Speaker 1: Ninety eighty three ESPN The Fan. This spring, the best
college baseball program in Utah is coming to the fan
to miss Utah Valley Baseball on the ESPN the Fan app.
Get to know the Cougar's opponents and rivals right now.
I need to know the faux segment Todd Cougar Sports
with Ben Kreteler.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports. One of three nine ninety eight
point three ESPN Fan.
Speaker 3: I've been broadcasting from our band or Wealth Studios Paederwall
dot com. Get on that free q and a no
obligation to invest QNA with our tax smart Wealth Advisement
Team NFLPA certified Financial Planners. They're going to age in
support chain your quest for financial stability and sustainability.
Speaker 2: It is time to get to another foe.
Speaker 3: BYU basketball trying to find a dog, trying to find
a win right now as they prepare for their next
matchup versus the Iowa State cycle is a good team,
very good team, one of the best teams in the nation,
sitting at twenty three and three overall and number six
in the nation. And BYU coming off PHILOSOPHERSUS, you have
a disappointing one. UH but they're trying to find their
identity Without Richie Saunders. It's gonna be a fantastic matchup.
Uh b Yu needs to get back on the right
track to get tonother foe. We're gonna welcome in an
Iowa State Insider. This segment's gonna be brought to you
by our good friends at Central Garage Door, Central Garage,
Utah dot com. Whenever you're in an emergent situation uh
with your garage, especially when we've had a ton of
snow and your your garage door is not working, hit
up Central Garage Door, Central Garage Utah dot com.
Speaker 2: They're gonna take care of.
Speaker 3: You know, if sands or butts about it, Shoot Kelly
a text eight O one six oh four, that's eight
on one six o four two nine to get the
best deal on the repair. If you need a new
garage door, he's gonna hook you up, no doubt about it.
VIP products of VIP service, VIP discounts. All right, let's
get out to the hotline. Welcome in the voice of
the Iowa State Cyclones, the director of broadcast asking, we
got John Walters online, John, how you.
Speaker 4: Living things are great? Happy to join you and it's
been a been a very fun season for Iowa Stated
and it's zipping right along, so that makes the winners
go a little faster.
Speaker 3: Your names, no doubt about Iowa State's favorite in this game.
I think it opened at three and a half, and
I think that's doo important because they are such a
good team. Now, they're not the same team on the
road as they are at home. They're in ames that's
one of the best teams in the country.
Speaker 2: Is still one of the best teams in the country
I think on the road.
Speaker 3: But how would you describe the trajectory of this Iowa
State Cycling's team right now?
Speaker 4: Well, they you know, they did have some some good
road wins. Certainly the win of Purdue by twenty three
when they were ranked number one in the nation early
in the season, got a lot of people's attention. But
you're right, they've been especially strong at home where they're
eighteen and zero. But you know, this is a team
that is it has avoided big roles in their schedule.
You know, they've been able to they have a game
or two where they don't play particularly well, bounce back
and kind of refocus and re energize and get back
where they need to be, and so that's been kind
of a strength of this team. I think it comes
from senior leadership with tam and Lipsi and Joshua Jefferson.
I think it comes from a cores that returned with
those two guys supposed to be on Momchilo Beach and
natee Heisei. I just has a lot of guys that
are back from last year's team, which you know, in
these day of college basketball is a little bit rare,
and so I think that was a great starting point.
And then went some freshmen around them and transfer and
Blake Buchanan who's had a big impact, and it's been
a good mix. And I always stay it has been
able to because they're a very close team not get
caught in those long slumps that can sometimes affect you.
Speaker 3: Yeah, this is a well coached team. They're a well
constructed team from a personnel standpoint, and kind of how
would you describe the skill set, the overall skill set
of this team in what they do best?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I don't know that they're, you know, the most
athletic talented team in college basketball, but they play really
well together and they have a lot of good individual parts.
I mean, Joshua Jefferson is a Wooden Award Top twenty guy.
He's having a great season. Mil and Mumchilovich has become
the best shooter in college basketball this year without question
when you look at the numbers across the board. Taman
Lipsey's a veteran leader, a guy that's been around you
can do a lot of different things with hustle plays.
All these guys are really good players and all conference
type of players. But I think you all recognize that individually,
while they're good, they're better together. And some of the
parts with this group is definitely better than just the
parts themselves. And they play together and that's what's really
fun to watch. They do share the ball, they move it,
They get themselves in motion to move their bodies and
are able to get open with good cuts of the basket.
And so it's a fun style to watch a lot
like what Dyu has done through the years and how
much fun that's been to watch. Offensively, and and I
think that's where I would state has grown so much
as on the offensive end. Defensively, that's always been their
bread and butter under TJ Alzelberger. That's where they're going
to hang their hat and they're good again defensively this year,
but I think they've taken a nice step forward offensively,
and now they get ready for a huge challenge on
the road and a place where they got beat pretty
soundly last time they went in there, and they know
what a buzz saw that can be, and so they're
looking forward to the challenge this week.
Speaker 3: Well, I don't know what the scattering reporter has been
on the Cougars, but without Richie Saunders.
Speaker 2: They're kind of limping into this game now.
Speaker 3: Don't get me wrong, there's some talent there, Rob right,
the third Age Devons and Cannard Davis Junior. All three
of those guys are really good basketball players, but they're
not deep.
Speaker 2: They're thinned out.
Speaker 3: They were competitive versus u of A, but it never
seems like it seemed like they were ever in control
of that game. What's the scatter report from your perspective
and maybe the coaching staff perspective as you've discussed it
with them on this Bay Cougar basketball team.
Speaker 4: Well, I think they're very impressed with Devansa. And you know,
Kata has played great against Iowa State. They love his
energy and what he brings on both ends of the floor,
and so I think they do have plenty of talent.
I mean, Robert Wright was a terrific player at Bailor.
He's even better at BYU. I just think he's an
exceptional talent that can get by people and really get
to the basket. And that's what de Bansa can do too.
I mean, it's just so much fun to watch him play.
It's it's incredible because you just haven't seen anybody really
be able to figure out how to slow him down yet.
And so for Ioa State, that's the huge challenge because
each of those guys, as we've seen in the last
few games here, are very capable of going off for
a forty point game where they can carry a team
to a win. And obviously Saunders is a tremendous player,
and I know they're going to miss him. But in
the short term after injuries. Saw this a little bit
with Iowa State last year when they lost me On
mom Chilovich for a seven game stretch, they lost jam
and Lipsi, they lost Keyshawn Gilbert, they were able to
in the short term play some really high level basketball.
Over the long haul, I think it really did hurt them,
But a team kind of rallies around each other, and
I think you could see Davis step up and play
a bigger role. I think you could see some of
the guys that are maybe haven't played as big of
a role to step up and take on a bigger
role and take on a bigger challenge. But I really
think it all starts with those three, in particular Cata
and then the two dynamic scorers in de Bansa and Right.
And you know, those are huge challenges for Iway State
because I don't know that anybody's found somebody to slow
down the band side. Now, Killian Tory is a terrific
defensive player, but he's not six', eight you, know AND
i don't know if that's who ends up getting the defensive,
assignment and either that or he'll be trying to slow
Down Robert wright and put some ball pressure on. Him
Taman lopsei's a very good defensive, player but, again these are,
guards And debam said six,' eight you know that'd be
a tough Matchup For. Melan moncholoby so we'll see how
it's all gonna. Play out, BUT no i know that
team has enough talent and then some to be able
To Beat, iwas state AND so i would say it's
gonna have to really be sharp to. Beat, them yeah.
Speaker 3: It's gonna be a, tough one. No Doubt, b YU like,
i said is a three and a half. POINT dog
i guess it's closer than than the line the spread
THAT was BYU versus U, of A and I believe
espn Analytics Giving iowa state a fifty five point two
percent chance. Of victory how would you Describe The big twelve?
This year you've gotten up close in personal the last couple.
Of years it seems Like The big twelve is getting
better and better every.
Speaker 2: Single year how do you Describe The big twelve?
Speaker 4: This, year well it's so dynamic at. The top, YOU
know i think the teams in the middle of the
bottom have kind of beat. Each other they're up and
been beaten up by the teams at the top as
they kind of backloaded. The schedule so, you know you've
got all these top teams playing each other right now down. The,
stretch well that's great for those top teams because they
kind of elevated their resumes and, you know now they're
beating up on each other where where if they get
beat it doesn't hurt you. As much where some of
those other teams that play all the really good teams
early and, you know now the record doesn't reflect how
good they, really are and so those teams are just
trying to race to the. FINISH line i. DO this
i think it's an exceptionally. STRONG league i mean the level.
Of town just go look at the. Mock drafts so
when you're seeing, you know nine big twelve players that
are projected to go in the first round of these,
mock drafts that lets you know what a special basketball league.
It is and so a lot of great, individual talent
tons of, great freshmen but still. Very unpredictable Look at
utah going in and Winning At. West virginia that. WAS
amazing i mean nobody saw. That coming and Here's why
virginia fighting for a spot AT The, ncaa tournament really
feeling good about what they've done lately and how they've built.
The Resume at utah had one on the road in
about four. Hundred days they go in there and dominate
and get out to about an eighteen to two lead
and end up winning. That game so you know it's
a very. Unpredictable league it's a very, challenging league and
it is competitive endurance is a TERM. That tj alzilberger
likes to use within a game of being able to
get to the. Finish LINE and i think that's within the,
season two just having the competitive endurance to realize what
a marathon this is and keep battling and striving even
if you get some bumps in, the road to keep.
Getting better and that's that's really What the STATE team i,
would say has been Good at, you know they lost.
Too straight they got themselves back together and they really
blew out about four. Straight opponents then they lost, a
game a very, competitive game and came back and and
have looked really sharp, since Then beating Kansas and houston home.
Last week so, crazy race but you got to be
prepared for that.
Speaker 3: Long, haul yeah it's it's an. Interesting dynamic you, mentioned
dynamic very much.
Speaker 2: Top loaded.
Speaker 3: Some stars there's a lot of stars actually in this
this big. Twelve conference in one of, THOSE stars i
want to get your opinion, on it it seems to
sub himself out midway. Through Games darren Peterson and BILL
self i think IS becoming i think a little, bit
incredulous and that doesn't understand what's going on and why
he's subbing himself out per. His postgame what's going On With,
darren peterson Why he's do you think the injuries? Are
real do you think he's he's load. Managing himself he's
just an, autonomous being just doing what he wants on
a one of The best big, twelve teams one of
the best college basketball teams in.
Speaker 4: The, COUNTRY yeah, I mean i'm strictly SPECULATING because i honestly.
Don't know i'm not close enough to. The situation it.
Is puzzling it's very puzzling because, you know he'll play
at an elite level and then all of a sudden just,
tap out, you know and we don't know what's going
on with his. Physical BEING and i know coach self
has defended him, many times although it seems like he's
maybe getting a little bit tired of offering up. That defense, and,
so look he's. Extraordinarily talented his ability to get. OFF shots,
i mean you think back to that Game With texas
tech where he had to make those two incredible three
pointers late in the game and he rose up and
hucked them. Both down, you know he's an, extraordinary talent
but it's just a. Weird DYNAMIC and i think in
this day of college, basketball too you got a lot
of people in your. Ear right you're hearing from, your agent,
your parents, your friends. Your circle you know what is
best for you in the, long haul and how do
you have to make sure you're one of the top
picks IN the. Nba draft and maybe there's a lot
of that going On To again, i'm SPECULATING but i
can't believe this is all just his decision to just,
kind of, you know unexpectedly take himself out of, his
help out of. The game and he also goes over
and sits Next To, doc SADLER who i never know
was knew was a, real doctor but apparently he is
because that's what we sits next. To him. I'm bad
scot's a good guy used to Be Hear. Hyowa state uh,
but no it's we joke. About IT but i mean it,
is Strange and i'm sure it's Puzzling for. Bill self
BUT all i know is when he's, out, there man
they're a really really. Dangerous team that that is.
Speaker 3: For certain they are. Extremely dangerous he's a. Dangerous player know,
He's answer but, about it who do you think the?
Best who how would you rank out like the best
players In the big twelve? Right now that's an interesting
debate we've had on, Our show Who's? The who how
would we break out like the top five best players
In the?
Speaker 2: Big twelve you you would probably have more expertise on
that front.
Speaker 3: Than anybody haven't seen all these great players over the
last couple.
Speaker 4: Of years i'd say the Best player i've seen this
year in person to, this POINT and i haven't Seen
the batsa in, person Yet so i'm with whole. In
Judgment But kingston Flemings from houston is. Just extraordinary, his
quickness his ability to get a shot off at, any
time his ability to get to. The basket he's one
of the Best freshmen i've seen coming to this league
in a long. Long time, Now again Peterson, TO banza,
i mean there's gonna be somebody left Off The all
big twelve team that you're going to, be saying how
in the world you know did? That happen and there's
so many great great players in. The WAGUE but i
Really like Bury's at, arizona TWO and i haven't seen
him in, person yet but just, watching games and he
is an exceptionally extraordinarily. Talented freshman pete gets a lot
of attention and had that bust out game EARLY which
i think got. Everybody's attention maybe sick some attention Away,
from BURY'S but I think burry's is just an. Incredible
player and so there's a bunch of them all over.
The league and So far i've just mentioned freshman and
those are some of the best players in the league without,
a doubt But That joshua jefferson is right up there
with any player in the league with what he does across, the, board, scoring.
Rebounding assists he's just a guy that impacts the game
in so many. Different ways and SO and I know
i'm leaving. People off there's so many good players all over,
the league and it's just it's that's what Makes The
big twelve. SO great i think that's why you SEE
these tv ratings that. You do you see The big
monday matchups Or the saturday night matchups that are all
OVER national tv and everybody around the country. Tunes in
it's a high. LEVEL basketball, i mean we just played
A big monday Game with houston and, you know you
catch YOURSELF just i was Talking To derek heft our analysts,
just saying this is. Great stuff, you know this is just,
high level high level basketball and win, or lose this
is just fun to be here and just to. Witness
it and those two teams really went back and forth for.
Forty MINUTES so i love. THE league i love what it's.
ALL about i love how it's grown with the additions
that have come in and made it. Only BETTER and
i think it's only going to. GET better I Think
commissioner yormark has a great feel for How valuable big
twelve basketball IS and i think that's only going to continue.
To grow.
Speaker 2: What let's go Back To iowa. State here.
Speaker 3: The three losses are on, The, road Kansas at cincinnati AND.
Speaker 2: At tcu what what happened in?
Speaker 4: Those?
Speaker 2: Games specifically how did they fall short in?
Speaker 4: THOSE games i think turnovers were the number one thing
that cost them in, those GAMES and i it's kind
of been on a roller coaster when it comes to turnovers.
This year for the, most part they've been pretty good
at taking care of. The basketball but when you look
at those three losses, in particular they had a hard
time taking care of the ball and, getting shots and,
you know then they turn around and They, play houston
which is one of the best teams in the nation at,
forcing turnovers and they had a school record whoa three
turnovers in the Game On. Big monday so it's really hard,
to predict but, you're right especially on, the road there
have been times where they've had struggles to take care of,
the basketball where the ball kind of gets stuck and
there's a little bit too much one on one stuff.
GOING on I think i would STAY as i, mentioned
earlier is just better when they act collectively as an
offense and they really share the basketball and swing it
from side to side and everybody's moving. And cutting that's
when they're the. Most dangerous that's When A joshua jefferson
can really find open teammates and they can. Excel offensively,
but SOMETIMES and i think it's just, human nature you
get behind and you're trying to make, a play and
so you kind of tend to hold the ball a
little bit longer and see if you can make a
play to get your team over. The, HUMP well i
think they need to keep trusting each other even in
those late shot clock situations, to, say hey we can
still make. A play we might be down to three
or four on the shot, clock here but we can
still make. A play we can make two or three
more pass as we saw that with the game Winner
by nate heise the. Other Day, joshua jefferson with about
two on the, shot clock threw it from the top
of the key and made a great pass that Set
up heisee for that game. Winning shot so that's THAT'S
when i was stayed ted as fast as when they're moving,
the ball sharing and really keeping it moving so that
the defense can't WALK. In tj, alzilberger said a guy
standing still is a lot easier to guard than a
guy on. The move AND so i Think For, iva,
state movement, ball movement player movement is really. The key.
Speaker 3: As you look forward these final five six games For
these big, twelve teams who do you think is going
to be at the top of?
Speaker 2: The standings how many how?
Speaker 3: Many bids also do you Think the big twelve gets
this year IN the.
Speaker 4: Ncaa, Tournament well i'm concerned about that last part of
IT because i think, you know you look At That
west virginia loss, last night or you LOOK at tcu LOSING.
The ucf, you know those is. Really HURT and i
know that each everybody seems to be in agreement That
The big twelve has the, best league AND so i
think that. Could help but at the, same time each
team is, evaluated individually and so, you know you've got
to get some more resume. Building wins if you're those
teams that are kind of on the bubble, right now
there's a bunch of them In The. Big twelve they're
in that middle of. The pack i'd love to see
eight teams, get IN but i would think right now
it'd probably be more like six or seven at the.
VERY top i Think because arizona's Going to houston this
week And what houston's done historically in, this league, to
me there's still the team to be until somebody knocks that,
champion out there's still. The champion it was almost that
Way With. Muhammad ali you had to knock them out
if you were going to, beat them you weren't going
to win, a Division right and that's to me When
that's houston and especially on their, home Floor and arizona
goes in there with a real challenge, this weekend and,
SO Yeah i I'll pick houston to, win it although
there's several teams still in, the Race Including, iowa state
and that's, really exciting no doubt.
Speaker 2: About it give me a.
Speaker 3: Little prognostication how do you Think This byuiway state game.
Speaker 2: PLAYS out i think it's gonna be an.
Speaker 4: ABSOLUTE dogfight, I mean I think byu is, really good
especially on their. Home fort it's one of the truly
great environments in. College basketball it's gonna, be noisy and
it's gonna be a. Buzz SAW and i would saying
went in there and did not play well last time they,
went there and you have to. Be sharp you have
to be really really sharp to go in there. And,
win Now Lately iowa state has been really, really sharp
so hopefully that they can carry that over on. This trip,
but yeah they're gonna Have to they're gonna have to
get off to a. GOOD start i don't think you
want to dig yourself a deep hole against. THIS team
i think you need to get off to a good
start and establish your physicality and your identity early in that.
Basketball game but then the billion dollar question is is
the bans are going to? Go off is he going
to have. Forty points, if not then who's responsible for slowing?
Them down because you know they're gonna spread, the floor
they're gonna get let right and debts and go one
on one and do, their thing and it's gonna be
hard to. Slow down and then on, THE boards i
think is gonna be a huge part of. This Game
and okada has been just incredible on the Boards Against
iowa state in. The past can you get a body?
On him can you consistently win the rebound battle or
at least play even on? The boards would BYU and
i think that will be a critical part of this game.
Speaker 3: As well we appreciate you hopping on to talk some
ball with, Us, today john best way to.
Speaker 2: Support you what, you do how you. Do it thanks
ropping out for a little know the faux segment.
Speaker 4: With, us yeah. My pleasure happy to join.
Speaker 3: You anytime, Thank, you john. Appreciate you have a great
rest of, your day.
Speaker 4: You too there.
Speaker 3: You Go That's, john walters the director of broadcasting For
The Iowa state cyclones and that segment was brought to
You By Central Garage Doors Central garage Utah. Dot com
Shout out Kelly uh in the crew over At the,
professional residential, commercial garage door repair and installation services Experts
At central garage utah dot com. Column today if you
if you're in need of a new, garage store or
you need to get your current, one fixed that's eight
oh one six oh four two nine. One nine that's
eight o one six oh four two nine. ONE nine, VIP, Products,
VP service. Vp discounts let HIM know i, sent you
and he's gonna take care.
Speaker 2: Of it. All right that's. Our show we're sticking.
Speaker 3: To it download The, Podcast, iTunes spreaker Google, Play, Music,
iHeartRadio spotify give us, a rating gives.
Speaker 2: A review support all of. Our, sponsors guys we can't
do our show without. Our sponsors i'm always advocating for.
Speaker 3: Our sponsors we are judicious and strategic about who we
bring on as. Our sponsors we'd love for you to
support OUR Sponsors, VP products, VP service. Vp discounts all
of our sponsors are willing and ready and capable of
giving you the.
Speaker 2: Best products of the, best service the.
Speaker 3: Best discounts always let them earn, your business whether it's Orthor,
Pros Royal, army Dental, Pros Odion, Men's wear Big, Od, Tires,
Bandard wealth Complete, Circuit Electric Central.
Speaker 2: Rod store big coup.
Speaker 3: Roar TO the xbt, TRAINED three DQB and utah, protective
films as well as premo, Golf apparel Handy, and handy
advanced Windows and Game Day. Man's health big coup roar
to everyone that. Joined us shout Out to Ronald The.
Three man we were always bringing, The Hammer, Vic Kram,
Brandon Day, Ari Timpkin, Jackson Payne john kurtz and of
course are our cleanup