Speaker 1: So on k O v O probo k U d
d H D two one O three nine at ninety
eight three ESPN The Band stream us live on ESPN
Theban dot Com. Get to know the Cougar's opponents and
rivals right now. I gonna know the faux segment on
Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cruger Sports. One of three nine ninety eight
point three ESPN The Fan.
Speaker 3: I'm Ben Crittle broadcasting from our Vanderwealth studios Mandterwealth dot Com.
Get on a free Q and A no obligation to
invest Q and A with our tax mart Wealth Advisors.
It's getting towards tax season. Why not invest with the
best and save money on your taxes. They'll combine forces
with your CPA at Vanderwealth to uh make sure you're
keeping more of that money.
Speaker 2: Rather than giving it all to Uncle Sam.
Speaker 3: It is time to get to know the voue b
YU versus U of a matchup the Wildcats versus the Cougars.
That's right down in Tucson, Ky.
Speaker 2: He says his backs against the wall, the backs against
the rope.
Speaker 3: He's gonna find a way to rally his troops that
have been decimated by injury.
Speaker 2: Well, guess what. The U A Watcats are also down
a few key players, including there. Maybe they're arguably the
best player co Pete.
Speaker 3: We'll see if the personnel is equivalent in this game
down in Tucson. Tucson is a tough place to play.
Michel is a tough place to get dubs. But U
of A has lost some games recently. They need to
find a way to win. It's gonna be a tough one.
Note doubt about it. This know the faux segment gonna
be brought to you by rubisnrubies in dot com. I
love to hike, bike razor and horseback ride through the
hooters of Bryce Cannon. I love staying at Ruby's In
right at the mouth, right at the aperture of Bryce
Cannon National Park. I love making memories with friends and
family members. I think you will as well head them
down to Bryce Cannon National Park and make sure you're
staying at Ruby's In.
Speaker 2: They got and all you can eat breakfast.
Speaker 3: They have comfortable lodgings, they got a gym, they got
heated pool and Dracouzzi everything that you need for a
great time. Much more economical than heading to the mouse
as well. Rubies and Rubies end cops stay there today,
Let's get out to the hot line. Brian Jefferies is
on the live voice of the Arizona Wild Guys. Brian,
how that are you?
Speaker 4: Ben?
Speaker 5: Doing very well?
Speaker 4: How about you?
Speaker 3: I'm leaving the dream Man, talking ball and having a
great time. We're getting a ton of snow, pull a
ton of moisture, much needed moisture. The Byau Cougar basketball
team is probably enjoying some of the beautiful weather there
at Tucson, though I'm an Arizona boy, I know what
it's like at tucsad this time of the year.
Speaker 5: Yeah, it's sunny, it's not quite as warm as normal
right now. We've got a little cold front moving in,
but it's in the sixties. Nice day, a little breeze outside,
So no complaints at all. It's our high season, as
you know, and we're going to enjoy it as long
as we've got.
Speaker 3: It, no doubt about it. What is the state of
u of a basketball right now?
Speaker 2: Brian?
Speaker 5: Well, you know they ran off to a twenty three
and oh start, best started in school history, and then
got beat at Kansas again. You know that's a tough
place to play, tough place to win if you're a
visiting team and came back home and then lost to
Texas Texas past Saturday, and think that one kind of
you know, put a little shock into everybody because it
was a home game number one. Although Arizona was shorthanded,
especially in the second half of that ballgame, I think
most people figured that they could, you know, somehow figure
out a way to do it. They couldn't. And you
give the Red Raiders all the credit in the world
for getting the way. And so, you know, back to
back losses now, and when teams go through this, when
you get off to a great start and then you
lose a couple of games, how do you rebound from that?
And I think that's going to be one of the
big questions for the Wildcats tonight and going forward, depending
on the health of the team starting tonight and going forward.
Speaker 3: Yeah, what is the health of the team right now?
Why is co Pete sitting out this one?
Speaker 5: Well, I'll start before I mentioned Cole, I'll mention Dwayne Aristode,
who was in their rotation. He did not play against
Texas Tech. He will not play tonight. It's a illness.
It's not anything, no broken bones or anything, but he
will be out two games and we'll see about Saturday
when the Wildcats go to Houston Cole Pete. His right
leg has been bothering here the last week or so.
In m Kansas, they got a little bit worse during
the first half of the Texas Tech game, so he
sat out the second half and that was obviously a
big factor in Arizona's loss, and he will not play tonight.
I don't the plans are right now that he does
not go with the team on this road trip coming
up to Houston and Baylor, and they're going to kind
of reassess things after he has some time to, you know,
sit back and get arrest. The doctors are taking a
closer look at it to see if there's anything more.
But you know, without him, he was their top recruit
coming in. He averages fourteen points five rebounds a game,
and you know, it's tough to take a guy like
that out of the lineup, and they hope that they
can get him back here sometime soon because I think ultimately,
when you look at the big picture, Arizona needs to
have him if they want to get to where they
want to go.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it look BYU's been devastated by injury this year.
Speaker 2: I don't know if they've ever experienced anything like this.
Speaker 3: Has you ay or experienced attrition down the stretch that
has impacted maybe NCAA tournament runs and and conference championship runs.
Speaker 5: Well, I can. Yeah, there's always going to be seasons
that you've got injuries you have to deal with. You know,
last year Arizona Los mol Crevas, they're starting center eight
games into the season, and you know, they had designed
their entire offense really around him at seven foot two,
and they had to make some mid season adjustments. They
were able to do so, but that hurt big time.
They didn't get to the Sweet sixteen last year, but
I think without him that made an impact. And you
can go back over the years and find situations like that.
We were just last week celebrating the twenty fifth anniversary
of the two thousand and one Final four team, and
you know, they had an injury to Gilbert Arenas. They
made it to the Final four and they had beaten
Michigan State in the semi finals.
Speaker 4: Gilbert A Renas.
Speaker 5: Got hurt the day between games. He couldn't even shoot
his shoulder hurt so bad, and he just wasn't very
effective against Duke and the championship game, and the boot
Devils won it and won the National Championship. So you know,
who knows if he would have been healthy, maybe Arizona
one would have won the Natty that year. So yeah,
you can go back and find I think key injuries
anytime that can affect a season, and those are just
a couple of examples that have hit Arizona here both
lately and twenty five years back.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's always tough to fight through it.
Speaker 4: All.
Speaker 3: Things were getting competitive right now. How would you describe
the Big twelve?
Speaker 2: Brian?
Speaker 3: You've seen a lot of great basketball over your time
as the voice there down there with in Tucson representing
the UVA Wildcatch. How competitive, how good, how talented? How
well coach are these Big twelve teams?
Speaker 4: Well?
Speaker 5: This is an incredible conference. And you know, when Arizona
joined the Big twelve last year, that's one thing we
were looking forward to. I was looking forward to because
even though I grew up around the Pac twelve my
entire life, the Pac ten before that, I think I
was born when it was the Pac eight. Not to
give away anything. But you know, it was a kind
of a jolt of the system to change conferences all
of a sudden at this point. But when it comes
to basketball, you could make the argument that the Big
twelve is the best in the country. And you just
take a look at the teams right now. You know, Houston, Arizona,
Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU and even on the
fringe there UCF, you know, maybe even West Virginia teams
that might have a chance to get into the tournament.
It's just incredibly competitive. It's a very physical conference. Going
on the road I think is very difficult. The venues
are tough to play in. You mentioned coming to McHale, obviously,
going to the Marriott Center, you go back to fog Allen,
you go to Houston. You could go almost anywhere and say,
how do you win on the road in this conference?
And that is a real key if you're going to
win the league. You got to figure out a way
to win away from home. So it's I so far,
I really enjoyed it because I love being in atmospheres
like that where you know the games, you don't know
the outcome of the game, and I think in the
Pac twelve. There was a point there where there were
half the stops that you made where you thought, Okay,
you're going to win and usually did. It's not that
way in the Big twelve. So very tough, very physical,
very demanding. I think on every team.
Speaker 3: Brian Jeffries here on your Utah ESPN ready to never
get in prep getting ready for that BYUU of a
matchup tonight should be a good one, should be a
competitive one. The voice of the Aarson a Lodcat Sockets
and Ball Right now, what is it that has led
to some of the losses experience? Like, how do you
describe the sequence of events that led to some of
these ls recently?
Speaker 5: Well, I would get I'm going to give Kansas most
of the credit for the game back in Lawrence. I mean,
that's an outstanding program, as I said, And you guys
know this. You know winning and fog Allen is very
difficult for any team. They rarely lose at home. They
were without Darren Peterson, their best player in the ball game.
Nobody knew that until right before tip off. He had
flu problems and so he decided to set out and
sometimes when that happens, you know the other guys say, okay,
well we got to step up, and they got some
great help from some people that you know, may not
have had that big a role so far in the season.
And Kansas is also an outstanding defensive team and that's
probably the biggest key there. They really took Arizona out
of its game. The Wildcats, you know, lead the Big
twelve in free throw attempts and free throws made. They
like to get the ball in the paint, they draw fouls,
they get to the free throw line. Kansas defended without fouling,
and so to their credit, they took one of Arizona's
you know, big weapons away from them. So again all
credit to them. Texas Tech was here over the weekend.
Arizona played with a seven man rotation. I think that hurt.
But Texas Tech is just a heck of a basketball team.
And you know, speaking of injuries, Joy just hate to
hear about j T. Top and now out for the year.
He was a force in that ball game. Because we
go back to the strength of this league and really
the top you know, five to six teams. I think
on a given day, anybody can beat the other one.
And so that was that was just to their it again.
Arizona played the first half with seven guys, the second
half was six guys, and then it goes to overtime,
and I think, and I'm not making any excuses, but
I think Arizona just got kind of winded in that
bowl game and the Red Raiders had more going for them,
and they get credit for the win. So that's you know,
that's been at these last two and now we find
out tonight and going forward, you know what the Wildcats
can do. They got to face very good BYU team.
Then they got to go to Houston on Saturday, and
so it doesn't get in easier.
Speaker 3: Give me your analysis of the first game at the
Marriott Center.
Speaker 2: What happened, Why it happened.
Speaker 3: It seemed like UVE was going to be a cruise
control with a dominant victory.
Speaker 2: What did you know the.
Speaker 3: Coaching staff say postgame and what did you see from courtside?
Speaker 5: Well, you know, Arizona came out very strong in that
bowl game. I think the lead at halftime, I wanted
to say was thirteen, and went up by nineteen there
early in the second half, and then you know, BYU
started hitting shots. They didn't hit him in the first
half you know, Richie Sanders got going, the bands get also,
I mean obviously had his twenty four points. I think
one of the keys for Arizona in the win was
they held DeVonta to twenty four shots. So twenty four
shots for twenty four points. Coaches love to see that.
So even though he got his average, I think Arizona
didn't let him, you know, just take over the ballgame.
And Arizona played pretty good defense on Robert Wright as well,
and the late block shot by Brayden Burry's kind of
sealed the game up for Arizona. So you know, bo
I was reading the BYU notes and this is something
they've been pretty good at making comebacks. So when you have,
you know, some really good shooters, you can do that
because the three point, you know, basket can make a
huge difference when you get behind. And so the BYU's credit,
you know, they got to go in there and had
a chance to win it. Arizona was, you know, I
want to say lucky in some sense to get out
of there with a win. But because they have built
that big lead, they were was able to withstand the comeback.
And now without Richie Saunders, you know how what does
BYU do tonight? I think with Arizona without Coed Pete,
how what do they do tonight? Talking to Tommy Lloyd
earlier today, said it's probably gonna be adjustments on the
fly tonight and probably for both coaches.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's going to be intriguing one, no doubt.
Richie Saunders is out for the season. Uh hash has
the coaching staff chimed in on on some of the
losses that BYU hasn't How they're prepping just for the
big two of.
Speaker 5: V yu Oh, I mean they've not got they haven't
given me any inside scoops. I think they're not going
to change much what they normally do. Arizona is a
man of man defensive team and that's it. And you know,
they've got to control what they can control. So, you know,
can they keep de Bonsa from going off tonight, which
we know he's obviously very capable of doing Again, they
did a pretty good job against Robert Wright in the
first game. Now Right's coming off back to back thirty
point games. They can't let him get going, and then
you know who's going to be that next guy? You
never know? And that's to me one of the you know,
keys to to basketball is that when you're down like that,
who's going to come off the bench or who's won
one of the starters, maybe that hasn't been a volume
score that all of a sudden is going to find
his range. And you know, Arizona's got a guy in
Anthony del Arso who I'm not saying he's going to
do it tonight, but they need him to put up
double figures. Probably with the loss of Coleo Pede, who
is it on the BYU roster that's going to be
able to step up tonight and you know, maybe not
score eighteen, but at least give them, you know, another
scoring presence outside the Big two.
Speaker 3: You mentioned this is a crazy time we're about. We're
a few weeks away from selection Sunday and March Madness.
It's going to be pretty crazy to see what happens.
There's even cannibalism occurring in the Big twelve right now
that could be some shifting, some pivoting. We'll see how
it plays out with these finals, six or seven games
with the Big twelve, is there a maybe a potential
bottom drawer or seemingly kind of middle of the PAC team.
Do you think that could maybe raise their stock and
get some big wins on the back end of the
schedule here in the Big Twelve.
Speaker 5: Well, you know, that's a great question, Ben, And you know,
outside of maybe the top five or six teams, I'm
kind of curious to see what UCF does here. They've
had a pretty good season with an entirely new roster.
Arizona State got a big win over Texas Tech last night,
and because we see the Sun Devils, you're in and
year out, that's a very talented roster. Now they haven't
played up maybe to their potential, and they're just me talking.
They're two games above five hundred right now. But that's
one of those teams on a neutral court where if
they get going like they did last night, then you
know they got a chance to beat some people. So
those two teams to me kind of stand out. And
maybe TCU that's another one that I think has an
opportunity because they're they're kind of on the bubble right
now in terms of getting into you know, March Madness
without winning the Big Twelve tournament, So you know, could
they get going here late in the season, So when
you get to the Big Twelve tournament, and you've got
teams like that where they they're in desperation mode. They've
got to win if they want to play beyond Kansas City.
And and you've got some talent like Arizona State has,
like UCF, like TCU. I wouldn't be surprised if you
know one of those three, if not, the two out
of those three make a pretty good run.
Speaker 3: The Big Twelve is I've called it the true Gauntlet
of college athletics. The SEC football conference. They're always talking
about the Gauntlet, how difficult it is. The Big Twelve
is where it's at right now. Big Ten not too
far off either. Do you think the Big Twelve these
are the best conference of basketball teams right now? I
don't think the Big Ten still takes the cake right now.
Speaker 5: Well I'm biased, of course, and so I think it's
the Big Twelve. And you know, I was looking. I
haven't updated it, but I look back the other night
and saw that of the top I want to say,
the top five teams in the Big Twelve, all their
losses had been quad one losses. No other Power four
conference could say that. Now I have to go back
and update it. I know it's changed because of Texas
Tech losing last night at Ez State, that was not
a Quad one loss for them, But I just think
that tells you right there the strength of this conference,
especially at the top. And so you know, Arizona's got
to play BYU Deny, go to Houston, go to Baylor,
Kansas home, Iowa, stayed at home, and then finish a
mile high up at Colorado. And you know, from the
Wildcat perspective, what they're looking at right now, it's a
really tough and they've already you know, lost to Kansas
Now in Texas Tech, you're in the latter half. So yeah,
very tough. And we knew that when the schedule came out,
and it's proving that way. And so if Arizona's gonna
win the championship this year, you know they're gonna have
to figure out how to get through some of these
teams that you know that right now have a deeper roster.
Speaker 3: Brian Jeffries, Ladies and gentlemen, how are you feeling right
now about the U of A Athletic department, their vision
for football, basketball and the rest.
Speaker 2: Of the Olympic sports right now?
Speaker 3: What what direction is U of A trending right now
do you think as far as where they stay and
in the competitive landscape of collegiate athletics.
Speaker 5: Well, if you go back a couple of years ago,
you know, Jed Fish was the football coach, won ten
games and then took the job at Washington. Brett Brennan
came in to take over. He was at San Jose State,
and the Wildcats went four and eight in their first
season under Brennan, and I think a lot of people
thought that was, you know, a major step backwards. I
think there were some reasons behind it, starting with the
transfer portal. You know, ten guys transferred to Washington that
certainly hurt. And then Brennan in the second year, they
win nine, they go to a bowl game, and he's
gotten a contract extension, did very well in the portal.
And so the feeling is the football program is on
solid ground right now and a chance really you know,
makes some major strides moving forward. Although, as you guys
probably know, I when the schedule came out, we see
game number two September twelfth is in provo against me.
Why that should be a lot of fun. But anyway,
the Arizona Athletics feels very good about where football is right. Obviously.
Tommy Lloyd, in his fifth year as the men's basketball coach,
has you know, done some great things. And this team,
if they get healthy, as a chance maybe to win
it all across the board. You know, baseball team was
at the College World Series last year. Softball's won eight
national championships, volleyball's moving up, women's basketball has a new
coach this year. I think they're in some growing pains
right now. Always have good golf here. I could go
on and on, so you know it right now seems
to be a really good time. Tennis has been outstanding,
and you know it's as the former athletic director here
would say, it's a great day to be a Wildcat,
and you could probably use that pretty much any day.
I mean, teams are going to have their ups and downs.
I mean, you know, everybody doesn't. It's a cyclical business.
As you know, you have good seasons and challenging seasons.
But it's been a good year so far for Arizona Athletics.
Speaker 3: Brian, best way to support you what you do, how
you do it, and give me a little score prediction,
or at least give me how you think this game
is going to play.
Speaker 2: Out tonight to Tucson.
Speaker 5: You know, I tell you what, here's some really interesting, man.
These are the top two scoring teams in the Big Twelve,
Arizona eighty eight points a game and BYU at eighty six.
I'm going to guess that neither team gets to eighty tonight.
Speaker 4: I think these both coaches.
Speaker 5: I think both coaches know that they're shorthanded and they've
got to slow this game down a little bit tonight
because you know, I think you're calling upon the bench now.
They're probably going to have to rotate some more guys
in and out. And I know both teams would like
a little more up tempo. I just have a gut
feeling that this might be a little lower scoring game
than these two teams are used to playing. So that's
number one. I'm not going to tell you who's going
to win it because I think there's so many new
things right now. I mean, how does Arizona adjust without
co Opete? How does BYU adjust without Richie Saunders. I
think that those two elements make this a little bit
of an unpredictable outcome.
Speaker 3: It's the forty third meeting between these two programs. Arizona
leads all time series twenty two to twenty and by
US five and fifteen all time in Tucson.
Speaker 2: That's tough. It's tough to win down there.
Speaker 3: But that big said, The Creuz have won their last
two trips to the McHale Center, including that ninety six
ninety five win last season during a nine game winning streak.
We'll see how it plays out tonight. Thanks so much, Brian.
We appreciate you. Thanks for hopping on to give us
some some knowledge of the UFA Wildcats.
Speaker 5: All right, ben, enjoy it, enjoy the snow and then.
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, I appreciate that. We will, we need it.
We definitely. I'd rather be golfing with you though.
Speaker 5: All right, Well sometimes sometime down the road.
Speaker 2: All right, We'll see you soon.
Speaker 3: Thanks so much, Brian Jeffries, the voice of the Arizona
Wildcats UFA wodcast. That was another folk segment brought to
you by our good friends at rubys In rubies In
dot Com. I love rubies In. I think you will
as well. If you've never visited Bryce Candon National Park.
Why pay for a day at the ski resort when
your whole family can enjoy an entire winter wonderland weekend
in Bryce Candon for much much less.
Speaker 2: At Ruby's In.
Speaker 3: You get a room, a free hot breakfast, an indoor pool,
an outdoor adventure like no other. You can snowshot, you
can cross country ski, you can ice skate right at
the doorstep of breathtaking Bryce canydate book the winter Hot
deal right now. Save thirty three percent off when you
stay two or more nights between now in March nineteenth.
Speaker 2: So now's the time. Now's the place Ruby's In.
Speaker 3: Get more and play more for less pay And shout
out to my good friend Big b Yu Fanland sirat
the GM down there does great work and one of
the biggest local perspective.
Speaker 1: It's the NFL Blitz week game mornings at seven forty
five only on Bryce and BA Newschi on one O
three nine at ninety eight three ESPN, No Fan. This
is Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel, and it's time for
the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local reporters
that cover Cougar athletics.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports.
Speaker 3: One of three nine ninety eight point three ESBN The
Fan on Ben Fritle broadcasting from our vand or Well
Studios Vanderwell dot Com. Get on that free Q and
A no obligation to invest Q and A with our
tax more Wealth Advisor, Certify Financial Planners, NFLPA Certify Financial Planners.
Blaine Anderson and the Screw They're gonna agent support you
in your quest for financial stability. Interesting the ability call
Blaine Train and his crew today at Betterwealth betterwith dot.
Speaker 2: Com got a great segment for you.
Speaker 3: We're gonna welcommitt a Cougar Sports Insiders heading down to Tucson,
Arizona to cover the BAU Cougar's taking on the U
of A Wildcats. Gonna get his thoughts, his commentary on
the BA basketball team without Richie Saunders, and also discussed
with him the new edition to the BA Cougar roster
and talk to college Football Springball Camp Kallini twenty twenty
six is gonna be brought to you by Game Day
Men's Health. Game Day menshealth dot Com get back into
the game. If you filled a little lethargic, feeling like
you don't have as much vigor and vim, as much
spontaneity and intimacy in your life, why not head on
over to Game Day mens Health. You have fifty percent
off when you mentioned myself where he has been the
fan on all their products and their services, of their subscription.
Speaker 2: And if you want to get back.
Speaker 3: Into the game and maybe feel like you used to
maybe you feel like half the man you used to be, well.
Speaker 2: You can feel like the full man once again.
Speaker 3: Get your blood work done, see where you're deficient, and
see what vitamins, see what peptide, see what you need
as far as filling those gaps and filling like your
old self again. Game Day Men's Health. They have a
multitude of locations along the Wahsatch Front and Lehigh Pleasant
Grove Connwood Heights in South Oregon. There's a place near
you where they can aid you and support you. Their
practitioners do fantastic work. Check it out today game Day
Men's Health. Game Day Men's Health dot Com mentioned myself
for ESPN the fan.
Speaker 2: Let's get out to the hot light. Welcome in the
g Man. Brandon C. Gurney of The Daily Herald g Man.
Speaker 6: Hey, look it, dude, well, why does it rain in Arizona?
Every time I'm in this state?
Speaker 4: Like as in this the state.
Speaker 6: Where it never rains. I swear every time I come
down here there's a torrential down for I don't get it.
I'll get it.
Speaker 3: G Man is because you know, heavenly fathers crying due
to something you did. What have you been doing? What
did you do down there? He's crying, he's weeping.
Speaker 2: That kind of.
Speaker 4: That kind of cuts me deep. I don't know where
you're going with that. What's your suspicion?
Speaker 2: I don't know.
Speaker 3: Like whenever you go out of town, I feel like
you're always doing something something sketchy.
Speaker 2: Man.
Speaker 6: I did walk into casino, but I did not.
Speaker 2: I knew it. I knew it, but I knew it.
When you go did you go to Hilo River Casino?
I knew it. I knew it. That's why he's crying.
Speaker 3: He's saying, oh, whoa whoe onto the g man for gambling.
Speaker 4: I did not partake.
Speaker 2: You went in though. You went in though and partook,
you smelled it.
Speaker 4: I just wanted to see it. I just wanted to
see it.
Speaker 3: You didn't place any bets and I knew it. See,
that's why you go down there. That's what you did
last time. And it's and it poured and it was
a torrential downwork is you know he's crying. He's crying
over your sins.
Speaker 6: But I didn't do anything. I did not partake.
Speaker 3: But even though I remember the scriptors teach us, the
thought is sin.
Speaker 6: Wow, yeah, mat you cut me deep, Momus, you cut me.
I can't believe I just admit.
Speaker 4: That on the radio.
Speaker 6: Why do I on air?
Speaker 4: There's what we're talking about.
Speaker 3: Hey, you're the one that brought it up. I just
gave you the answer that you didn't want.
Speaker 4: You brought it.
Speaker 6: Yeah, I admitted there's something I shouldn't have anyway.
Speaker 5: But I did not partake.
Speaker 4: I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't do anything.
Speaker 3: Well, hopefully, hopefully the sins are washed away with that
torrential downpourche g Man uh Richie Saunders out for the year.
How does this change your expectations for the BA basketball team? Look,
there's a six games remaining, right, six games remaining? What
do you think the record will be? How does your
your maybe prognostication, your expectation change for the Big twelve
and the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 6: Well, can you ask me, like four hours from now,
I might have a better answer for you.
Speaker 3: No, it's always that we don't always have the data
points in front of us.
Speaker 6: It's very very hard to sugarcoat this for anything that
it is. And to me, the cultural aspects the big thing.
I mean, you can talk about how tremendous of the
player he is, what he has is just as far
as slash into the basket is hustling all that. It's
the culture thing that's by far the biggest loss to me.
And I think that's the tough thing in this day
and age of basketball is maintaining culture. Guys guys that
are just programmed, guys that are always going to be there,
know the system and all that. And that was Richie Saunders,
and now that he's not there, you really worry that
it could crumble faster than it would otherwise. When the
team gets down, what's the rallying point? Who's rallying these guys?
Every team needs that person, and when you lose, that
guy is going to be really tough. I like that.
Kevin Young had individually interviews with with both aj De
Bonsa and I'm so.
Speaker 4: Bad at names. I'm forgetting my gosh, I'm getting old.
But those have to be the guys.
Speaker 6: Who else is it going to be? And I think
they're both mature into individuals. I think aj De Bonsa
the leadership he's exuded. I think he's been everything you
wanted him to be this year. The man he's gonna
have to be that much, that much more assertive, and
I don't know how he can be to me, I
think the guy and I mentioned this every time on
the air, it's Canar Davis, and I think he's struggled
he came to be when he kind of is a
volume shooter, is a go to guy.
Speaker 4: Right.
Speaker 6: It averaged a lot of points, and I think he's
really struggled being a role player where he.
Speaker 4: Has to pick his spots.
Speaker 6: I think now he's going to have the opportunity to
be more of what he was at his prior playing experience,
where he I don't know if he can be a
volume shooter, but certainly more volume than he's been allotted
at BAU currently. And he has to be the guy.
He's relatable to Richie Saunders, a lot of the same
skill set, same size and all that, and yeah that
I failed to understand who else it can be on
Bay's roster. With regards to stepping up, we've seen flashes,
but as far as the consistency, the defensive pressure, the
scoring ability. It has to be Kennar Davis and he
has to step forward. He has to be a guy
that's given you, I don't know, twelve thirteen points a
game while applying defensive pressure. But man, that's a big ask.
Because Richie was so consistent and so it locked into
the system and dependable. It's going to be really, really tough.
So we'll see what be what he's got versus Arizona.
And it's kind of depressing to think about because when
I booked this trip, I thought this is gonna be
the biggest game of the year. I thought this was
gonna be just national two top maybe top five teams
going at it. Big Twelve's best and Arizona now doesn't
have Pete and b Way, he doesn't have Richie Saunders,
and it's like, well, what's going on?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 6: And man, the injury bug with the Big twelve, My goodness.
I mean, as News dropped the Top and Scott for
the year, I know.
Speaker 2: He's out.
Speaker 6: Oh that's I really like Top and he's one of
my favorite players.
Speaker 4: I love watching him play.
Speaker 6: That depresses me anyway, It's not what it is, but
the way he can roll something over. They can we'll
see what they got. We'll see what they got tonight.
It's gonna be intriguing in that regard.
Speaker 3: G Man Brandon ce Gurney, the Daily Heraldi and himself
or the assistant to the Daily Heraldi had rather here
on your Utah ESPN Radio Network. By who enters the
game nineteen to six overall, seven five and Big twelve play.
The Cougars are seeking their first road win against a
top five team since twenty seventeen, and just their third
such win since nineteen eighty. Arizona is twenty three and
two overall and ten and two in conference play, and
will look to defend their home court after a recent
lossues BYU is a dog by I think twelve and
a half or it opened at twelve and a half.
I think he's at eleven and a half now over
unders at one sixty four and a half.
Speaker 2: So are you are.
Speaker 3: You feeling like BA who's gonna cover at least maybe
not get the window come down?
Speaker 6: People are paying money on BYU?
Speaker 4: Wow?
Speaker 3: I think well because Cola Pete remember Copete, and they
have two players that are out wow.
Speaker 6: Yeah yeah, the other guy has the flu or whatever. Yeah,
it seems like everyone I know in my life has
had the flu in the last month anyway. But yeah,
that's interesting to me. I wouldn't touch byu, Absolutely not,
No way, I wouldn't touch this. When injuries are out
are are relevant. And also betting on a favorite it's
more than a ten point favorite in basketball is really
a shaky proposition because of the backdoor cover component. I mean, yeah, yeah.
Teams that are winn by twenty thirty points the entire game,
then they put the scrubs in. Teams make late runs.
It's not really that close, but hey, they cover the
eleven twelve point total. It's just not a typically a
good bed in that regard. So no, I'm not touching it.
Speaker 3: Come on, not gonna touch it. Even though he and
even though even though you walked in. They go to
the river Helo Riv Casino. Trust me, bro, I grew
up down there. I know the jingle. I know that
everyone's going out to Helo Riv Casine.
Speaker 2: No, oh, Heila River.
Speaker 4: Okay, the geese's silent, I don't know.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's HeLa, man, it's the like remember the HeLa
monsters of eastern Arizona. I always joke around saying the
Gila monsters that Helo River.
Speaker 4: Probably you always call them mcgilla monsters.
Speaker 3: I know, but it's not the it's not the Gila monsters. Yeah,
it's the HeLa monster. Ferocious. Ferocious beasts are ferocious. They
are man, they got locking jobs.
Speaker 6: They watch that job and they don't let go.
Speaker 4: Yeah I know that.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, yes, indeed, yeah, you told me. I told
your time and time again. Jie man, I've told you
many times. Let's talk to Beli football for a minute,
Key camp Kalani. Twenty six stories you're keeping your eye
on as springball is right around the corner.
Speaker 6: Oh man, there's a lot of storylines. I think replacing
Parker Kingston's the one that intrigues me the most. Last
time I was on air, Coony Hagen's got to be
that guy, and he hasn't. When I laid eyes on him,
not this past year, but in twenty twenty four when
he came back from his mission, he was a dude.
He looked like Parker Kingston. I remember seeing Parker Kingston
just for the first time, and obvious guys are obviously.
I always say that people think there's a lot that
goes into valuing guys, I don't think it's that far.
They jumped out at you, Cody Hagen jumped out at me.
Speaker 4: He still has that.
Speaker 6: I don't know what was going on last season, but
I'm still expecting big things from him, and I think
he has a ripe opportunity to get going this year
and just realize the talent that he has. And he
is extremely talented, and I think he's going to figure
something out. He's a very very bright kid with a
very good skill set, and I'm expecting a lot from them.
I think he's going to be that guy this year.
So my eyes are going to be sharply peeled on
Cody Hagen and what he's able to do. Tarah, Sorry,
I's a really intriguing to me. But with this thing
is for sure. I mean, I think people mistake him
as a transfer. He's not really a transfer. It's a
true freshman. He still has a lot of learning to
acclimate himself to the college football ranks. So that's why
I'm putting it on Cody Hagan primarily because he's been
in the system, he's been back, and he can do
a lot of the same things. Parker Kingston came good.
So yeah, As far as guys I'm most interested to see,
it would be Cody Hagan just see what he's realized.
I'm Walker Lions is obviously going to be fascinating to watch,
just to see how he measures up with a As
far as the tight end, which was such a good
position last year with Carson Ryan, who was really the
ultimate transfer portal guy who gave you exactly what you
thought you were going to get it and more. Now
that's the bar a camp Parker Walker Lions realized that
that's going to be a tough ask as well, but
he certainly has the talent. On the former four start prospect,
you could absolutely be that guy.
Speaker 4: But those are the two people.
Speaker 6: I'm interested in. I think the defense is sad, like
what did they what do they need to work out there?
I guess free safety replacing Tanner Wall is going to
be interesting. I'm interested to see how Jonathan Cabaya looks.
I think I think it was really tough for him
to come back from the injury in the position he did.
I still really like his skills, even though he didn't
that a great year last year. I think he's going
to be determined. I think he's going to be a
very very good cornerback for BYU. That's going to be
an interesting thing, just to see if there's any nuances,
any differences it. Spring practice doesn't reveal as much as
you want it to. It is my experience with Spring practices,
especially now that they close sessions, you expect a lot
of depth chart movement. Now that's not what springs four. Basically,
it's to kind of look at for the guys that
can compete and develop so that they can iron some
things out in time for fall practices. But as far
as fielding positions, and with all that said, maybe it's
too early to take a look at Cody Agan, but
I think he's going to give some indication about what's
going on. I'd like to see a running back really
rise at the forefront.
Speaker 4: Eye On jovesa.
Speaker 6: DEMONI I think he's a guy that could do some
really good things and be a very good running back
for BYU based on what I saw in the Pop
Tards Bowl. That's going to be interesting. I don't think
the top guys are going to practice at all, But like,
are you running LG. Martin out during spring like at all?
And if so, why, I don't think he's gonna be
seeing a lot of reps. And another guy that fascinates
me is is Reggie Fresh. Connect is a connect.
Speaker 3: Or just necked like the wide receiver and quarterback connect.
Speaker 6: Sure how often they volunteered him as a guy prior
to last season. Then he had that terrible soft tissue
injury which takes forever to come back, and then he
kind of lost the season in that regard, I think
he can be that guy. Yeah, the way coaches were
talking about him, this guy has stuffed and where you're
looking at a direct replacement for Chase Roberts, that's the
guy you painted on right there. And maybe Jojo Phillips.
I really liked how Jojo looked into pop darts bull
Maybe he could becomes more consistent. So yeah, to me,
as far as offense goes, receivers are the most fascinating position.
People are gonna want to offensive line news. You're not
gonna get it. You're not gonna understand what's going on
with the offensive mintel fall. I'm telling you, guys, everyone,
I don't know. They don't do much. There's not a
lot of contact in spring, and we're not gonna really
understand until they go forward to fall prizes. But I
think we're gonna learn a lot about the receivers and
who bears connecting with, who's walked in with. I think
that's gonna be very notable throughout the spring practice session.
Speaker 3: Love that breakdown that only the g men can can
give to us here on your Utah ESPN Radio Network,
docking some ball. Have you looked at the list of
new players by chance the the eleven transfers.
Speaker 2: There's a few new names.
Speaker 3: Remember uh uh, there's another time we pay you that
joined the team from Eastern Washington.
Speaker 2: That that was interesting.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's Newcy's older Brothercy's older brother, So that's a note.
Seth Schigg from Army. He's a former cour quarterback now
converting to cornerback. So they have some and he was fast.
I think he was like a ten seven to eight
type of kid in high school. So of note of intrigue,
anyone from like the true freshman, either return missionary or
true freshman that you're most intrigued.
Speaker 2: I know you mentioned Terren Serion. I like him a lot.
Speaker 3: But out of the transfer portal guys who us intrigued by,
and then out of the new freshman return missionaries who
are you most intrigued by?
Speaker 6: And I wish I had listen in front of me right.
Speaker 3: Now, I'm gonna I'm gonna send it, g g Man
right now. Oh you're driving, Okay, I'm gonna listen them
off all right. Let me listen on new transfers. Jake Clifton,
Kansas State linebacker, Kyler Kasper wide receiver, Oregon, Pockey Fenale
offensive lineman, Washington Walker Lions tight end, USC Rogers, Sally
of Ploka the second tight end Oregon, Seth Schigg cornerback,
Army Junior Sea offensive line in Utah State, Daniel tellm
we Payu linebackers from Washington, Kate Cal linebacker Javin Williams
cornerback Mississippi State, Zach Yamauchi offensive line in Stanford. Out
of the new transfers, who you must intrigue.
Speaker 6: That's gotta be It's gotta be Kate.
Speaker 4: K And asked me this.
Speaker 2: Guy, why, why does it have to be Kate?
Speaker 6: But he has the highest expectation. He's he can be
a real force in that linebacker group, and par I
think he's gonna pair with Sarah, not only is he
gonna push the la who I think didn't have enough
competition last year. I think that affected him well, like
once they didn't have Brian Struther with with it just
being's position. I'd like to see him pushed and Kate's
gonna push him. It's gonna be a battle, and I'm
intrigued to see it. I think that's gonna be very
very good for and for the program in general. That's
gonna be interesting to watch. But Walker lyons effect and
thank Casper. I mean I I just talked to about
Regie Frishnek. One thing I know about FESTI sa talk
and he has scored big time in the receiver transfer portal,
big time. The guys he's been able to bring in
he doesn't due diligence and they usually rise to the
occasion when you're talking about I mean, look at Kielan Marion.
My goodness, what a score there. So he's kind of
set that bar high for himself and that little expectations.
So when he brings any guy and this cast for guy,
well he doesn't really do much at Oregon, he still
has a phenomenal skill set that could be a really
interesting It goes on as far as the wide receiver.
So yeah, I guess I'm going back to the receivers again.
To me, it's the most fascinating position on the team
right now. It's the reft of a lot of experience,
but man, there's a lot of potential just as far
as recruits go, returning players that I don't think have
tapped their full potential quite yet. It's going to be
a very very interesting position to watch, and to me,
that's the best. That's going to be the most intriguing
story of the spring football practice session going in the fall.
Speaker 2: Love that breakdown.
Speaker 3: As far as the freshman coming in, I know you,
like I said, you had mentioned a few guys that
you like. Let me list off all the new names
that are on the roster getting some action here. How
about Micah Beckst at running back?
Speaker 2: Timp View?
Speaker 3: Is this another shoney moa type of situation where we're
going to really like Micah? He was an underrated editor
recruited running back out of timp View.
Speaker 6: Yeah, hope. So I remember Mike cover some of his games.
I like him certainly potential there, and you need running backs.
Everyone knows the way he needs running backs. You need
depth at that position. So that's another one. It seems
kind of perfect to me. It's a perfect walk on
opportunity from a guy that lives literally five minutes down
the street from Byu who had a really good high
school career. So yeah, give me that guy a lot
of potential there.
Speaker 3: So owen Burg linebacker, Justice Braithwait cornerback, Josh Davis tight end, Skyridge,
Devon Eka running back, Lehigh Legend, Glasgar wide receiver, Lee High,
Neemiah Colonne defensive tackle, Stillwater High School, Oklahoma, Braxton Lindsay
d n Rogers High School, Arkansas, Blake Lowe linebacker, Chaparral
High School, California, Matthew Mason safety, Faith Lutheran High School, Nevada,
Bot Mulitalo offensive line, low Loane Peak High School, Utah,
Jet Nelson wide receiver, American Fork High School here in Utah,
Sharon Pula wide.
Speaker 2: Receiver, Loan Peak High School.
Speaker 3: Love all these Lone Peakers, Kennan pool A safety, Loan
Peak High School, Talatuei, Pututo West High School, offensive line,
Adney Reid defensive end, The King School in Australia, Ean
Sanchez kicker, Loan Peak High School, Terrence Sarah wide receiver,
Evergreen High School in Oregon, David Tungi I Lano defensive
tackle menlo Atherton High School, and then Gage Standard linebacker
Rocky Mountain High School, Idaho. And then Enick Watson Goldie
as they like to call him in the family quarterback Arizona.
Speaker 4: I like the three.
Speaker 6: Tough local prospects, and when I talk about those guys,
Bob Mouli Talo certainly a guy that could start as
a true freshman. He has that talent. Very very good
and productive year for Loan Peak at the left tackle position.
He can slot in right away. I think a lot
of people are expecting things from devani Ika really good.
Bill did a lot of good things for Lee High.
Jared Pool was fascinating. He's the guy that kind of
tailed off for Loan Pik towards the end of the year.
I think he may have been hurt. I don't know
what was going on, but when I saw him play,
he ran me Chase Roberts really really good ball skills,
very good size, runs raus and it can absolutely take
the top off the defense. Very dynamic player, very very
good talent, every bit of a four star prospect. Again,
it's weird to me how he faded with loan Peak.
I do think he may have been hurt, and Kennon
kind of rolls up. I mean he had that interseid
in the probably one hand of that thing. Holy crap,
That seriously might be the best.
Speaker 4: Catch I've ever seen live.
Speaker 6: I've never seen anything like that. I pray won't ever
see anything like it again. But Jared Poola definitely has
the talent to be a guy and to contribute immediately.
There's no question about that. If this mindset's right. Learning
the offense is a big thing in this Bau offense.
We know this. I mean, just look at Keilan Marrion.
He wasn't able to do much of anything because the
offense was too tough to learn, and it took him
a full year before he could acclimate himself and find
a niche So a true freshman like Jerem Poola, that
might be too much to put up on him.
Speaker 4: In that regard.
Speaker 6: That man, his skill level is elite. It's very good.
I covered a lot of the games. As far as
pure skill goes, He's in the upper edge Wanta B
way you receive signees. He's that good in my opinion.
Speaker 3: G Man, Brandon Seagerty, any other thoughts, any other comments
or anything that's keeping you up at night as you
wend your way down to Tucson amongst the moisture and
torrential rain.
Speaker 6: Well, they're in stopped. I just hope the way you
can do something. I hope to cover a good story
about a team rallying overcoming the odds. You hope that's
going to be the case with this BA basketball team.
A lot of guys have some opportunities. We'll see how
it plays out. It's gonna be a very interesting game
in that regard.
Speaker 3: Boomshaka lack a g Men. Enjoy the game, enjoy the night,
Travel back safely. We'll see you again soon, brother.
Speaker 6: All right, we'll see you guys.
Speaker 2: All right, bet all.
Speaker 3: Right, hey we will, we shall. We love the moisture
here and Utah. That's our segment brought to you by
Game Day Men's Health game daymenshealth dot Com. Get back
into the game, guys at a men's health clinic built
for every journey, trusted by men across the USA and
of course Canada forner plus clinics now in the in
the country, and we have many of them here. We
got four or five of them here along the wassass Front.
So many of them and in your community are going
in and value in cestostoone therapy, peptides and vitamin therapy,
wet light weight loss therapies, anti aging and longevity therapies,
sexual wellness and ed hair loss, sports injuries, all services
that can be subscribed to.
Speaker 2: You get fifty percent off with your subscription.
Speaker 3: When you mentioned myself or esp of the fan, contact
the local game day, men's health location, nearest jew and
mentioned ice center, mentioned ESPN