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Speaker 1: He is Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel and it's time
for the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local
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Speaker 2: If need to stop for a little couegar.
Speaker 1: Be going to welcome in a legendary beat writer, the
man that covered Cougar sports for many years and continues
to do such now forty years of coverage.
Speaker 2: One of the best in the busines.
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Let's get out to the hotline. Welcome in one of
the greatest, the legendary Dick Harmon of the Desert News.
Speaker 2: What's up, Bick? How How the heck are you? How's
your week been?
Speaker 3: I'm doing great. I got off a twenty one day
cruise about uh what five days ago, so I'm just
getting my sea legs back, trying to get back into
the groove of things. Did a lot of research from
writing and talking to you, Ben Kridle, So.
Speaker 1: I'm talking about, well, hey, we're glad that you have,
you know, been able to get your vitamin D you know,
in the winter season. We're getting into spring now, so
you're back on, back in the saddle and writing.
Speaker 2: What are you gonna be writing about?
Speaker 1: By the way, what can we expect at the Desratnews
dot com in the the hours to come?
Speaker 3: No, I just finished a newsletter that'll be sent out
tonight and centering on the aj Debonza and a little
bit about what the you know, fans can expect or
should respect about his career at BUYU. One year probably
gonna be a one and done, even though he's been
hitting and teasing here a little bit there. So the
newsletter I got done in the night. I wrote a
piece on a pipeline to Africa, which is centered on
a story by Marty Hawes, a former player. He and
his son TJ. Hawes, and Scott Rose, the brother of
former BUO A coach Dave Rose, and then Greg Humphreys,
a former teammate at b A. They've they've got a
coaching staff together to go and recruit players out of Africa, Camroon, Sengal, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya,
and this team just in the last few years has
done enough to be invited to the World Championships this
week and growing Grow Bowling Green Kentucky, and they're going
to be there this week. I think they play Friday.
They're seated number thirteen. But they've got some the next Kava,
Kita and folks tri They got these guys on their
team now the next ones that will be looked at
by BA A pretty hard.
Speaker 2: Of it man.
Speaker 1: That pipeline is healthy and strong. By you's had a
great pipeline. We've seen Utah, Utah State. Everybody's stepping into
that pipeline. And I know the Hollis family always making
a difference on and off the court, with the mentorship,
with the development.
Speaker 2: Of these young men.
Speaker 1: So kudos to the Hawes family and everything that they
do for the community, the basketball community in particular. Let's
talk some BYU basketball here for a moment and got
to get your thoughts on it. You've been around Cougar
basketball for a very long time. This is kind of
a monumental season in a number of ways. It hasn't
been I don't know if it's met quota yet. I
don't know if it's met expectations yet. Still to be determined.
But there's definitely been the ups and downs, the jekyl
and hiding the undulations of the season.
Speaker 2: Even Kevin Jung said.
Speaker 1: In the post game after the Texas Tech win, there's
three iterations of this team. I don't know if we've
ever seen as many injuries season, any injuries as we've
seen this year.
Speaker 2: Just a stroke of bad luck.
Speaker 1: Can you recall a team that has been snake bitten
by so many injuries?
Speaker 3: No, I I can't remember one. It's been a long
time since Boa has gone through this many key players, starters,
potential starters, potential guys that can come in and score.
Dawson Baker types that have just gone. They're just gone
off the roster. They can't play, they can't practice, they
can't contribute, and that's changed drastically what I think Kevin
Young has been trying to do this year. And the
Richie Saunders thing has to be one of the most
the saddest story that I've heard in basketball at BOE
for a long long time. Quote a tremendous athlete, a
tremendous asset, a great attitude, mister b Yu, him and
his wife a former Boa basketball player, lovely, a lovely bride.
And to see them honor the way they were tip,
I tip my hat off to him and everything's done.
Could you imagine if they had him on the team still?
What games may have been won, but the momentum would
have been gained, What kind of confidence would have remained.
Speaker 1: I've noticed that the last two wins post Richie Saunders injury,
the only wins that b Yu has had is when
Richie Sanders is on the bench with his teammates, holding
them accountable, coaching them up in between timeouts, coaching them
from the bench. How impactful is it to have Richie
Sanders on the bench during March madness during the Big
twelve tournament.
Speaker 3: Well, they're two and zero with him on the bench
injured with his leg banished uff. So I think it's
a big impact. What I don't know, because we're not
in the huddle, is what is he saying to them
and he is he saying, hey, you got to do this,
or you got to do that, or hey, you are
not doing that, or he's speaking to him in a
voice which is holding them accountable in the way that
maybe is getting through that the coaches can't do. I
guess sometimes when it's one of your own, when it's
one of your own peers, a guy with the uniform
on that's sweating and has been there with you, maybe
you listen or it gets through to you a little
bit better. No doubt he's had an impact being there,
having his face in the huddle saying things, and they
respect him because they know that nobody on that squad
has put more in its plain harder than he has.
I think AJ will probably come close to the work ethic.
But Richie Saunders is a machine. He's that way in
the off season, he's that the way during the season.
It's just a freak accident that he got hurt because
in tremendous shape. But his voice and the tone that
he says it and the effect that he has it
seems obvious, and I would love to be able to
hear what he's saying. Let's put a mic on him,
Ben work on that. Let's get him wired up.
Speaker 2: I would love that.
Speaker 1: That's worth everything, whatever it costs, right, whatever it takes.
I'm sure that you know one way, Brett, your Mark way,
a Brian Santiago way of monetization, would be to mic
him up and only give it to the Legacy Donorship,
the headset to the Legacy Donorship so they can listen
in on what Richie's telling his teammates. Would you pay
for that if you had insurmountable funds to allocate to
BYU Athletics, Dick Harmon.
Speaker 3: Let's do it. Let's have orthopro sponsor that founders mic.
Speaker 1: You know or Orthropros is a profitable entity, but I
don't know if it has that type of money to
throw at that particular sponsorship.
Speaker 2: Dig what's the ceiling? What's the four for this BOMs
basketball team right now?
Speaker 3: Would you say, well, I'd hate to say it, but
I think for them to get the most out of it.
They got to win one game in this tournament. I
think if they go two games, you want them to
win every game they can, but this team needs to rest.
They've got two of their best players playing almost forty
minutes a game and to go night after night after night,
that's not a good thing, and I think they wear
down and they lose because of that. No matter what,
I just don't see them making the finals of this tournament.
So best case for scenario, I think is to go
and win a game and then get home as soon
as you can. You don't want to throw a game,
but you got to get better. You got the NCAA
tournament is the goal, and you want to go as
deep as you can in that. So you got to
you got to take care of your assets. I don't
think that's tanking. I'm not suggesting the tank, but you know,
win or lose. You want them to win. But if
they lose, I wouldn't lose any sleepover because you're going
to be heating some guys that are the machines of
this this basketball program and they need their rest and
they need to get their legs back under because they
you go to the NCATE tournament. You got the one game,
you got the next game, and then you go to
the next regional if you win too. So yeah, I
think that this team is capable. We've seen it. They've
come so close of beating top ten teams. They beat
two already, Texas Tech and the Iowa State. They're capable
of the Sweet sixteen. I don't know if this is
a team in its current state that could make it
to the Elite eight. I think earlier in this season
they probably could have, but I don't think that's a
realistic goal to think they can Elite eight team. The
way that they've been playing defense, they've had some flaws.
Maybe they've found some energy here late. We saw them
play a tremendous defensive game against Texas Tech that was
without aj thomptin Toppin. What the job they did on
Christensen was tremendous. But I think that they have This
team is flawed defensively, no question.
Speaker 2: Indeed they are.
Speaker 1: And sometimes they're really bad at passing, and sometimes they're
really bad at rebounding. But when they are good at
passing and they are good at rebounding, they can beat
a top twenty five team. They've shown that they can
beat a top ten team when they actually rebound and
not turn the ball over, even if they do lack
on the defense side of the ball at times.
Speaker 3: Yea, And I think part of what we're seeing is
we saw a team that had the big three that
were doing most of the work and most of the scoring,
getting most of the credit and most of the time,
most of the spotlight And I think what happened is
the rest of the team, as much as they wanted
to and were encouraged to and had the desire to,
they weren't getting their beaks wet. And I think psychologically
that has an impact on a team, on players of
how much effort you're going to put into it when
your beak doesn't ever get wet. And I think what
we saw against Texas Tech is there were some people
that were getting spotlighted, they were getting featured, they were
making plays, and I think that that turned on a
chemistry switch on that team. They played better defense. They
hardly had any turnovers in that game, which was remarkable,
and it was some switching that they did on defense.
All of a sudden, they're playing defense that Texas Tech
just could not maneuver around and the comeback. What was
it eleven points or thirteen points to come back from
that and take a lead. A couple of more plays
here and there, it should have been even a bigger
lead than they want at So maybe with some players
getting some energy because of the roles that they're playing
and the involvement that they're getting. Now you've got two
guys that are doing most of the work, but those
two are being helped by a couple of other people,
namely MoU and Bope, And I think those two have
to be credited for what we saw them do. Shooting
with confidence, rebounding hard, playing good defense, hustling a lot
of energy on there, and I think it led into
the whole team. Whether that continues Tuesday night, I don't know,
but you kind of hope that it does. And if
it does, then you think you can build the second
team game at the Big twelve in Kansas City. That'll
be fun to watch to see if that happens, or
if they go back to really looking quite pathetic on
defense and turning the ball over with some of the
stupidest turnovers you can never imagine.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think everyone's been frustrated with the defense.
Speaker 2: So like when I pull Bay fans, like, what do
you most frustrated the it's always the defense.
Speaker 1: Like to me, I already know this team, Like the
team is not good in the first half offensively, and
they struggle on defense as well.
Speaker 2: Throughout both halves.
Speaker 1: Typically they're just not a great defensive team and they're
going against some of the best offenses.
Speaker 2: In the country too. I think we got to take
into account.
Speaker 1: Like I get more angry with like just piss poor passing,
like just lack of dusical like lazy passing, and then
lack of energy on the rebounding end than I do
honestly the defense right now, because I'm like, all right,
conserve energy on the defensive end, and let's be more
efficient offensively and just but just get rebounds at least
rebounds offensive defensive glass and don't turn the ball over.
Like I don't ask for much, Dick, I have you know,
I have low standards all things considered. But because like
I said, it's been a part of the b Way
You brand this season and they're staying true to it.
They did do some things defensively versus the guardline, versus
small ball of tex attack, and I think that's where
they thrive. You look at Iowa State small ball, I
think where they're going to run in some issues as
they as they get into these tournaments, the Big Twelve
Tournament and the CWA Tournament.
Speaker 2: If they get matched up versus.
Speaker 1: Some bigs that have you know, some one on one
capability in the low block, that's where they're going to
be exposed.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I would agree with that, And I think there's
another question that we don't know. We will see the performances,
we see the effort, we see what's going on. We
don't know how bad injuries are on this team right now.
There are people that are playing. Yeah, we don't know.
AJ may have some things going on. I think Robert
Wright he might have some things going on with his
ankle and it may limit him in some ways. It
can unicate that. I don't think he's one hundred percent.
I don't think he's been one hundred percent for a month.
We don't know those things because they haven't been explained
to us. But I think after the season we'll find
out that this team was probably more injured than we fought.
Because sometimes the effort's not there. The explosions not there
like you. Like you mentioned, there's been some really head
scratching passes that you just say, what in the world
is that? And you know, uh so, I think some
of that psychologically can wear down a team. But it's
been a fun team to watch. I think watching a
j debonsa having a five star, number one recruit type
guy on your your on your team as a fan,
you know, and I got I gotta do this too.
I got to give props to buy us fans to
show up in the Marriott Center the way that they
did against the Iowa State and against Texas Tech. Uh
some of the loudest I think that you've heard a
crowd be it b Yu since the Gym or San
Diego State game, that kind of energy from a fan
base with a team that's struggling, really struggling physically, mentally, emotionally.
But to come and give that kind of support, My
hats are off to this BOYU. I think that they
have proven to be one of the best crowds in
supporting crowds and loud crowds in the entire country.
Speaker 2: Barnutt, they are loyal, strong and true. Baby ah Man.
Speaker 1: The the BA basketball team gave this fan base something
to believe in. You know, they gave him a little
taste of the glory. See what it tastes like the
Iowa State game of the Texas Tech game. Hopefully BAU
basketball can make it deep into the NCAA Tournament. I
think if they get to a Sweet sixteen, it would
be an overachievement considering all of the season ending injuries.
Let's talk Camp Kolani. Shall we dig twenty twenty six?
We're essentially a decade into the Klanisattaca era. It is
flown by How would you describe the colonial shattacka era
from its inception to present day?
Speaker 3: Well, I think that there definitely was a shift in
everything when BA came a member of the Big twelve.
Recruiting got better, support, got better money, got better coaching staff,
the salaries got better. And I think what we've seen
now is a twelve win season and eleven win season
because of that. So I think the turning point was
in the early twenty twenties, twenty twenty three, when all
of a sudden, BOU football took a giant step forward,
to the chagrin of a certain fan base up north.
BYU has now got the resources, they have the backing,
they have people that are willing to open their wallets
and come forth and say we're going to put it
on the table. We want to see a good product,
and I think what you're seeing right now as the
results of that. I really hated to see Jay Hill
go because I think he was part of a real
renaissance the BYU football, especially the defensive side. And I
think that defense, the way they played and the place
that they made the turnovers they got was exciting and
I think it energized the whole team and lifted up
the offense, gave them confidence that they knew that their
backs were covered. Right now, I think we're at the
stage and a very important part where Kelly Poppinga has
got to prove that he can come in here and
pick up the momentum that Jay Hill had and put
it forward. Can he do it? I don't know. Will
he do it? I hope he can. But from what
I've seen in some of the staffing situations that they
brought forth, bringing in Danny Soorson as kind of a
graduate assistant or assistant, a safety's coach, and some of
the others who are double minorities and recruiting. We're gonna
miss Jennaro Gilford, no question about it. And Jay Hill
has a big, big loss. So the biggest thing that
I'm looking for is to see what Kelly Poppinga does.
Can he do it? And will he do it? How
will he do it? And what's the measurables to say
he did do it? So that's what I'm looking for.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think those are all great questions and to
be determined just.
Speaker 2: How just how good this defense can be.
Speaker 1: They retained a ton of players, they did lose, you know,
pretty much all their staff in the secondary. What type
of impact will that have on the coverages and the
defensive efficiency in the past game, in the past defense.
Dick Harmon the legendary Dick Harmon at the Desert News
here on ESPN the Fan. This Cougar Beat is brought
to you by Primo Golf a parel, Premo Golf, a
pair dot com.
Speaker 2: If you tried out the.
Speaker 1: Premo golf apparel yet, Dick, you're a big golfer. You
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Speaker 3: Yeah, I've got Primo. I've seen the owner of that
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Speaker 1: Yeah, Primo does great work, no doubt about it. The
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by the way. A couple last things here from me
and Dick. Appreciate you joining us for a little Cougar
beat brought to you by Primo Golf Apparel Premo Golf
Apparel dot com. You've been around Cougarnation forever. I feel
like the monumental seasons of BYU football always coincide with
twelve personnel. Now, maybe the outlier has been if you
look at, you know, the last two seasons, you know,
twenty twenty five, twenty twenty six, you know, I don't
know if you can make an argument that twelve personnel
was truly a part of the offensive unit. You didn't
have like two marquee NFL type tight ends. But prior
to twenty twenty five, twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five,
it seemed like the double digit win victories the monumental
seasons they like coincided with you.
Speaker 2: Know, robust tight end sets.
Speaker 1: Right, it's hard to account for, you know, a run
pass type of Reid if you're a linebacker, if you're
a defensive back, it's hard to get a read on
what type of plays they're gonna be running with two
tight ends on the field at any given time. With Walker,
Lions and Roger Saliapaga and others in the mix, is
this a revitalization of the twelve personnel that made by
U the quarterback factory of the past.
Speaker 3: No, absolutely. I mean these are not freshmen coming in.
These are guys that are experienced. They are men, They've talented.
They're both four or five stars. I think Walker was
one of the top twelve players in the country tight
end position, probably one of the top three. And Saga
Pelo has proven to be a dangerous athletic weapon. I
go back to the days of all the great tight
ends that by who's had being part of the greatest
offense As you go back to Gordon, Gordon Hudson, Todd Thompson,
Chris Chris christ Christ Todd Christiansen. He played fullback at BA,
but he ended up being a force in the NFL.
But tight Depmer had a tight end that set an
NCAA record for total yards in a season. And you
go back to all the great teams that b always had.
They've had a tight end that has caught about fifty
to fifty five passes and they've become a force. You know,
Max Hall. You look at the tight ends that Max
Hall had a great overtime win against Utah. Was it
George that cut that pass?
Speaker 2: Oh?
Speaker 3: Yeah. You go back to all those big playmaking tight
ends and it elevates this offense. And it's true, this
offense and the BA philosophy has built been built around
a twelve personnel set, no.
Speaker 2: Doubt about it.
Speaker 1: Dick Harmon, Ladies and gentlemen, Dick, best way to support
you what you do, how you do it for all
of our listeners.
Speaker 3: Brother Well, I got to be more active on Twitter,
on x It's harmon rights, the Desert News, It's desert
dot Com. That's where most of my stuff is found,
usually two or three times a week. Pretty active in football,
More active I need to be in basketball. But I've
also got to get my cruises in so golf seasons
coming up. Hope to see people at the tournaments and
around town and come up and say hi. And it's
just a fun time of life right now, Ben, I'm
enjoying every minute of it.
Speaker 2: Well, God bless you.
Speaker 3: Dick.
Speaker 1: Always appreciate our time, and thanks for hopping on for
yet another Cougar beat. I always appreciate you and the
gems you drop on our airwaves.
Speaker 3: Thank you. I'll see you down at practice today, all right.
Speaker 2: We'll see you soon.
Speaker 1: That is Dick Harmon, the legendary Dickarment at the Desert
he was in. That segment was brought to you by
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gonna get into some insider knowledge. Coming up next, we'll
welcome in Jerem Jordan, one of the faces the personalities
of BYU Sports Nation and BYU TV. He's got boots
on the ground, getting this prep, getting this ready for
Big twelve Tournament basketball.
Speaker 2: How deep can BYU go