1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,759 Speaker 1: Part in Utah's ESPN Radio network on the go by 2 00:00:03,839 --> 00:00:07,679 tapping that app. Download the ESPN the Fan app from 3 00:00:07,719 --> 00:00:10,919 the Apple App Store or Google Play today. Get to 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,679 know the Cougar's opponents and rivals right now. You know 5 00:00:13,839 --> 00:00:17,079 know the faux segment on Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel. 6 00:00:18,359 --> 00:00:20,679 Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports one O three nine ninety eight 7 00:00:20,719 --> 00:00:23,519 point three ESPN the Fan. I've been prital broadcasting from 8 00:00:23,559 --> 00:00:26,399 our vand Rwelth studios. Bantererwell dot com. Get on that 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,559 free Q and A, no obligation to invest Q and 10 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,079 A with our tax more wealth advisors are going to 11 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,439 save your money on your taxes so you can invest 12 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,960 some of that surplus of funds back into the stock 13 00:00:36,039 --> 00:00:39,159 market or wherever you want to invest in. Bantererwealth, bantererwel 14 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:40,719 dot comedy is time to get to know the voe 15 00:00:40,759 --> 00:00:42,920 Bau managed basketball trying to find who they are. What 16 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,119 are they the team that showed up versus UCF at 17 00:00:47,119 --> 00:00:48,960 the Merriy Center down thirty for most of the game, 18 00:00:49,079 --> 00:00:52,719 or are they the team that knocked off the potential 19 00:00:52,799 --> 00:00:57,600 number one seed Iowas state cyclones where we've had the 20 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,200 peak We've had the valley. Now who are they going 21 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,960 to be as they faced West Virginia. We're gonna get 22 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,120 to know the fall a little bit better. What challenges 23 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,640 this West Virginia team poses here on your UTI ESPN 24 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,680 radio network. This segment's going to be brought to you 25 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,280 by Central Garage Utah. Central Garage Utah dot com. If 26 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,640 you have a garage door that is that is in 27 00:01:17,719 --> 00:01:20,959 need of repair, it can get pretty expensive because people 28 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,680 take advantage of you in emergent situations. Not at Central 29 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:26,840 Garage Door. They're big bau fans. They want a you, 30 00:01:27,079 --> 00:01:28,799 they want to support you. They want to give you 31 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,400 the best deal at the bright price. Eight O one 32 00:01:30,439 --> 00:01:32,359 six oh four two nine one nine. Shoot them a text, 33 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,120 give them a call eight O one six oh four 34 00:01:34,159 --> 00:01:36,079 two nine one nine. Let them know I sencha for 35 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:38,799 the VIP products, VFP service, VPU discounts. Let's get out 36 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,560 to the hot line, Welcome in and insider for all 37 00:01:41,599 --> 00:01:44,480 things West Virginia. He's West Virginia Radio Basketball alndlests. We 38 00:01:44,519 --> 00:01:46,280 got Brad how on the line. Brad how you living 39 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:47,079 a Hi? 40 00:01:47,159 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 3: Ben, Good to talk to you again. I appreciate you 41 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:50,920 having me on and looking forward to talking a little 42 00:01:50,959 --> 00:01:51,640 ball here with you. 43 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: Yes, indeed excited to talk some involved with you. Let's 44 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,200 first start off with West Virginia. Who is West Virginia 45 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:03,000 this year? How would you describe maybe their culture, their mantrase, 46 00:02:03,359 --> 00:02:04,519 their style of play? 47 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 3: Who are they? Yeah? What's interesting is you could almost 48 00:02:07,599 --> 00:02:10,240 rewind the tape from when we talked last year and 49 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:13,439 have the same conversation, although it's a different coach. West 50 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,840 Virginia on its fourth coach in four seasons, it's on 51 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,159 his third complete roster flip over the last three years. 52 00:02:20,159 --> 00:02:22,759 So I think when you're telling West Virginia's basketball story, 53 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,000 you have to start with that. It's really been an 54 00:02:25,159 --> 00:02:28,280 unbelievable and unprecedented run of four years with all of 55 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,879 these different coaches coming in. You thought the thing was 56 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,439 back on track with Darren Debries last year. We only 57 00:02:33,439 --> 00:02:35,719 had him for a year and he's off to Indiana. 58 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,840 Enter Ross Hodge, who coached under Grant mccaslem, the successful 59 00:02:39,879 --> 00:02:42,759 Texas Tech coach at North Texas, and then took over 60 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,560 that North Texas program when mcaslym left for Texas Tech. 61 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,479 Ross comes in here in year one with the Mountaineers 62 00:02:49,479 --> 00:02:51,919 and then I'll be honest with you, it's been a 63 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,400 really surprisingly good year. Given all of that turmoil and 64 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,439 roster turnover that I just talked about, this West Virginia 65 00:02:58,479 --> 00:03:01,039 team was right in the hunt for a potential NCAA 66 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,599 bid up until this last week. And we'll get into 67 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,520 that here in just a minute. It's been a rough 68 00:03:05,599 --> 00:03:07,879 last three games for this team. But it's a very 69 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,400 defensive minded team. It's a team that controls pace when 70 00:03:11,439 --> 00:03:13,800 things are going well and makes it really difficult for 71 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,080 teams to score. I believe we're still in the top 72 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,599 five nationally and scoring defense. So that's where Ross Hodgins 73 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,080 it's at. That's where this teammates it's at is on 74 00:03:22,159 --> 00:03:25,159 the defensive end. On the offensive side, you'll see one 75 00:03:25,159 --> 00:03:27,680 of the best shooters in the country in Honor Huff, 76 00:03:27,719 --> 00:03:31,319 who just on Saturday moved into third place all time 77 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,879 in West Virginia's single season made three pointer list past 78 00:03:34,919 --> 00:03:37,000 the guy by the name of Kevin pittsnovel that your 79 00:03:37,039 --> 00:03:40,039 fans may remember back from West Virginia's a Good Turney runs 80 00:03:40,039 --> 00:03:42,319 back in the mid two thousand. So that's the main 81 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,400 offensive threat. There's some others, and we'll get down in 82 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:46,159 the weeds here a little bit if you want. That's 83 00:03:46,159 --> 00:03:48,879 a quick overview of what West Virginia is going to 84 00:03:49,199 --> 00:03:51,879 bring to the BYU Cougar's on Saturday. Yeah. 85 00:03:52,039 --> 00:03:56,439 Speaker 2: Why has there been so much turmoil ross are coaching, 86 00:03:56,479 --> 00:04:01,800 attrition coaching? I guess it just chaos. 87 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, it has been chaos, and some of it the 88 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:08,599 move from Darren Debrees being here just one year. That's 89 00:04:08,639 --> 00:04:11,159 the one that's a little more difficult to explain. I 90 00:04:11,159 --> 00:04:13,719 mean again, it is Indiana. Darren was from the Midwest. 91 00:04:13,719 --> 00:04:16,759 That's a crown jewel job of the Midwest, and given 92 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:18,920 what they have in nil funds, I guess you can 93 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,680 understand that a little bit, but it certainly didn't endear 94 00:04:21,759 --> 00:04:24,639 him to Mountaineer fans after what was a really successful 95 00:04:24,639 --> 00:04:27,120 first season last year. The other two years are a 96 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,839 little easier to explain. You went seventeen years with no turnover. 97 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,279 Was Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins was here, led 98 00:04:33,319 --> 00:04:35,600 the Mountaineers to the Final four in twenty ten and 99 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,959 had a ton of high level success. He got himself 100 00:04:38,959 --> 00:04:41,839 into some trouble by his own doing their late in 101 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,040 his career and precipitated his retirement from WVU. That led 102 00:04:46,079 --> 00:04:49,319 to an interim coach for one season, and you guys 103 00:04:49,319 --> 00:04:51,639 know our interim coach, well, that was Josh Eilert, who 104 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,240 had been with Hugs for a long time in various capacities. 105 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,439 So Josh stepped in and had what was a really 106 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,160 difficult year in trying to hold program together because hudgs 107 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,560 resignation came so late. It happened in the summer. And 108 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:06,639 I'll always have a lot of respect and give a 109 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,000 lot of credit to Josh Eilert for what he was 110 00:05:09,079 --> 00:05:11,000 able to do and how he was able to lead 111 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,120 a program having never been in that position for that 112 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,120 one season. And of course I mentioned that you all 113 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,079 know him as he took over as the weirdest thing 114 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,399 in college coaching I've seen. Ben a guy was an 115 00:05:21,399 --> 00:05:24,160 interim head coach in back to back seasons at two 116 00:05:24,199 --> 00:05:27,279 different schools. As he took over for the Utes last 117 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,360 year when they got rid of their coach. So that 118 00:05:29,519 --> 00:05:31,800 was the second year. Then you entered Darren for a year. 119 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,680 He's gone after one season, and then incomes Ross Hodge 120 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,120 as the fourth coach in four years. And it was 121 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,879 a complete roster sweep, no rebounds, no points returned, from 122 00:05:40,959 --> 00:05:43,040 last year. So I give this group a lot of 123 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,279 credit for West Virginia guys for staying together. They're still 124 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,519 battling hard, they're still playing hard, they don't take any 125 00:05:48,519 --> 00:05:51,560 possessions off, and like I said, up until last week, 126 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,839 had positioned themselves in the conversation for an NCAA tournament bid, 127 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:56,560 which was pretty remarkable at the time. 128 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: No one thought that UCF could come into the Mary 129 00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:03,439 Center as twelve and a half point dogs and destroy 130 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,800 this BAYU Cougar basketball team that had just beaten Iowa 131 00:06:06,879 --> 00:06:11,279 State and beaten i Always State, not handily, but they 132 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,879 were in control the entire night. So I don't think 133 00:06:14,879 --> 00:06:17,120 it's too far fetched that West Virginia can knock off 134 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,480 the Cougs as well. What's the messaging to this team 135 00:06:19,639 --> 00:06:23,120 as the Cougars are on the docket for the Mountaineers. 136 00:06:23,759 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a it's a good point. It's a good question. 137 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,600 And we were just getting on the plane from the 138 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,560 Oklahoma State game and slipped on the BYU UCF game, 139 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,639 and we were we were shocked as well, maybe not 140 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,480 necessarily even that the UCF could pull off a win, 141 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,399 because I think all of us that follow this league 142 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,519 know just how difficult it is, and the old cliche 143 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,800 of there's no nights off. I think that's never been 144 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,279 more true in this league. But the manner in the 145 00:06:45,519 --> 00:06:48,199 in which UCF did that was a bit of a surprise. 146 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,199 So I think if you're West Virginia, you know you're 147 00:06:50,199 --> 00:06:52,879 going to get a laser focus BYU team coming into 148 00:06:52,959 --> 00:06:55,639 the Coliseum on Saturday, and and this is one of 149 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,600 those if I'm looking at it from a West Virginia 150 00:06:57,639 --> 00:07:00,720 perspective and building the case for them against what we 151 00:07:00,759 --> 00:07:04,480 know is a super talented BYU team, even without Ritchie Saunders. 152 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,920 I mean, we were certainly well aware of AJ and 153 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,639 Robert Wright and company coming in here. But I think 154 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,040 if you're building a case for West Virginia's first and 155 00:07:12,079 --> 00:07:14,639 foremost that you're back home in front of what will 156 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,519 be a sold out crowd in the Coliseum, and we 157 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,839 know that's one of the more difficult places to play 158 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,120 in the league. So that's first and foremost. I think 159 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,600 West Virginia it rocked a little bit because it's lost 160 00:07:26,639 --> 00:07:29,160 three straight for the first time all season, and it 161 00:07:29,199 --> 00:07:32,480 only had one two game losing streak all season that 162 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,639 was early back in the Charleston Classic down in Charleston, 163 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,519 South Carolina, when West Virginia lost a couple close ones 164 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,439 to Clemson and Xavier, and back to back days after that. 165 00:07:41,519 --> 00:07:43,959 They had not lost two in a row up until 166 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,759 this stretch against Utah, TCU and Oklahoma State. So I 167 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,600 just think from a confidence standpoint, West Virginia has to 168 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,639 find that first and foremost and it knows this defense 169 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,000 is going to get tested mightily against that offensive firepower. 170 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: For BYU talking BYU versus West Virginia here on your 171 00:08:02,079 --> 00:08:05,279 Utah ESPN Radio network with Brad Howe, West Virginia Radio 172 00:08:05,319 --> 00:08:08,879 Basketball and Loose and getting into it. It's brought to 173 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,839 you by Central Garage, Utah Central Garage Utah dot com. 174 00:08:12,399 --> 00:08:15,399 So I'm looking at at the Quad one opportunities with 175 00:08:15,439 --> 00:08:18,279 West Virginia four and seven and Quad one games two 176 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,240 and four Quad two, I'd actually say like the Quad 177 00:08:21,279 --> 00:08:24,160 one games aren't the concerning portion of it. It's the 178 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,720 the Quad two games two and four. What happened in 179 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,319 these Quad two games that they fell short with. 180 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think again that when you look at 181 00:08:32,159 --> 00:08:34,519 Utah and TCU and Oklahoma State in particular, to take 182 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,799 these last three games that have popped up here. I 183 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:40,879 think all three of those are surprises, quite frankly, if 184 00:08:40,879 --> 00:08:42,960 you're looking at it from a West Virginia perspective. And 185 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,679 I think it was two things that West got West 186 00:08:45,759 --> 00:08:48,240 Virginia in trouble over these last three games that had 187 00:08:48,279 --> 00:08:51,600 been strengths all season and that just switched here over 188 00:08:51,639 --> 00:08:54,840 the last week. So, coming into the Utah game, which 189 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,759 took place on February eighteenth, West Virginia was number one 190 00:08:57,799 --> 00:09:01,039 in the twelve and two different categories. One was free 191 00:09:01,039 --> 00:09:05,120 throw attempt rate for its opponents and one was defensive rebounding. 192 00:09:05,399 --> 00:09:07,559 And so West Virginia was very good at controlling the 193 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,240 glass and it was guarding without falling well. Suddenly, Ben 194 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,399 that has switched over the last three games. All three 195 00:09:14,399 --> 00:09:17,360 of those teams, Utah, TCU, and Oklahoma State have had 196 00:09:17,399 --> 00:09:20,120 success on the offensive glass, and they've got to the 197 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,240 free throw line on West Virginia. Over those three games, 198 00:09:23,279 --> 00:09:26,799 West Virginia is minus twenty nine points at the free 199 00:09:26,879 --> 00:09:29,519 throw line. So for a team that wants to control 200 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,519 possessions and keep the pace down, you're in essence, starting 201 00:09:32,519 --> 00:09:35,360 in a ten to nothing hole at the free throw line. 202 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,559 And that's just that's too difficult for West Virginia to overcome. 203 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,120 So if I was looking for two things moving into 204 00:09:41,159 --> 00:09:43,799 this game, West Virginia has to get back to controlling 205 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,320 the glass and they have to get back to guarding 206 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,440 without fouling. Is one of Ross Hodge's favorite sayings. And 207 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,159 for whatever reason, over the last three games, the whistle 208 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,039 has been different and that has really hindered West Virginia, 209 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,080 taking two of its strength and turning him into two weaknesses. 210 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 2: If We Virginia beats the Coupes, how do you think 211 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,159 they do it? Here in the you know, just right 212 00:10:06,159 --> 00:10:08,519 around the corner. This game is about to tip off soon. 213 00:10:10,039 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think it's a couple of things, and one 214 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:13,399 of them is what I just mentioned. It's it's you 215 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,799 get a cold shooting night from BYU and then you 216 00:10:16,879 --> 00:10:18,840 corral the rebound and don't allow them to have a 217 00:10:18,879 --> 00:10:22,480 second opportunity when West Virginia is playing well, that's the formula. 218 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,279 This is a really good defensive team. In fact, it's 219 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,399 number eleven nationally an opponent two point field goal percentage. 220 00:10:29,399 --> 00:10:31,559 So they do a great job of loading up the 221 00:10:31,639 --> 00:10:34,679 lane and keeping teams out of there, making them shoot 222 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,679 from outside. So if West Virginia can get a cold 223 00:10:37,799 --> 00:10:39,960 BYU team or a team that is struggling to make 224 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,080 some shots and corral the rebound. That's the first level 225 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,559 of this and when West Virginia has won, that has 226 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,840 been a formula. And then number two, they're going to 227 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,120 make some shots. And they had been in a mired 228 00:10:50,159 --> 00:10:52,879 and a slump from distance for a number of games. 229 00:10:52,879 --> 00:10:55,240 They finally broke out of that against Oklahoma State when 230 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,399 they made twelve threes on her Huff had six himself, 231 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,799 Trey Eagle Staff had four. So that's another component. West 232 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,960 Virginia's two point offense or offense inside the arc has 233 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,480 been very serviceable at times and been very good at 234 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,080 other times. But when it's making threes, that's when it's 235 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,600 difficult to handle because it controls the pace so well 236 00:11:14,799 --> 00:11:17,039 that once West Virginia gets a lead midway through the 237 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,360 second half, they can kind of squeeze it out because 238 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,200 they're so good at protecting the clock and working the clock. 239 00:11:22,279 --> 00:11:24,120 So if I were giving you two, it would be 240 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,600 West Virgin's got to be making shots from distance, and 241 00:11:26,639 --> 00:11:29,480 it's got to limit BYU shots if in fact it's 242 00:11:29,519 --> 00:11:30,480 missing from the. 243 00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: Field players that BAYU fans should know, and I get 244 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,200 a scattering report on give us a little personnel breakdown. 245 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, ano Hoff's the first and foremost guy. And again, 246 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,679 if you can watch it as an unbiased basketball observer, 247 00:11:42,759 --> 00:11:46,240 which I know MOSTYU fans won't be able to on Saturday, 248 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,039 he's a lot of fun to watch. It's a minutive guy, 249 00:11:49,399 --> 00:11:52,440 but man, he is outstanding. Led the nation in three 250 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,120 pointers made last year while at Chattanooga, and he's having 251 00:11:55,159 --> 00:11:58,320 another fantastic year this year, closing in on one hundred 252 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,919 mad threes this season. And he's a lot of fun 253 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,960 to watch. Very Steph Curry esque from this standpoint, unlimited 254 00:12:05,039 --> 00:12:07,559 range and doesn't stop moving. If you watch him off 255 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,639 the ball, he is in constant motion off picks and running, 256 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,559 so really fun offensive player. Another guy to know would 257 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,679 be Tracing Eagle Staff. He transferred in from North Dakota. 258 00:12:16,919 --> 00:12:18,720 He had a game last year where he put forty 259 00:12:18,759 --> 00:12:21,960 plus points on Alabama and then scored fifty two in 260 00:12:22,039 --> 00:12:24,559 a conference tournament game, so he can light it up 261 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:26,919 at times as well. Those are two guys to really know. 262 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,080 If you're looking for one inside, it would be number zero. 263 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,080 Brennan Laurent, a transfer that came with Ross Odds from 264 00:12:34,279 --> 00:12:36,840 North Texas. He was All Conference for him last year 265 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,200 and is a really talented six' nine. Defender he's the 266 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,559 guy that will match up On devonsa most of the, 267 00:12:42,639 --> 00:12:45,120 day so that will be a critical matchup For West. 268 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,200 VIRGINIA i know nobody has STOPPED aj just, yet but 269 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,240 can you limit him or at least make him make 270 00:12:50,279 --> 00:12:53,360 difficult shots if You're West, Virginia so keep an eye 271 00:12:53,399 --> 00:12:55,679 On Brendan laurent as well from your. 272 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,399 Speaker 2: PERCH i don't know how much you've scouted by you 273 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,080 sure you keep tabs on all the big twelve teams. 274 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:04,600 Obviously what's the scouting report On brigham right? Now from 275 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,519 the coaching staff from your perch and from those that 276 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:08,679 you interact with there At West. 277 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 3: Virginia, yeah just a lot of respect from both me 278 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,000 and this coaching staff on what they can. Do and, 279 00:13:15,039 --> 00:13:17,000 again you look AT, aj And i'm not telling you 280 00:13:17,039 --> 00:13:19,120 anything you don't. Know i'm just blown away by his 281 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,159 skill set and his abilities each night WHEN i watch. 282 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,399 Him so you obviously start, there and what can you 283 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,759 do with? Him is this a? Guy can you hold 284 00:13:27,799 --> 00:13:30,000 him to twenty two and be excited about? That it's 285 00:13:30,039 --> 00:13:32,120 certainly a guy you don't want to get up near 286 00:13:32,159 --> 00:13:34,440 his average and above in the thirty point. Range and 287 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,679 THEN i have a ton of respect For Robert. Wright 288 00:13:36,759 --> 00:13:39,159 we watched him last year when he was At baylor 289 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:40,840 run up and down the, floor AND i think he's 290 00:13:40,879 --> 00:13:43,200 just a fantastic point. Guard and if he's not the 291 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,639 best point guard in this, league he's certainly right in that. 292 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:49,559 Conversation so we've seen THIS byu team a. Bunch i'd 293 00:13:49,639 --> 00:13:51,919 much prefer to get them at home in the coliseum 294 00:13:52,159 --> 00:13:54,080 rather than be at your place like we were last. 295 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,120 YEAR i thought your home environment out there In provo 296 00:13:57,279 --> 00:13:59,399 was one of the best in this. League so glad 297 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,759 The cougar's coming here To, morgantown which which generally gives 298 00:14:02,759 --> 00:14:05,639 a better effort From West. Virginia BUT i think THIS 299 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,159 byu team is tremendous even Without, saunders AND i know 300 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:12,840 that was a massive, loss and certainly they're not the 301 00:14:12,879 --> 00:14:14,759 same team without, Him but, again you got a guy 302 00:14:14,799 --> 00:14:16,919 like aj you just give him the ball and get 303 00:14:16,919 --> 00:14:18,840 out of the way at. TIMES i think he's. Tremendous 304 00:14:18,879 --> 00:14:21,200 So West virginia knows it's got a hands full coming 305 00:14:21,279 --> 00:14:24,799 up On. Saturday indeed it. 306 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: Could it could have as hands full depending on WHICH 307 00:14:27,799 --> 00:14:31,639 byu basketball team shows. Up The jaquelin hyde is WHAT 308 00:14:31,759 --> 00:14:36,600 byu fans are concerned, about as they they kind of 309 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,360 instorts the regular season finish line and no game is, 310 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,120 Given no dubs are easy in The Big. Twelve how 311 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,639 would you describe The Big twelve thus far this? 312 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 3: SEASON i just think it's. FANTASTIC i, think you, know 313 00:14:49,039 --> 00:14:51,120 every year That West virginia has been in this, league 314 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,559 it's been one of the best, leagues if not the 315 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,120 best league In, america AND i think that's that's absolutely 316 00:14:56,159 --> 00:14:59,159 true this. YEAR i think the influx of freshman talent 317 00:14:59,639 --> 00:15:02,600 is just off the charts when you talk about each, 318 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,320 night when you go into these, games the talent is 319 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,399 so incredibly. Good And West virginia has seen that all 320 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,080 throughout the. Season so this will be our first look 321 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,000 AT Aj BUT i think this is as good a 322 00:15:12,039 --> 00:15:13,679 league as there is In, america AND i think this 323 00:15:13,759 --> 00:15:16,000 is one of the best years that The Big twelve 324 00:15:16,399 --> 00:15:18,799 has had talent wise over the last few. 325 00:15:18,879 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 2: Years, yeah it's been fun to watch a lot of 326 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:26,840 stars in this in this. League As Brett yormark likes 327 00:15:26,879 --> 00:15:31,320 to stay the celebritization of The Big. TWELVE i, mean 328 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,559 it's a it's player and the entertainment that he's bringing 329 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,799 in to The Big twelve for The Big twelve. 330 00:15:36,559 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 3: Tournament, Right, YEAH i can't wait for that. Tournament can 331 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:40,919 you imagine how good that's going to be with all 332 00:15:40,919 --> 00:15:42,919 these teams up and down the. LIST i, mean you 333 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,679 just talked about A ucf comes on the road and 334 00:15:44,759 --> 00:15:48,159 gets that win over OVER. Byu you look at the 335 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,679 last three. Games West virginia's just had last Place utah 336 00:15:50,799 --> 00:15:53,120 roles in here and Beat West virginia at. Home SO 337 00:15:53,159 --> 00:15:55,519 i think those are there's a lot of coin flip 338 00:15:55,559 --> 00:15:57,399 games and then there's a lot of heavyweights going at. 339 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,360 It SO i think the Tournament Kansas city is going 340 00:15:59,399 --> 00:15:59,519 to be. 341 00:15:59,519 --> 00:16:03,759 Speaker 2: Awesome give me a little a breakdown of what you 342 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,480 think THIS Byu West virginia game will look like coming 343 00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:07,919 up here On. 344 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 3: Saturday, Well i'm hopeful it's, Close. BEN i hope we 345 00:16:11,519 --> 00:16:14,440 get to see a good college basketball, game and if we, 346 00:16:14,519 --> 00:16:16,480 DO i think you can tell. EARLY i think it's 347 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:18,960 one of those we saw this Against Oklahoma state In West. 348 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,759 Virginia if it comes out and there's a lot of 349 00:16:20,759 --> 00:16:24,200 points being. SCORED i think that's ADVANTAGE. Byu if it 350 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,080 comes out and it's clunky and it's, ugly and it looks, 351 00:16:27,159 --> 00:16:30,159 junkie and there's some turnovers and it's a slow pace, 352 00:16:30,279 --> 00:16:33,240 GAME i think that bodes well For West. Virginia ross 353 00:16:33,279 --> 00:16:35,759 often tells this team that it's okay if it gets 354 00:16:35,759 --> 00:16:38,080 in the, mud that we're comfortable playing in the. Mud 355 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,960 AND i think that's that's part of Why West virginia 356 00:16:41,039 --> 00:16:43,080 or How West virginia has to. Win SO i think 357 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,080 you'll be able to see early what the pace looks. 358 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,320 Like we Know BYU's gonna want to get out and 359 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:49,320 get up and down the. Floor West virginia's going to 360 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,200 want to be the exact. Opposite so whichever team can 361 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,720 control that pace and impose its will on the, other 362 00:16:55,039 --> 00:16:57,440 that's who's ultimately going to win this. Game so if 363 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,480 You're West, virginia if you're A West virginia, fan you're 364 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:00,080 looking for an. 365 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 2: Game believe it or, not then, hey beautifully, UGLY i 366 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,839 can still win you basketball. Games it can still win 367 00:17:07,279 --> 00:17:09,880 a lot of sporting events for a respective. Team so 368 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,519 hopefully it's a good. One we appreciate you hopping on 369 00:17:13,559 --> 00:17:14,759 to let us get to know the. 370 00:17:14,799 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 3: Foe. 371 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,319 Speaker 2: Brad what's the best way to support you what you, 372 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:18,559 do how you do it for all of our. 373 00:17:18,559 --> 00:17:21,559 Speaker 3: Listeners, yeah, THANKS i appreciate you. Asking probably the easiest 374 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:23,519 way you can keep up with me ON x At 375 00:17:23,559 --> 00:17:27,680 brad How howe zero seven and we put all our 376 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:31,279 stuff there podcast nightly show all the informations THERE byu 377 00:17:31,319 --> 00:17:33,519 fans ever want to learn more About West virginia and 378 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:35,640 we do the basketball, stuff we do the football, Stuff 379 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,480 we cover it, all so would welcome them. 380 00:17:37,519 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 2: ANYTIME a couple last things before we let you. Go 381 00:17:40,039 --> 00:17:42,039 who's the big twelve player that? Year do you think 382 00:17:42,079 --> 00:17:43,200 who you put your money on right? 383 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 3: Now that's a great, question ask me After saturday AFTER 384 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:47,720 i take a look AT, aj BUT i don't know 385 00:17:47,759 --> 00:17:50,359 how it's not going to be him and that discussion 386 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,079 and you, know super unfortunate THAT Jt topping went down 387 00:17:53,279 --> 00:17:55,720 like he, did But i'm going into. IT i look 388 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:57,559 at those numbers every week AND i just don't know 389 00:17:57,599 --> 00:18:00,799 how it can be anybody BUT. Aj right, NOW i 390 00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:02,039 think he's had a fantastic. 391 00:18:02,079 --> 00:18:04,279 Speaker 2: Season, yeah we'll see how it plays. 392 00:18:04,279 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 3: Out. 393 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 2: Brad we salute, You we appreciate you. Man thanks for 394 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:06,839 hopping on. 395 00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:09,039 Speaker 3: Today, okay, Anytime thanks for having. 396 00:18:09,079 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: Me that's Another folks segment brought to you By Central, Garage, 397 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:15,240 Utah Central Garage utah dot. Com, uh hop on a, 398 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,559 call shoot him at. Text kelly's gonna take care of 399 00:18:17,599 --> 00:18:20,839 you BIG byu. Fan he'd love to repair your garage 400 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,400 door or give you a new garage. Story he's not 401 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,359 gonna take advantage of. You he's going to give you 402 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,400 the right price and do the right. Work, okay never gouging, 403 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:31,839 you especially when you need a. 404 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:33,599 Speaker 3: Repair he. Doesn't he's an. 405 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,599 Speaker 2: Honest and forthright individual. Life he's done work at my 406 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,160 house multiple. TIMES i think you're gonna love the way 407 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,079 that they. Operate EIGHT o one six oh four two 408 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:43,880 nine one. Nine that's eight one six oh four two 409 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,000 nine one nine That Central, Garage, Utah Central, Garage utah Dot. 410 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,759 Com let's take a time. Out uh and Uh we're 411 00:18:49,799 --> 00:18:50,759 we're gonna welcome in