Speaker 1: ESPN the Ban after free Today you're listening to Cougar
Sports on ko.
Speaker 2: V O probo k u d d h D two
one O three nine at ninety eight.
Speaker 3: Three ESPN the Ban.
Speaker 2: This is Cougar Sports with Ben kretel At. It's time
for the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local
reporters that cover Cougar athletics. Welcome back Cougar Sports. One
of three nine ninety four to three s to be
of the fan. I've been Brittal broadcasting from our Vanderwilth
Studios Betterwelth dot com. Get on that free q and
a no obligation.
Speaker 1: You're doing vast QNA with our tax more Wealth Advisor,
Certify Financial Planners. Nobody does it better than Vanderwealthbatterwealth dot Comedy.
It's time for Little Cougar Beat, gonna get inside the mines,
the the and hear from the voices that cover the
team on the daily, on the weekly, every day, all day,
every day. It's going to be brought to you. Buy
our good friends at rubies in rubies In dot com.
You can hike, bike razor and horseback ride through the
hooters of Bryce Canyon. You will not be disappointed in
the lodgings that that is right at the aperture of
Bryce Canyon National Park.
Speaker 2: I love Brighton.
Speaker 1: I love staying at Ruby's in spacious rooms, comfortable beds,
all you can eat breakfast. They got a gym, they
got a pull, they got a jacuzzie, they got everything
you need for a comfortable state to make memories with
friends and family members as you wend your way through
the hoodoos, the Red Rock Formation hoodoos of Bryce Canyon
National Park. Family isn't about time? Why don't you spend
some time at Bryce Canyon with your family and stay
at rubys in rubisn dot com. Latest Bracketology before we
get into this Cougar beat and bring in a Cougar
sports inside of latest bracketology coming out from Joe Lunardi.
I just put out my poll, what what seeding with
three regular season remaining? Three regular season games remaining because
twenty and eight, six and six and Quad one, six
and two in Quad twos, with the remaining schedule in
the Big twelve tournament on the docket, what seating do
you think BYU bast ball Earns in the NC DOUBLEA Tournament?
Chime in on it want to hear from you at
Krital Benjamin Poll of the day is what we're talking
about here, latest bracketology. I think most have BYU at
that six line for now. For now, anything is possible
with his Jekylin Hyde basketball team. We've seen the peaks,
we've seen the valleys in such a short span of time.
We've seen the good, we've seen the bad, we've seen
the beautiful, we've seen the ugly.
Speaker 2: As in all things in.
Speaker 1: This life, there must be opposition in all things, and
you've felt that opposition. You've glorified and you've also vilified
this basketball team to the point where you booed them.
Speaker 2: You booed them at the Marriott Center when they were.
Speaker 1: Down thirty six points and not putting forth the effort
that do you think they should be putting forth?
Speaker 2: And that's okay, I understand it.
Speaker 1: I was chatting with a number of donors, high profile
fans and wondering, you know how often they've seen this,
the Utah Valley loss where they gave up like one
hundred points at the marriage that.
Speaker 2: Was not good.
Speaker 1: The mid to late nineties were a time when booze
would rain down on the team.
Speaker 2: The staff, et cetera.
Speaker 1: And I don't know if we've ever heard that loud
of booze though from what I've been able to gather.
Speaker 2: They were pretty aggressive.
Speaker 1: Unfortunately, you don't have much leadership outside of Aj Debonsa
right now. I don't know if you feel that way, Cougarnation,
But who do you look for? Who do you look
towards as a leader? Aj is a young man full
of potential, full of talent, that has never really had
to like lead any team to a championship, lead any
team through this, you know, traversing it through a championship
type of tournament run and and so, and his personality
is ky pointed out. You know, he has to maybe
get in get into it a little bit more, and
maybe he's to activate something in his inner soul to
lead that way. I also don't don't think it helped
that Richie Ronnie. Where was Richie at? Why was it
Richie on the bench in this UCF game? Do you
know did we get well?
Speaker 3: Remember we heard from Spencer Linton that Richie was causing
the surgery for this week, so that so he was
so he promised said something around that.
Speaker 2: I assume, so he already had the surgery, and so yeah.
Speaker 3: Maybe he I don't know if he definitely did, but
Spencer in the three thirty segment yesterday had said he
was preparing for that. Whether that means he.
Speaker 1: Had he should have scheduled it Richie for Friday or I.
Speaker 3: Mean been if they want to trick him on this
road trip to the big tal Turnam, which I think
they do in March Madness, then he kind of had
to get in now. So that's my thoughts.
Speaker 2: We gonna need as our.
Speaker 3: Great guest too. You know, I know he's a he's
a cougar sports ins atitude.
Speaker 2: All right, let's go with it.
Speaker 1: My guy, Sean Walker d Shatwalker KSL dot com. Sean, Uh,
do you think having Richie on the bench would have helped?
Having him in the locker room would have helped a
little bit here finding some leadership after being at such
a high after the Iowa State game.
Speaker 4: I mean, I think it definitely would have helped against UCF,
just morale wise, mentality wise, but ultimately, I mean, I
think the Oye defense just kind of let them down,
and it wasn't for a lack of of scheme Necessarily,
I don't think it was for a lack of game plan.
It looked like there were things that the YU was
maybe could have done to slow down UCF. It's just
and Kevin Young brought this up afterwards. It was almost
like a lack of trying. Uh, it just it just
they weren't putting that game plan together. There were short
runs on defense, going underscreens, just little things you know,
you're todd in fifth grade Banton basket ball, not to
do BYU is doing. I don't know if Reggie Saunders
would have helped with that, Like maybe it would have
helped him lock in, Like, well, we'll never fully know,
so like I'll get some great And to your point, Ben,
I do think that Richie Saunders has a significant role
to this play, even being out for the season with
an ACL injury. Like this is the heart and soul
of BYU basketball, whether he's playing or not. But I
definitely think it could have helped, although TBB how much
it would have helped, maybe against UCF in particular, so
a little bit. To your point, Ron, I think BYU
kind of need to be able to have Richie around
for the rest of the season. Again, he's obviously not
going to play. You know toward that acl really just
kind of rip things up in his knee. But they
need to figure out a way to get him to
be able to travel with the team. That's going to
require having surgery probably that that's going to require just
keeping him in the building, you know, even sitting on
the sideline. Just because of that spirit, that heart, that
sold that energy. I think it's still necessary for this
Blu basketball roster.
Speaker 1: BYU fans, what were they booing? Do you think do
you think they're booing the coaches? Do you think they're
booing the players? Like where does the accountability lie after
a tough loss like that deep being down thirty six,
that's not a place where you.
Speaker 2: Want to be.
Speaker 4: Yes, yes, yes, and yes I think all of the above.
I think by fans were booing just the entire performance,
particularly in that first half against UCF. They weren't very
happy and Ky to his credit, Kevin Young, to his credit,
said yeah, they shouldn't have been happy. You know, this
is a great fan base. They have a lot of expectations.
They brought in a lot of expectations, and what they
put on the floor, particularly in that verse half against
the night, I think he used the word unacceptable. That
was at least the tone I got from him. It
was pretty unacceptable what they put out there. Now, you
can't take any credit away from UCF. I think Johnny
Dawkins had a heck of a game plan. UCF very
clearly needed this game Tuesday more than BYU. BYU also
showed what they can do, or maybe more appropriately, can't
do in order to not do anything when it comes
to the Big Twelve Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. This
team is going to they're going to the postseason. They're
going to be a part of March Madness. But it's
the same issues that they had Tuesday night against UCF
show up in March. It could be a much shorter
stay than anybody ever expected. And the booth I have
a feeling that day will be significantly louder. Yes, it's
the players, but also against the coaches, against the administration,
against pretty much everybody involved because of what this season
was allegedly supposed to be set up for.
Speaker 1: Sean Walker Kaseekasale dot Com here on your Utai ESPN
Radio network. With three regular season games remaining bus twenty
eight and eight, their top twenty five team in the
eight people. They are six in six in Quad one,
six and two in Quad twos. What's what's the seeding
do you think they get knowing that they got these
three regular season games left, Big twelve tournament that's right
around the corner as well.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, it depends on how they finish, right
I think the ceilings for this team right now is
probably a six seat. They're kind of covering right around
a six seed line. I think the selection committee sent
a pretty clear message during that mock selection show where
they unbuild the unveilp the top sixteen that this BYU
team is not really in the conversation for a top
four seed. So you can maybe quibble over a five
or six seed. They're probably a six seed right now,
but if they struggle here down the stretch, they could
find they could very easily find themselves falling to a
seven or maybe even playing in that eight to nine game.
And I think that's probably the worst case scenario for
his BYU team, But it's also not numerically impossible. If
this team's in an A nine game, then you're talking
about a tough game and then going on the road
to a potential second round matchup against one of those
numbers one seeds like it is, it's not a good situation.
So whatever they do, they need to do enough to
be able to stay above that A nine, whether it's six,
whether it's seven. I think that's probably where they wind
up if they stay on that sixth line. By the way,
there is a region. It's a it's a Thursday Saturday
region will be what you can play in it in
Portland that has a spot for a six seed as well,
So maybe you get a little bit of kind of
geographic relevancy and and a little bit of kind of
some regional HOMERSM if you will, if you will, If
they can stay on that sixth, that six line. In
order to do that, I think they probably got to
go and they got to win on this road trip
at West Virginia, at Cincinnati, Uh, you know, a home
win over Texas Tech I think would be a big deal.
Although TVD how much that will help BYU with this
Tech team, I won't say sputtering without JT topping, but
they're definitely not the same team that they've been post
JT Top and injury. Right, So how this team finished
I think kind of determines if they're if they're sitting
in that sixth still sitting in that six range, or
maybe they fall into that eight nine game.
Speaker 1: You mentioned that, and I'm like, look, when BAU has
made runs, it seems like they have had fortuitous locations
on their side.
Speaker 2: Denver this last year, right, that was nice to have Denver,
was it not?
Speaker 4: Yep? Yeah, I mean I mean the crowd, the crowd
at ball Arena in Denver was absolutely incredible. There were
probably the second best fan base there maybe was from Montana,
and they were taken out of their first round game
pretty early. No offense to the Grizzlies. I thought they
had a great season as well. BYU fans absolutely overtook
that arena. Now, granted that's only I mean, what three
four hundred miles away, less than five hundred miles away,
I'm pretty sure from from Provo, and so that's one
of those best case scenarios. I'm not sure a place
like Portland would be better than that. But I think
being out west definitely helps a team like BYU that
travels very well, particularly in the Western United States, that
has a big fan base in the Western United States.
If they can keep you outside of say like Greenville,
South Carolina. I think I think that could help this
team potentially make it to the second weekend even Sean.
Speaker 1: This basketball team has shown us the jackal, It showed
us its hide. What do you think it will shows
in the next three games?
Speaker 4: Sorry you cut out there for a second.
Speaker 2: The Jeckyll the hide.
Speaker 1: Right, We've seen the best of the best of them,
their best win, their best game, their best defense, seemingly
their best offense, and then we saw their worst offense,
their worst defense the following game.
Speaker 2: What will we see in the next three games? Do
you think?
Speaker 4: Yeah? And I think the one consistency through all of
that has been a JD. Bonsa. I mean, he has
been at advertised, He's in the conversation for best player
in the country, He's going to be in the conversation
for number one pick in the NBA draft, next to Jewe.
And he has been about as can system as you
can possibly ask or has he had some ups and
some downs? Sure, everybody has. I don't think everybody's been perfect,
but he's been pretty consistent. The inconsistencies would be why
you has been that supporting cast. And it's not just
the big two or the big three. Whatever it is,
it's it's everybody not named aj Dubonsa has maybe had
some issues with some consistencies, Like even Richie Sanders had
some consistency issues before he went down, and he was
probably the only second most available, second most consistent player.
Rob Wright has had plenty of issues. You know, we
could go down a long list with the other guys,
whether it's Cannar Davis, Kbaketa. I feel like Alexi Kostitch
got into a really nice rhythm even in that loss
to UCF. He's been playing much better during the last week.
Maybe that can help BO. You need to find some
sort of consistency from this supporting cast, or their stay
in March could be significantly shorter, again than I think
anybody expected or anybody imagine at the start of year.
Speaker 1: Sean Walker here on your Utah ESPN ready network in
a cougar beat, and it's been brought to you by
rubies In brubies in dot Com. Camp Koalani is kicking
off tomorrow, Sean, And I know we're still we're still
in basketball season, but key storylines that you're most intrigued
by during Camp kloone twenty twenty six and why uh.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I mentioned it here last week. I
think the number one three line for me was going
to be that run game. And who is going to
back up LJ. Maron next year? Can somebody emerge from
a significant list of candidates. But all eyes are on
the wide receiver position right now because of the situation
involving Parker Kingson and his carter from the program, the
legal issues aside and all of that, that's a big
hole that BYU needs to replace. In the past game
that was already trying to replace Chase Roberts and Carson
Ryan by the way, So I think the pass game
has question marks. Not in the guy who's throwing the ball.
Beare Meyer obviously back for another year, one of the best,
arguably the best true freshman quarterback in college football last year.
I think a lot of the numbers back that up
from PSF and other sources. But who's catching that ball,
I think is going to be the number one question
this spring. Who's going to emerge with a lot of touches,
a lot of reps that can be big as that
can go around in the throw game. Will it be
a guy will a little jojo step up like I
think a lot of people have kind of been waiting
on for two years. Maybe you've got a couple of
transfers that are coming in. Kobe Hagen, I think has
shown some nice moments in spots, but consistency has sort
of been his game. Like, I think there are options.
Will they start, will they use a guy like Walker?
Lions a lot more in the throw game at tight end.
I think they unlocked something in Carson Bryan Walker seems
like he could be a guy that could slide into
that spot as well. So just overall, I think it's
it's the receivers, It's the pass catchers, it's how BYU
moves on not only from losing Parker King in the offseason,
but also their top two other pass catchers and touchdown
catchers who were who one of whom was at the
NFL Combine this week.
Speaker 1: Indeed, Chase Roberts, Jack Kelly. How do you think they're
going to perform? Who do you think maybe improves their
draft stock from their combine performance?
Speaker 2: Jack and Chase? Jack or Chase?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean there's already been some great stuff out
of Jack Kelly. I think on the field, he's pretty
pretty proven. He just needs to be able to show
it to people. But he's also been great in interviews
some media opportunities that he's had interviews with GMS and
scouts executives. He's been articulate, He's explained himself very well.
I think he's done a really good job with the
camera in front of your face. Which in moments like these,
whether it's at the NFL Combine or Pro Days or
leading up to the pre draft process, every single thing
is evaluate, evaluated and dissected by NFL programs. They're investing
a ton of money in these players, uh, not just
their established veterans, but even their rookies coming in and
potentially multi multiple millions of dollars. They want to make
sure every single thing, even the minute, the most minute detail,
is right. And I think Chuck Kelly has already proven.
He's already showed that he can be a solid occasional
player for an NFL franchise. UH, that he can come
in and just work up, put his head down, work hard,
get into a system very well, uh, and and contribute
pretty early that I think somebody is going to be
very lucky when they select Jack. Comment next day for
on the NFL Draft Sean and Walker.
Speaker 1: Best way to support to what you do, how you
do it for all of our listeners.
Speaker 4: Yeah, Kasel dot com as always is the place I'm
stuck up in the New Territory right now in Tallighibi
at the Huntsman Center. So if you're interested in some
state basketball, yeah, we got that going on.
Speaker 2: We'll give us an update, give us an update on that,
give us an update on that.
Speaker 4: Well, the boys turned a bit, just the boys, the
five basically boys semifinals just very tipped off. Not really
an update there. The girls tournament was all through the
morning and up until now. Lone Peak came back and
knocked off top seed at Westlake in the six A
girls tournament for all of your Utaih County listeners. So
sunner a heartbreaker and also an emotional one for Utah
County folks there, I think, depending on what side of
Utah Lake you live on. But we'll have all of
that over at kiz dot com, ks dot com, slash
sports if you want to bookmarket, we'll love everything available
from the prep side.
Speaker 1: Nice work, Sean Walker, thanks so much, brother, appreciate you
hopping on for Cougar Beat.
Speaker 4: Appreciate you guys as always.
Speaker 1: Yes, indeed that segment was brought to you by Game
Day Man's Health.
Speaker 2: Guys.
Speaker 1: If you feel a little lethargic, you don't have as
much vigor and vim enough energy, get all over to
Game Day Man's Health, get back into the game, get
your blood work done.
Speaker 2: It'll show all your deficiencies. It'll show what you lack
and why you need.
Speaker 1: Maybe some vitamin injection, maybe pepti therapies, weight loss therapy
is anti aging and longevity therapies, testosterone therapy, wellness and
ED therapy's hair loss, sports injuries. All services are provided
at Game Day Men's Health. For men's health, they do
fantastic workingmen's Health clinic built for every journey, trusted by
men across the USA, and we got a multitude of
locations along the wahsatch front for you because so many
men are being impacted positively by it. Mentioned myself for
ESPN the Fan. When you go into these men's health
clinics and you get VP products, VP service, VPU discounts
up to fifty percent off your subscription at game Day
Men's Health.
Speaker 2: Game Day