Lot of Similarities Between the Troy Trojans and Familiar Foes
As the college basketball season continues to unfold, BYU Cougars head coach Mark Pope is preparing for an upcoming matchup against the Troy Trojans, and he’s noticing striking similarities between the Trojans and some of the teams that have given his squad challenges in the past. In the lead-up to this game, Pope has been studying Troy’s style of play and sees patterns that remind him of several familiar foes in the West Coast Conference (WCC) and beyond.
“Watching Troy, I see a lot of teams we’ve faced in the past that have given us fits,” Pope said in a recent interview. “They’re tough, they’re physical, and they don’t back down from anyone. It’s a very similar approach to what we’ve seen from some of the teams in our league and even some of the more physical teams in the country. We have to be prepared for their toughness and their discipline.”
The Trojans, under head coach Scott Cross, are known for their aggressive defense, balanced scoring, and ability to play with a chip on their shoulder. Troy may not always get the national spotlight that power conference teams do, but they have earned a reputation as a scrappy, well-coached team that can compete with anyone. For Pope and his Cougars, this is a challenge they don’t take lightly.
One of the key similarities Pope points to is the way Troy plays defense. The Trojans are relentless on that side of the ball, much like the Saint Mary’s Gaels or Gonzaga Bulldogs in the WCC—teams that have presented formidable obstacles for BYU in recent seasons. Much like these teams, Troy has a knack for suffocating opposing offenses, forcing turnovers, and limiting second-chance opportunities. Pope knows that his squad will need to handle pressure, make smart decisions, and take good shots to avoid being stifled by Troy’s defensive schemes.
“Their defense is very similar to what we see from the best teams in our conference,” Pope said. “We’re going to have to be disciplined and execute on offense. We’ve got to be sharp with our passing, be aware of their defensive rotations, and not settle for bad shots.”
On the offensive end, Troy’s fast-paced style of play mirrors what BYU often faces against teams that like to push the tempo and create open looks in transition. Pope noted that the Trojans, much like teams in the WCC, excel at spacing the floor and moving the ball quickly to generate open scoring opportunities. The challenge for BYU, Pope explained, will be to control the tempo of the game and prevent Troy from getting easy fast-break points.
“Troy plays with a lot of energy, and they’re very disciplined in how they run their offense,” Pope added. “They know what they want to do, and they execute it well. They move the ball, they get open shots, and they’re not afraid to attack the basket.”
With their style of play and approach to both ends of the floor, the Trojans represent a unique challenge for Pope and the Cougars. While the Trojans may not have the same size and talent that some of the bigger programs in college basketball possess, their cohesive team play and never-say-die attitude make them a tough opponent for anyone on their schedule.
As BYU prepares for the showdown, Pope’s message to his team has been clear: Troy is a team that will test their toughness, discipline, and execution. If the Cougars are to come out on top, they must be ready to match Troy’s intensity and avoid falling into the trap of underestimating a team that has proven capable of pulling off upsets.
For Pope, the similarities between the Trojans and some of BYU’s past foes are a reminder of the level of competition his team must be ready to face every time they step on the court. The upcoming matchup is an opportunity for BYU to prove that they can handle any challenge, regardless of the opponent’s pedigree.
