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Provo • Although it was shown over and over again on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and other sports highlights shows, the spectacular one-handed rebound dunk in which he snared the ball behind his head and rammed it home did not impress BYU forward Yoeli Childs all that much.

At least, the 6-foot-8 Bingham High product didn't act like it as he ran back down the court in that exhibition win over BYU-Hawaii on Nov. 9. There are two reasons why.

First, Childs is trying to rein in his emotions on the court a bit, find the right balance between enthusiasm and intensity for a freshman still learning his role on the team. Second, he's been taught to tone down the on-court celebrations and act like he's been there before.

"I think the guys who freak out after they dunk must not dunk very often," he said.

Having started 6-3 BYU's last three games after opening-day starting power forward Kyle Davis left the lineup for a game with a sore knee, Childs is making the kind of impact that his high school coach, Jake Schroeder, predicted he would have when he signed with the Cougars a year ago.

"BYU is getting a tough, hard-nosed, feisty rebounder," Schroeder said. "That's what he does best. He can score, he can do all that. What will make him a good player at the next level is he can rebound out of his area."

Childs grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in his second game, against Coppin State, to prove that. Since entering the starting lineup, he's also proved that he can score. He is averaging 8.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 57.9 percent from the field in his last three games.

Childs scored a career-high 10 points in Wednesday's 77-66 win over Weber State and will likely get his fourth straight start on Saturday night when BYU hosts 7-2 Colorado at the Marriott Center (8 p.m., ESPN2).

"I have definitely had some ups and downs this first year," said Childs, whose biggest obstacle has been foul trouble. "I am learning how hard I can go and still stay out of foul trouble, how intense I can play and still keep my cool. There's been a learning curve there, but I think I am slowly figuring it out."

As for his otherworldly jumping ability, Childs said it isn't as good as it appears. Despite having a measured 37-inch vertical leap, he attributes his dunks and blocked shots to his 7-foot wing span.

"I've just got long arms," he said.

BYU coach Dave Rose said the prized freshman is "feeling a lot of pressure" because he's been thrust into the starting lineup sooner than almost anyone expected, but is handling it well, even thriving, because he arrived in Provo with a lot of talent and skill.

"I think he's done a tremendous job of trying to learn," Rose said. "Every practice, every week, you turn the page and you see him a little bit better at something he wasn't [as good at]. He is starting to master everything."

Childs said the biggest adjustment from high school to college basketball is finding the right balance between aggressiveness and caution on the court. The biggest adjustment to college life for him has been the rigorous academics at BYU, including the toughest class: Introduction to Dance.

"Oh man, this is going to sound embarrassing, but my toughest class is dance," he said. "It is crazy, so many papers, projects. Just crazy. Physical science and history are pretty tough, too, but dance is so much work. I never would have thought that."

Saturday's game is a rematch of Colorado's 92-83 win last year in Boulder and is huge for BYU, which doesn't get to host power five conference opponents very often.

"It is a big game," Rose said. "I am really looking forward to this game. Hopefully we will play two halves and really compete on both ends of the floor."

drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @drewjay —

Colorado at BYU

P At the Marriott Center, Provo

Tipoff • 8 p.m.

TV • ESPN2 Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM, Sirius XM 143

Records • BYU 6-3, Colorado 7-2

Series history • Colorado leads 17-6

Last meeting • Colorado 92, BYU 83 (Dec. 12, 2015)

About the Buffaloes • Coach Tad Boyle is 137-82 in his seventh season at Colorado. … They are coming off a 68-66 win over No. 13 Xavier and also beat No. 22 Texas earlier this season. … They are led in scoring by 6-5 G Derrick White (15.0 ppg.), while 6-7 G/F Xavier Johnson averages 14.8 ppg. and 6-6 G George King averages 11.2 ppg. … Opponents average just 64.7 points per game against them.

About the Cougars • Center Eric Mika posted the fourth double-double of the season in Wednesday's 77-66 win over Weber State and is averaging 24.3 points on 57.9 percent shooting in his last four games. … After tonight, they will take a break for final exams and won't play again until Dec. 17 at the United Center in Chicago against Illinois.