BYU basketball veterans Fouss and Knell prepare freshmen for the Big 12

Fousseyni Traore and Trevin Knell have long been favorites of BYU basketball fans. It's easy to see why: These two make up BYU's best two-man lineup in terms of the team's offensive and defensive efficiency. Fouss' post presence and ability to dominate players much taller than him make him a scoring and shot-blocking machine. Combine that with Knell's ability to stretch defenses with his reach, and you get one of the strongest duos in college basketball.

With the departure of Mark Pope and the many new faces on the roster, head coach Kevin Young has repeatedly expressed his gratitude for the veterans who bring much-needed Big 12 playing experience. During Big 12 Media Day, BYU basketball veterans Fousseyni Traore and Trevin Knell reflected on their offseason development and the challenges that come with playing in the most competitive league in college basketball.

Both players have focused on improving their game. Traore has been working on his death, saying: “Last year you had to hand over to me. Now I just feel like I'm finding ways to incorporate that into my game.” Knell's priority was footwork and finding his spots. “Coach Young is a mastermind when it comes to making plays…I worked on getting up to speed as quickly as possible.”

The duo also prepared the team's freshmen for the physicality of the Big 12. Knell said he always tells freshmen to toughen up: “When they complain about fouls, I tell them, 'You have no idea what's coming.'” Traore agreed, adding: “Everyone is right now a dog (in this league). . It won’t be easy.”

In case you missed it, you can watch Fouss, Knell and the rest of the team in highlights from their recent Blue-White clash:

Both players are looking forward to this season's games against UCF and Cincinnati. “I’m excited to play with them this time (Cincinatti),” Knell said. He also emphasized the importance of playing hard for the entire 40 minutes: “We were ahead by ten plus points several times, and with five minutes left it's a one-point game.” No lead is safe in the Big 12. “

It looks like the Cougars have grown a lot this offseason and are ready to show the world what they're capable of. “A lot of people still doubt us,” Knell said. “So it’ll be fun to prove them wrong.”