Speaker 1: What coaches are really saying during their press conferences. Well,
Ben Kribtle is here. They'll break it all down in
a reading between the Line segment. Ben breaks down the
latest sound from BYU coaches and players right now on
Cougar Sports.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports one of three nine ninety eight
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BYU Basketball, Ronald, you guys had a great pregame show.
Speaker 3: I know you watch the game.
Speaker 2: How would you describe the win over Kansas State on
the road, first win on the road in Big twelve play.
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's exactly what I expected it to be. I
expected aj de Bounce to get roughed up a little bit.
Now he's still dropped twenty four, because that's what a
future number one NBA pick does, right Ben.
Speaker 5: They still able to find ways to still score.
Speaker 4: But it wasn't as maybe flashy as you thought, and
it wasn't just Agent. I think the entire team struggled.
And I said this in the pregam. Let guys like
Richie and Rob play through the physicality in KP and
I felt like for the most part, Robin, I felt
like Richie were able to do that. AJ took some adjustment,
even Canard it took some adjustment. But the guys that
had been around you could tell, and ajs He did
have seven turnovers, and I expect that. I expected aj
to have a rough game. I think of pressure not
scoring the basketball. But look, I say eighty five to
seventy five, those eighty three seventy three, I think by
he was gonna win comfortable enough but I felt like
their defense was really gonna hold it down and live
in Kansas State from the three, and I'm glad that
they were able to do that. I really thought that
basher Ben, he's one of the best shooters in the
country and in the Big twelve, was gonna give it
to him a big time in the second half because
they shoot forty percent from three. But to me, I
think it was Bau's defensive efforts and their offensive rebounding.
Like Kia kid is a monster been and you see
what it's like having him in the pain and missing
him and then be to his presence of not allowing
people to get to the basket.
Speaker 5: They made PJ.
Speaker 4: Haggerty do a lot of work. He wasn't able to
pass the ball. They were in passing lanes. Kansas State
turned the ball over a bunch as well. I really
thought it was Bau's rebounding and defense. That's what it
came down to. I think that allowed them to win
this game. And by the way, first time being in
the eleventh meeting of the teams that the road team
has won, so every other win was by the home team, byus,
the first to get that done in this matchup with
Kansas State.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so look, double ten BYU overcame nineteen turnoffers. That
was the negative here to beat Kansas State on the road.
But gritty, todacious effort in the second half. Once again
the second half team showing up, showing out eighty three
to seventy three at the bram Lodge the Coliseum on Saturday.
We'll get in some sounds here, but soundbites here, but
keepa Kanna notched his second double double the season with
a career high sixteen rebounds eleven points, going four four
from the field. The product out of Molly and Mally
native was also adding two blocks. Mean Hilo Bucket Viitch
made two three pointers for the first time this season.
Looked like he's trending in the right direction. The senior
finished with nine points on three of five shooting, along
with three rebounds, one assist, one block, one stealing a
partridge in a pair three. Freshman aj A de Bonsa
le Bau with twenty four points, extending a streak of
double figure scoring in every game this season. De Bonsa
also tali an eight rebounds, three assistan and three steals.
Speaker 3: He's the leading scorer I.
Speaker 2: Believe in the NC double A now averaging a lot
of points per game. I'll pull that up, that stat
up here momentarily. Even with a season nine nineteen turnovers,
the Cougars outshot the Wildcats forty four point four percent
to forty one point eight percent, out rebounded them forty
seven to thirty five, and out blocked six to two,
and out assist at seventeen fifteen, led by Cata and
de Bonsa Bilia match a season high forty seven rebounds,
producing twenty second chance points. You gotta love that. Let's
get into some sound bites. Kevin Young, agent of Bonsa Kebakeda,
addressing the media post game, what did you like most
about your team's performance Saturday on the road.
Speaker 6: Just I'm not trying to be like a smart We're
just winning, Like finding a way to win a conference
game on the road. You know, this is his first
go at it, and that was the most impressive thing.
Now obviously you know it was. It was a game
for us that went out really a high turnover team.
But I give Kansas State credit they had They were
coming in super physical and the only way we were
able to gate that was our offensive rebounding and so
That's probably what I'm the most proud of outside just
getting to win is we talk a lot about offensive rebounding,
and that was the way we were able to negate
call from the ball up nineteen times.
Speaker 2: Hey, finding a way to win, Ronnie. They you don't
always do it prettily, you know this aesthetically pleasingly, but
they get it done. They'll find a way. So if
you're playing this way, you're winning this way. Now you
gotta imagine when you're trending in the right Hopefully you're
trending in the right direction. You're healthy, you're strong, your
nurse and strengthened in February, and you're playing your best ball.
This seems like it could be the year in which
BYU becomes a Final four team and they get that
monkey off their back the most NCAA appearances without a
Final Four appearance.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think in order to get that done, it's
gonna be like, you know, the defense, but they're turning
the ball over a ben that's not gonna look. I
don't want to like jump to just being super negative
at all because I feel like, ugh, the way that
they turn the ball over with the pressure Granne was
on the road. But if you do that against the
Houstons to Iowa States, oh man, it's gonna get really ugly.
But look, I really think a big factor was adjusting
to the pressure. And I think the ten to eleven
days off is really what I'm chalking it up to be.
I don't think when they play Arizona State in two
days and when they play Utah on Saturday, that's going
to be the case.
Speaker 5: But yeah, final four still in the running.
Speaker 4: And when you play a league defense like that being
you saw Houston, right, even if you're not hitting shots,
if you're able to take away shots and still play
your game, that's how you're better win a national chatole
and get to a final four.
Speaker 2: Yes, aj De Bonsa, how would you describe your first
Big twelve game?
Speaker 3: Was it as physical as you expected it to be?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 5: Definitely.
Speaker 7: Coach with Tam is gonna be way more physical than
our non conference games. And I mean, y'all see the
first hand. Seven tone overs unacceptable for me. I think
they're getting into my body a little bit. But you know,
I'm a wisdom in the weight room. I'm gonna get stronger.
We will continue our practice and I'm gonna be better
in the future.
Speaker 3: Gonna be better in the future.
Speaker 2: Now, Roddy, the physicality of it you mentioned, I think
in our text, threat look like he's he's getting bodied
up a little bit.
Speaker 3: You can't.
Speaker 2: You're not gonna get all the calls that you got
maybe a non conference play. What was your analysis of
what was occurring on the floor, No calls, just letting
him play through that contact.
Speaker 4: I love it, Ben, I like physical contact in general.
I mentioned that in the opening segment. I like basketball
when they let them play on and I think that's good.
I think AJ can't expect to get the NBA shots
of I go up, oh, hit on the arm and
jack up a shot like, it's not gonna work.
Speaker 5: Like you gotta play through that. You gotta look the.
Speaker 4: Big twelve basketball of the physicality being is playoff basketball.
Speaker 5: In the NBA.
Speaker 4: No one plays basketball been through the regular season. I
guarantee I should ask Kevin Young this. But when you
get to the playoffs, it's physical, it's clamped down. So
it is just preparing to play basketball.
Speaker 6: Ben.
Speaker 4: You know next year around this time, you know when
he gets towards the playoff season, So it's it's good
for him. It's gonna be great. I think he's gonna
be an overcome it. And this goes back to your point.
He might need to work start working on that explosive step.
He might need to start working on when he gets
the ball ripping and going and getting a little bit quicker.
Because the Big twelve has elite athletes from one through five,
they can switch it. They can match it up. At
Kansas State did a great job. I thought Jerome Tangan
pressing BYU a little bit. I think it gave him
his issues, not as much as it did last year.
But yeah, no BAU struggle with the physicality. But again
I think they will adjust, and that was a good
win to have through you know, some adversity up and down.
He never felt like b Whatyu was out of the game,
but you felt like they could get pressured enough and
they lived up to it. But I love the physicality
and it just got to adjust as the rest of
the team canard all the guys that haven't had a
chance to really you know, play this. I thought robbing again,
Richie played great through the physical you know stretch of
the game when Kansas State really turned it on. But
AJ will learn how to do it, Ben, That's why
he's a great player. Kevin Young has mentioned that he
knows how to adjust to it. Did pick up some fouls,
but again, I thought he had a phenomenal second half
of basketball with the ball in his hands. And he's
gonna have to figure it out, Ben, because with the
lack of point guard depth, it's gonna be robing AJ
running the show.
Speaker 2: No doubt about it. And look, I like AJ bringing
the ball up. You can see he's got a fantastic handle.
I love his first step, his hesitation, He's he can
get to pretty much anywhere on the floor. But he's
gonna have to fight through that contact because I was
gonna get those calls. Hopefully he can persevere continue to
get bigger, faster, stronger during the season. Now, Keba keda
a career high sixteen rebounds. Man, he was impressive. Got
got into you on Saturday Saturday. Although we have seen
it before, what was special about this, uh this road
performance from you? Kena.
Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean just just wanted to win, you know,
I was just doing my job.
Speaker 5: Just want to say it to on physically.
Speaker 2: So yeah, you guys caught up with Keba with Blaine
Anderson and let's talk about status segment. How would you
describe Keba, his play, his personality right now, Ronnie.
Speaker 4: Very humble man is the guy that wants to just
like he said, it's at the tone and do the
dirty work. He's not going to go above and beyond
with the words and with the actions. He says, my
job is the block, rebound and then just throw me
a lot up here there.
Speaker 5: And that's what he does.
Speaker 4: Look, I think he had two goaltending calls, right, So
that's the guy. He doesn't care, but he wants to
play the physical and dirty work game and do it
and do it that way. Now, I need Rob to
not throw the ball over the backboard for Cable to
dunk the basketball.
Speaker 5: That can't happen. So this Ba team of it. There's
no high you can't throw it.
Speaker 4: Yes, actually you can if you can, if you throw
it to the backboard and out of bounds so the
guy can't catch it, that's called a turnover. Don't do
that anyway, back to the taskt and no. Kaba is
the guy that when you have a guy been that
enjoys like offensive line in football blocking or you know
a full back like kline that wants to just take
people out, that enjoys tackling, that enjoys the physical aspect
of the game, that thrives on it, that gets hyped
about it.
Speaker 5: You let Caba do that.
Speaker 4: Remember the Iowa State game when he turns up on him,
you know, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, dunking the ball. Like look,
I think that's who Kiba Kata is. Simple man, very
straight to the point. Not a lot of talking, just
about his action. But you better stat his paint or
he's gonna make you pay.
Speaker 2: Definitely gonna make you pay. I love his personality, I
really do. And I love the way he plays. Keby
Keta coach Coach Young, you held them to three three pointers?
Pretty impressive work on the perimeter. That's one of the
focuses of this offseason. What it's been their their previous
season low was five. How do you limit their makes
or how did you limit their makes on Saturday?
Speaker 3: Well?
Speaker 6: That was that was I mean, really it's too I
think this isn't rocket science, but it's like, can you
how do you guard Haggarty and how do you guard
the three point line? And sometimes those can be difficult
because you want to show him a crowd. You want
to put two on the ball and pick and roll,
but when you do those two things, you're successful to
giving up three. So I thought our guys did a
good job of kind of towing the line in our
in our mixing up our coverages and not helping too much.
He did a good he's a great player, and he
did a good job of drawing fouls. But you know,
to only let one guy hit any threes, I thought
was impressive. I mean, but sheher, that's a big time shooter,
you know, and so he was. He was the one
that was able to get some off. But I just
thought the attention to detail in terms of what we
were actually asking our guys to do relative to our coverages,
I thought was good.
Speaker 2: Look, Ronald, this is something you've hit on time and
time again over the last year when we were discussing
transfer portal acquisitions where the improvement needed to be ultimately
executed and effectuated. Coming off of that loss in the
NCAA tournament, you were just like, you hit it home,
Like we need better perimeter defense. We gotta go find length,
we gotta find athleticism, we gotta find those that have
the ability to close out and contest shots from the
perimeter and it looks like they went out got it. Man,
it's it's been impressive to see that translate into Big
twelve play.
Speaker 4: Yeah, it sucks because they're the guys that won't have
an opportunity to play this year. The Dawson Bakers and
they pickens. Those guys you know, have been the officially
been ruled out. Those guys can add to that. You know,
that's why you hate to see the mensa because they're
also versatile as well and what they can bring. But
that's what happens been at the end of the day
is you know, next man up, but they've gone out
and they gotten it. PJ was having a tough time
and this is how it is that twenty four points
that he got. He truly did earn Ben and Basher
the biggest reason he had a nightmare with them. Look,
no one else hit a three and he really struggled.
When you were able to take Canar, then throw Kaba
in the pick and roll and CABA's able to close
out and you know, press him really hard and blitz
him over the top and then gets back when Beato's
showing and going and getting back and he can't get
off a screen when you got Richie throwing a different body,
when you throw Rob in the mix of a little
bit of to you know, flash really quickly.
Speaker 5: He was really struggling. And I want to give credit
to Tim Fanning.
Speaker 4: I talked to Tim on our pregame show and Tim
said that he's a part of the defensive coverages and
helping Kevin Young do that. So tip of the cap
to Tim. Next time I see him, I got a
dab him up. But man, h from what Tim was
able to tell me, super competitive. Dude, havn't been in
the euro League been that experience. They did not let
Bashir get off and he still hit three threes. That's
how you know how deep that team is still for
Kansas State. But man, it was phenomenal. And they that's
what they're gonna do. They're gonna give the shooter on
the team been a nightmare. They're gonna let the guy
who's maybe the copete or you know, the PJ do
his thing because he's gonna just score. But the guy
that can really hurt you from beyond the arc, they're
gonna throw that guy at you. And I felt like
Canard kba AJ Ritchie Rob They all wore attention to
detail beat you, and they did not let them get
off and get their shots. And it was really tough.
They play like that, Ben, even with how bad they
turn the ball over.
Speaker 3: Though.
Speaker 4: You play like that and you don't let the shooters
the guys get off like that and you get more rebounds,
You're gonna win a lot of games in the Big
Twelve A J.
Speaker 2: The Bots, uh uh, we know Kansas State recruited you.
What was it like seeing some guys you've known before
in the handshake line post game?
Speaker 7: Yeah, it's fun. Obviously you want to compete against you know,
people you know. Obviously, when you step inteen Alliance, it's
a it's a different game. But I mean they're good people.
There was no like, there was no like bad energy.
It's just, you know, I want to get a win
and I just wanted to throw that.
Speaker 2: So AJ received an award in other awards, how many
I don't know. I'm wondering how many awards the Bonsas
has received thus far this season. He was named uh
the Big twelve Newcomer of the Week for the second time.
I don't know if he's got any other awards. Besides,
you know, the newcomer of the week twice now, but
congratulations with the six foot nine combo guard. I guess
he's he's a I guess he's a What is he
labeled as right now? I mean he's he's obviously a forward,
but he plays he's a point forward. Is that what
we're calling him right now? Is a point forward?
Speaker 3: Yeah?
Speaker 5: Point forward? I mean there's a lot of point forwards, but.
Speaker 2: Yes, okay, So the point forward aj to Ponza I
believe right now, isn't he leading the NC Double A
in scoring as well for the season.
Speaker 4: He is, this age of de Bonsa is leading the
NC double A and scoring, and that's why he's got
a shot to win the Player of the Year award.
Speaker 5: Ben, he has a legit shot to win the John
Wooding Award.
Speaker 4: Nation play like he is in the running for it,
and rightfully so this aj de Boncea and Ben. Again,
if you're having performances like that where you shoot eight
to fifteen, you have twenty four points, you do what
you're doing there, still.
Speaker 5: Got to get better at the cherity stripe. He's starting
to get stronger.
Speaker 4: But if you're able to do that, that is going
to help Elite raise BYU's level in the play because
it's a nightment of guard. And that's why I picked
Rob because Rob had a quiet eighteen bin Like no
one talks about Rob right eighteen quiet, but I feel
like that was the calm in the storm when Kansas
State made the push a three here getting down to
the basket. Here a free throw hill like Rob's critical
ball handing ability in late game situations. It's the best
trio in college basketball, the three headed Dragon, like pick
your scout like Richie, then have the best shooting date
and it still was a problem. So that's why I
think BYU is truly a tough matchup. And that's why
I'm excited to see the Iowa State game, the Houston
game when they get into the tournament. How do those
the league defensive teams match up, because AJ, Richie and
Rob are a nightmare. And you saw Kansas State. They
made pushes, but they just didn't have the bodies to
shut the three headed Dragon down.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: So aj' is number one, Deorg Johnson number two from
Tarlington State, but AJ's averaging twenty three point one points
per game. Cam Boozers at number three representing Duke you
know who's four or a tie for thirties.
Speaker 3: PJ. Haggerty.
Speaker 2: He's at twenty three points per game, So a number
of Big twelve players. Terrence Brown for the University of
Utah's at eleven with twenty one point eight as well
as I believe JT toppit he's at twenty one point
two per game. And then Cameron Carr Baylor is twenty
one points per game. So a couple of the Big
twelve stars showing up showing out in the top twenty five.
It's the most productive scores in college basketball. A couple
last things from this BYU basketball crew. Kevin A j
picked up his second foul, You shot him for a
little bit. What went into the decision to put him back?
And will you use that philosophy going forward?
Speaker 3: Yeah, No, it's a great question.
Speaker 6: I mean there's there's a lot of I think, especially
when I was in the NBA, a lot of studies
done on like how much that actually hurts you versus
helps you, and how much the guy actually fouls out
when he does get early fouls. So you know, I
think for the most part, I trust all of our
guys in that situation him in particular, I have a
lot of trust in him and in terms of his
his IQ for the game. So I told him, I'm
gonna sit you real quick. I'm gonna get you back in,
but just at all calls, don't get your third foul.
We were able to sub it even after that offensive defense,
which helped us.
Speaker 5: So I think.
Speaker 6: That's probably more where I lean than you know, just
totally sitting a.
Speaker 3: Guy, Your thoughts, your reaction to that.
Speaker 2: Ronald the three Man, It sounds like he's utilizing a
number of data points as well as his anecdotes to
make these strategic decisions in games.
Speaker 4: Yeah, this question was asked by a reporter that wasn't
at a game earlier, because remember ben I posted that
clip to your Twitter page of Crital Benjamin when they
played down at the Delta Center, and he says, I
do it every single time, like it was you know,
it was a media what is it? Another talent of
another radio network that had mentioned and asked him about, Hey,
what do you do with aj if he gets two
or three fouls like that against like I play him
every single time. Now I need to go find the
actual clip. But he says something on the lines of that.
So he's gonna rock with AJ every single time, rightfully,
So any trust that he's again said it there. AG's
a smart kid. You only have to tell him something
once and then he's gonna get it. So I expect
Kevin Young to do that more often than not. Looking
I'm gonna be honest, some people maybe listen to the
program might get upset about this, But if you're gonna
have a Tony Padilla ref the Iowa State or a
Houston game, AJ might get maybe three or four fouls,
this is gonna be Those are gonna be mucky, ugly
games Ben or games at the Big Twelve in general,
even without Tody Pidia being the official. It's a physical game,
it's a physical conference. This is not the first time
that I think AJ might be in foul trouble. But again,
this is all good for the team because when you
get to march Manders, you want to be testing every
type of way you want to be tested. With AJ
maybe in foul trouble on the bench, he's gonna have
to play through that.
Speaker 5: This is just better for his career.
Speaker 4: So this is not a bad thing for him to
pick up too early for Kevin Young to sub in
subout like that.
Speaker 5: Look he was celebrating Ben.
Speaker 4: If you watched the game, you know they got that
pass off of the and one and he's like throwing
the arm up there trying to get a time out
and he's running back to the bench. All of that
is strategic planning. But it's Kevin Young. It's his ro
buzz staff that he has staff. Excuse me, that he
has to be able to help him do that to
be able to get Aj back in the ballgame Ben
with like ninety seconds to get a bucket, then to
get him out of the game and not pick up
that third. Love what they did and how they managed that.
Speaker 2: Final thing from this this trio, Keba, you out rebounded,
you out rebounded by two and total rebounds. How much
of an emphasis emphasis was that? And how do you
feel like you guys did on the boards?
Speaker 1: Uh?
Speaker 5: Yeah, definitely wasn't emphasis.
Speaker 8: I mean trying to play harder than you know, the
other team every night. So yeah, I just wanted to
dominate the glass tonight. And yeah, then we did a
pretty good job.
Speaker 2: It's uh, it's fun to watch, like who's the who
do you love watching the most?
Speaker 3: On this squad.
Speaker 5: Right, such a tough question, you know what I.
Speaker 2: Mean, Like, it depends on what what you love about
hoop Right. If you love pure, unadulterated physical, explosive rebounding
and dunks and just just just just these physical specimens,
it's gotta be kava.
Speaker 3: Right. If you love the.
Speaker 2: Shaggy haired uh you know, Scooby Doode looking freaking top
king Richie Saunders that's running around like freaking Steph Curry
trying to find his shot, you know, playing phenomenal, relentless defense,
creative scoring, right, then you'll maybe love Richie. If you
love the most pure scorer in college basketball that gets
to his spots, makes you unbalanced, turn around, fade away,
you know his finishes or elite aj to bonsa like,
then you like the peer score a j. If you
love Rob Wright's quickness, he's like a freaking mongoose out.
I love watching Rob Wright. Like who do you love
the most? And entertainment wise, what do you love watching
this is?
Speaker 4: I mean, I look, I can't say everything I'm not
gonna do to Keilone.
Speaker 5: I like them all. I'm not gonna do that with
the pop.
Speaker 4: Tarts, but but hey, look it with viral college football.
Speaker 5: Yah, that's the questions.
Speaker 4: I really like, No, I bring you the serious point up,
ben I, and I'm like you, maybe. I like when
the game gets tough and when it gets close, and
who's the guy that could be mentally physically the toughest.
Who's the guy that turns the ball over and who
gets upset and who goes back and locks the dude
up and gets a foul at the other end and
gets up and gets the crowd hied. I like the
energy guy. I like the guy that likes to talk
to smacks, so you know who I'm kind of rocking with.
I like Kenard Davis Junior. I like the guy that's
gonna be like yo, you know what, Booty won't swear
on this network because we have kids listening is not
going anywhere. And I loved how he took butheer out
of the game. I loved how he got chess to
chess physical with him, stripped the ball with poking stuff
doing that. I just love that part of the game
in AJ because look, that's what's gonna come down to you.
Boi's not gonna win a national championship being in basketball
with making three pointers. They're gonna do it on the
defensive side. Look at every team that's won. Houston getting there,
it was their defense, Florida doing it. It was their defense.
Seattle Seahawks and they embarrassed Payton Manning. It was defense.
Look at what is Indiana football the Hoosias right now,
it's their defense, or going to be Texas Tech.
Speaker 5: What was it? It was their defense been.
Speaker 4: It's always comes down to the defensive side of the ball.
So as much as you may love the offense as
much as they want want to change the rule and
throw flags or give you foul calls when you stretch
for an end one dunk in the continuation role, I
don't care about none of that. I care about the
guy that locks the dodo up in the most critical
moment and is able to get a stop win in
matters most mowe mag against John Tong that won you
the basketball game, not a free throw attempt.
Speaker 5: That's what i'd been.
Speaker 2: I love it, man, great breakdown, Ronald the three man Weaver.
We were delving into all of the sound bites, all
of the Cougar bites after the fantastic performance from this
BYU mentioned basketball team on the road and so shout
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Let's talk about maybe some cougars in the pros coming
up next. A ball invites where is Chase Roberts going? Okay,
where where is he going to be? Invited to did
he did he get that Senior Bull invite that he
was seeking?
Speaker 3: Also, Pokin Nakua.
Speaker 2: Sets records, what type of records has he set this season?
And more that coming up next. This is Cougar Sports
on one O three nine, ninety eight point three ESPN
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Cougar's in the Pros? What's going on with Cougar's in
the pros? Or Cougar's heading to the pros? What's going
on with Chase Roberts? Has he accepted an invite to
his Senior Bowl? Which one is it? And Wiless also
talks in Pooka to Kua and the other questions. I'm
going to pose in this particular segment.
Speaker 3: Is Chase Roberts.
Speaker 2: Where will he end up in next year's NFL In
this year's NFL draft, is he a guy that's a
mid rounder? Is he a fifth, sixth, seventh rounder? His
productivity I think has been impressive. He's got great length,
he's got good athleticism, maybe even great athleticism.
Speaker 3: More now he's gonna test.
Speaker 2: Out and where he will be drafted and what position
will be drafted in. So we're gonna discuss that. It's
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Speaker 3: All right, let's get into it.
Speaker 2: Chase Roberts has accepted an invitation to the East West
Shrine Bull. Congratulations to Chase Roberts. Now this is the
not the Premier Senior Bowl. Okay, the Premier Senior Bowl
has been uh, it's formerly the Reese's Senior Bowl. I
think they have a new sponsor, and I'm honestly I
don't remember which sponsor it is.
Speaker 3: They just changed it this year.
Speaker 2: Anyway, that's the number one, right, they kind of get
first pick of the litter. East West Shrine bol not
too far behind them, and we never know what can happen,
like if Chase Roberts showcases well at the East West
Shrine Bowl.
Speaker 3: Sorry, say that again, Ronnie. The Panini Panini? Do you
like Panini's Yeah? I do, Yeah, yeah, yeah, Panini Senior Ball.
So that's yeah.
Speaker 5: I'm on to mic now.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I just picked it up. It change a now
sponsored by the Panine will take place.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it is it both? Is it the
Penie it bow?
Speaker 5: Yeah? Let me hold on you. I only read the first.
Speaker 2: The Panini Recent Senior or is it just is it
only the Penine.
Speaker 4: He says it right here at Yeah Senior Bowl? Yeah,
the Panini Senior Bow is the premier college football all
star yeam, the official first steps.
Speaker 5: Yeah, so that that's what it is.
Speaker 4: You've been changing to that now yep, okay, all right,
but you're right a new sponsor.
Speaker 2: Yeah, makes me hungry. I've been fasting all day. I've
only been having liquids and vitamins.
Speaker 4: You've been going to two days. You went yesterday and
now you're going today.
Speaker 3: You know it makes me want to go get a panini. Uh.
Speaker 2: Anyway, So he's going to the East West Shrine Bowl.
Congratulation Chase Roberson. Now he could ball out at the
East West Shrine and end up in the Senior Bowl.
Speaker 3: Like we've seen that before. That could happen again.
Speaker 2: But Chase Roberts, we discussed this is Chase Roberts an
NFL wide receiver.
Speaker 3: What do you think?
Speaker 2: Do you think he's an NFL wide receiver?
Speaker 3: Yes? Or no? Why or why not?
Speaker 5: Yes? I do think he is an NFL wide receiver.
Now what level? That's a different conversation. But to answer
the question, yes, he is.
Speaker 4: The body size, the playmaking ability, the chance to get
up the top speed. Remember that West Virginia game where
he ruins across the guy on a slant or like
maybe a skinny post more been You'll correct me if
I'm wrong, catches it and almost goes to the house.
Speaker 3: Like he was.
Speaker 4: It took a lot for that dB to track Chase down,
and Chase got up the full speed. So he's a
guy that can hit his head on the goalpost, no doubt.
I mean the big body, size, the red zone, thread ability,
there are some things that you know, maybe he can
struggle with maybe at times, but for the most part, overall,
I think Chase is now what that means. He's a
six or seventh round guy. He's a practice squad guy,
chases a guy that can play I believe at the
next level, and I believe that he will for sure.
I think his body size and his pass catching ability
is able to do that.
Speaker 5: You can use chess in a lot of ways, no doubt.
Speaker 2: You look at his height, you look at his weight,
six four two ten, big body, and I pulled up
in the past.
Speaker 3: Chase Roberts Sparks.
Speaker 2: Score and he was to my surprise. Actually I didn't
know he was this athletic.
Speaker 3: Now he didn't.
Speaker 2: He didn't blow you away with his uh his forty
time at the time coming out of high school. But
he's gotten a lot faster since then. I think he's
gonna be a legitimate four to five guy NFL draft scout,
I believe prognosticated that he'll be running a four five
four And if you pull up Pooka Nakua.
Speaker 3: Now there're two different types of players.
Speaker 2: But you know, Pooka is more of a football player
than he is a track guy. And you know what
I mean at Pooka, I think Ran I want to
say at his pro day, I don't even know if
he got an invite. I don't think he got an
invite to the the Combine. Didn't get an invite to
the Combine.
Speaker 5: No, I don't think he did.
Speaker 2: But Ran, I want to say, in the four to
five range, you know, four to five range. Uh, and
so you're if you're there, great, grand wonderful. But Chase,
this is where he he differentiates himself. Four point zero
seven twenty yard shuttle. He had a thirty six inch vertical.
He had a power throw of forty one. His overall
Spark rating was one hundred and twenty, which essentially is
like one of the best in the country. He was
like a top ten Sparks score. It could have been
even better than that because the top score was a
one to twenty point three to three. That was Brandon Specter.
That produced a one to twenty point three three so
so athletically the tangibles uh the length right, So Puka, Yeah,
Puka ran a four to five to six. So if
Chase is right in there, I think we're fine. His
pro agility is route running, being able to get in
and out of routes is what Chase. How Chase is
getting a differentiate himself. Now, I will say I was
a little disappointed this season and even last year. He's
got to catch more footballs that are contested. What does
Puka do that? I mean, look, he's Puka's the best
receiver in the NFL right now, in my opinion. Puka
catches every contested ball. It seems you could be draped
on him, you could have an arm inside, you could
get hands on first, and he rips it away from you.
Pooka is one of the best, if not the best,
contested catching receivers in in the NFL right now, and
he may go down as one of the best ever
in the NFL quite honestly, if he stays healthy.
Speaker 3: Knock on Woods, shout out to Pooka.
Speaker 2: But I truly believe that Chase Roberts is an NFL
wide receiver now if Puka went in the fifth round,
if Austin Colly went, I believe in the fourth round,
and Dax Milne went.
Speaker 3: I believe in the seventh.
Speaker 2: I believe Todd Watkins also went in the sixth or
seventh round. Where does Chase Roberts end up in this
next year's NFL draft? Where you leaning right now? Remember
Austin Colly all the time? BYU great? You feel like
Puka was completely undervalued and he's been the most valuable
draft pick from that draft class. You could make that
argument definitely the best roy. Where do you think Chase
Roberts ends up?
Speaker 4: You're gonna he's gonna have to test better, Ben, But
I think seventh round.
Speaker 5: I think that's what you're looking at. I think a
seventh round guy.
Speaker 4: It's a guy that if he'd got over a thousand
yards you could maybe book the seventh round a little
bit more. But I think that's gonna be tough. I
think that's gonna be the highest I think that he
gets drafted. I think, like you said, the too many
drops on tape this year that really hurt, not catching
like that tough contest to pass against Texas Tech. I
know people are always like you're pinning chasing Darius against
each other. No, you have to make those type of
catches to be at the next level. Again, you bring
up Pooka. I mean, look, go back and look at
not the last A game, but the game before. It
was a dart thrown. Pooka had a knee on the
ground of the dude's all draped over him, and he
still catches the football.
Speaker 5: Chase doesn't have that ability yet.
Speaker 4: Maybe he can develop it a little bit more so
seventh round bin if not undrafted free agent. I feel
that's what it is. Puoka was hurt and he got
moved down to the fifty. He should have probably been
a third. Dax Mill was a seventh right and you
see what he's done. So I think Chase is at
best seven. They're not undraft a free agent, but I
still think he has an opportunity to play at the next.
Speaker 2: Level, no doubt about it.
Speaker 3: So well, well, I'm right there with you.
Speaker 2: I think fifth to seventh round, depending on how he
tests out. If he runs a low four five, if
he comes in at two hundred and twenty pounds and
he's still at like seven percent body fat and he's
just looking ripped to shreds. He's gonna get in and
out of his brakes, Like I could see him going
as high as fifth round. He's a good blocker on
the premter Like, how many times this is kind of
a funny commentary. How many times did we see over
the last three years Chase Roberts blocking downfield and LJ.
Martin running into him, like fifty yards downfield.
Speaker 4: Bro running into his back, just taking him out friendly
fire edge is like, I don't care who's there, I'm
gonna run him over. That happens twice bro this season
and I both know bro ICU Portland State.
Speaker 2: He's a great blocker. Man, He's out there putting his
body on the line. I can't tell you how scary
it is. It really is like you're blocking down field
and you know the running backs running up on your booty,
and you're like, I could get rolled up on.
Speaker 3: I could have an ACL tear.
Speaker 2: I could have an MCL tear because those.
Speaker 3: Running backs they don't care. Man, this run right into you.
It's a scary ordeal.
Speaker 2: And I used to kind of look back, I'd engage,
I'd feel like I'd get it locked in. I'd kind
of look behind me and start like kind of high
stepping a little bit because you kind of feel the pressure,
but sometimes you don't even know what's coming anyway. Jase
Roberts baller, I think he goes fifth to seventh round.
I do believe he gets drafted, even with his missionary
agent all those things. I think he's gonna test out well.
I don't know where he's training at. I'll try to
get confirmation on that. But let's talk Pooka Nakua here.
Speaker 3: For a moment. I mentioned it.
Speaker 2: Pooka Nakua is uh? I mean, look, me and Gurney.
Gurney and I have have debated for a long time.
Speaker 5: Who's here we go?
Speaker 2: And I've always said to Austin Colley, if Austin Khalley
would have stayed healthy, he would have had a similar
same trajectory.
Speaker 3: And I still feel that way.
Speaker 2: I do think that Austin Colley's staying healthy and not
under experiencing so many concussions that he could have been
on the same similar trajectory to that of Pukinnakua. Remember,
he was leading the NFL in touchdowns and receptions and yards.
Speaker 3: I mean he was.
Speaker 2: He was also being fed by one of the greatest
quarterbacks and be in NFL history Peyton Manning as is
Pookinakua right now. He's Matt Stafford, one of the best
talents to come through the NFL in a long time,
and I think an eventual Hall of Famer. But Pukinakua
could be considered the offensive player of the year. He
is so high on his success rate, totally EPA added
success rate. When you target him, he doesn't drop it,
He goes up and gets it. One handed grabs, two
handed grabs. He's made some of the craziest catches. So
Brandon Gurney is winning the argument right now, and I
hate it.
Speaker 3: Shout out to Brandon Gurney.
Speaker 2: But Jackson Smith, Najeeba and and uk oh, yeah, what
is it again? Hardy Jigma, Uh and Puka ended with
almost identical stats this season, by the way, one hundred
and sixty three targets for Jackson, one hundred and sixty
six for Puka, one and twenty nine yards for Jackson.
Pukina had eight hundred and twenty and then Jackson had
ten touchdowns and Puka had eleven.
Speaker 3: Shout out to him.
Speaker 2: Like just a crazy uh, it's a career year for
Puka this year, one hundred and twenty nine receptions. Just insane,
just insane, and they were so efficient. Some of the
best catches in the NFL came at the hands of
Puka Nakua and Uh. He passed Hall of Famer Randy Moss,
one of my favorite receivers all time, for the second
most receiving yards by a player in their first three
seasons in NFL history. Just an insane number. And Randy
Moss is a way different wide receiver than Puka. Randy
Moss was like a four too forty long lean athletic
from a linear standpoint right, and so to be able
to produce the amount of yards that Pooka is producing
from the slot, that's an insane number. And remember Austin
Colly was producdinghim insane numbers two from the slot when
he was in his heyday, when he was at his
peak in the NFL playing for the Colts. Pooka Nakua
joined Michael Thomas, Uh and Ammon Ross Saint Brown as
the only players in NFL history with at least five
receptions and thirty five games in their first three seasons
as well.
Speaker 3: Just insane.
Speaker 2: Pookinacua hit three hundred and sixty four point eight Fantasy
points on the season, passing Jackson Smith as well for
the most buy wide receiver He's wide receiver won this
year on points on All Your PPF League. Pokin Aku
is the sixth player in NFL history to have one
hundred and twenty five plus receptions ten plus receiving touchdowns
in the seasons. He joins Jamar Chase in twenty twenty four,
Seed Lamb in twenty twenty three, Cooper Cup in twenty
twenty one, Antonio Brown in twenty fourteen and fifteen, as
well as Marvin Harrison in two thousand and two. It's
an insane career trajectory. And he's still on his rookie
contract for one more year.
Speaker 3: Can you believe that, Roddie?
Speaker 4: Yeah, And he's about the extended this offseason. He about
to get the bag. He about to get paid this offseason.
Speaker 2: Well, I think he's got one more year of his
rookie contract, right.
Speaker 5: Yeah, but your deal. But I can't they They can
do it though a year before.
Speaker 3: I can't think.
Speaker 5: I don't know how he's contracy.
Speaker 4: We can have doctor Brady. We talked to Brady Butpina.
But anyway, the point is it's phenomenal to do this
on a rookie deal. Ben, and you mentioned a bunch
of the numbers and the fantasy points of passing Jack
Jackson Smith and Jig bug In.
Speaker 5: You know that who that guy was.
Speaker 4: That guy was a third string on the Ohio State
when they beat Utah in the Rolls Bowl. That's how
deep Wild State's wide receiver room missed. So that gives
more credit to Puka. You're out performing that guy who
was a five star who became a wide receiver number one. Anyway,
the point has been I think this Offensive Player of
the Year is gonna come down to one game.
Speaker 5: You know what game is gonna be. It's gonna be when.
Speaker 4: The Seahawks take on the Los Angeles Rams January eighteenth,
because I got the Rams beating the Panthers this Saturday
at two thirty pm on Fox. That's what it's gonna
come down to. Whoever wins that game, whatever team it is,
and especially if the players show up and ball out,
which I think they will. But if the Rams defeat
the Seahawks to go to the NFC Championship Bend, which
they came up short last year. I think Sean McVay
will get that right. If they do that yet alone
get to the Super Bowl. There's no doubt in my
mind that Pooka na Coole will be the offensive Player
of the year. Those type of things matters. Performances like that,
They count those wins even if you're not a quarterback.
So I think that's what is gonna come down to.
Puka and Jackson will play not necessarily against each other,
but against the opposing defenses next week if the Rams
win this week, and I think that's what is gonna
come down to.
Speaker 3: Love that breakdown.
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I want to address the transfer portal. How many guys
from BAU have entered the portal and how many are
currently predicted to commit to BYU that are currently in
the portal from other schools that coming up next, Cougar
in cider Port, don't miss it. This is Cougar Sports
on one oh three nine ninety eight point three is