1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: To invest three eight five three three six seven eight 2 00:00:03,319 --> 00:00:06,200 ninet eight. That's three eight five three three six seven 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:08,519 eight ninety eight. Let your money work for you rather 4 00:00:08,599 --> 00:00:10,199 than you always working for your money. 5 00:00:10,359 --> 00:00:11,919 Speaker 2: At Banterwealth dot com. 6 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,679 Speaker 1: He is Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel and it's time 7 00:00:14,759 --> 00:00:17,320 for the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local 8 00:00:17,399 --> 00:00:22,320 reporters that cover Cougar athletics. Welcome to Guger Sports one 9 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,760 of three nine ninety eight point three EESPN the fan. 10 00:00:24,879 --> 00:00:28,079 I'm Ben Cruital broadcasting from our band or Wealth Studios 11 00:00:28,399 --> 00:00:31,000 Banterwealth dot com. 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They are locally owned, now internationally known. 38 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,920 They've combined forces with the likes of the lefty, the 39 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,760 flop shotter himself, Phil Mickelson, and so you should also 40 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,799 get a little style upgrade with the high flyers of 41 00:01:51,159 --> 00:01:54,079 Phil Mickelson over at Primo Golf Apparel Premo Golf Apparel 42 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,519 dot Com. ESPN coupon Cookies at fifteen percent off your order. 43 00:01:56,599 --> 00:01:59,439 Let's get out to the hotline. Welcome in one of 44 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,599 the greatest, the legendary Dick Harmon of the Desert News. 45 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,879 Speaker 2: What's up, Bick? How How the heck are you? How's 46 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:05,400 your week been? 47 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 3: I'm doing great. I got off a twenty one day 48 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:12,719 cruise about uh what five days ago, so I'm just 49 00:02:12,719 --> 00:02:14,759 getting my sea legs back, trying to get back into 50 00:02:14,759 --> 00:02:16,840 the groove of things. Did a lot of research from 51 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,199 writing and talking to you, Ben Kridle, So. 52 00:02:20,199 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: I'm talking about, well, hey, we're glad that you have, 53 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,479 you know, been able to get your vitamin D you know, 54 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,120 in the winter season. We're getting into spring now, so 55 00:02:29,159 --> 00:02:31,840 you're back on, back in the saddle and writing. 56 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: What are you gonna be writing about? 57 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: By the way, what can we expect at the Desratnews 58 00:02:36,039 --> 00:02:38,520 dot com in the the hours to come? 59 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 3: No, I just finished a newsletter that'll be sent out 60 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:46,840 tonight and centering on the aj Debonza and a little 61 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,039 bit about what the you know, fans can expect or 62 00:02:50,599 --> 00:02:54,240 should respect about his career at BUYU. One year probably 63 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,639 gonna be a one and done, even though he's been 64 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,400 hitting and teasing here a little bit there. So the 65 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:01,280 newsletter I got done in the night. I wrote a 66 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,439 piece on a pipeline to Africa, which is centered on 67 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,280 a story by Marty Hawes, a former player. He and 68 00:03:10,039 --> 00:03:14,080 his son TJ. Hawes, and Scott Rose, the brother of 69 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,120 former BUO A coach Dave Rose, and then Greg Humphreys, 70 00:03:17,159 --> 00:03:19,560 a former teammate at b A. They've they've got a 71 00:03:19,599 --> 00:03:31,639 coaching staff together to go and recruit players out of Africa, Camroon, Sengal, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, 72 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,960 and this team just in the last few years has 73 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,000 done enough to be invited to the World Championships this 74 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:45,520 week and growing Grow Bowling Green Kentucky, and they're going 75 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:47,439 to be there this week. I think they play Friday. 76 00:03:47,479 --> 00:03:51,479 They're seated number thirteen. But they've got some the next Kava, 77 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,840 Kita and folks tri They got these guys on their 78 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,719 team now the next ones that will be looked at 79 00:03:57,719 --> 00:03:59,039 by BA A pretty hard. 80 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: Of it man. 81 00:04:00,879 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: That pipeline is healthy and strong. By you's had a 82 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,840 great pipeline. We've seen Utah, Utah State. Everybody's stepping into 83 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,240 that pipeline. And I know the Hollis family always making 84 00:04:12,319 --> 00:04:15,080 a difference on and off the court, with the mentorship, 85 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:16,399 with the development. 86 00:04:16,199 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: Of these young men. 87 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: So kudos to the Hawes family and everything that they 88 00:04:20,759 --> 00:04:23,920 do for the community, the basketball community in particular. Let's 89 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,399 talk some BYU basketball here for a moment and got 90 00:04:27,439 --> 00:04:29,319 to get your thoughts on it. You've been around Cougar 91 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,839 basketball for a very long time. This is kind of 92 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,160 a monumental season in a number of ways. It hasn't 93 00:04:36,319 --> 00:04:39,680 been I don't know if it's met quota yet. I 94 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,920 don't know if it's met expectations yet. Still to be determined. 95 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,079 But there's definitely been the ups and downs, the jekyl 96 00:04:46,079 --> 00:04:48,199 and hiding the undulations of the season. 97 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:49,519 Speaker 2: Even Kevin Jung said. 98 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: In the post game after the Texas Tech win, there's 99 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:53,560 three iterations of this team. I don't know if we've 100 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,879 ever seen as many injuries season, any injuries as we've 101 00:04:56,879 --> 00:04:58,120 seen this year. 102 00:04:58,240 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 2: Just a stroke of bad luck. 103 00:04:59,399 --> 00:05:02,959 Speaker 1: Can you recall a team that has been snake bitten 104 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:04,279 by so many injuries? 105 00:05:06,399 --> 00:05:10,759 Speaker 3: No, I I can't remember one. It's been a long 106 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,959 time since Boa has gone through this many key players, starters, 107 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,639 potential starters, potential guys that can come in and score. 108 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,319 Dawson Baker types that have just gone. They're just gone 109 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,399 off the roster. They can't play, they can't practice, they 110 00:05:23,399 --> 00:05:26,680 can't contribute, and that's changed drastically what I think Kevin 111 00:05:26,759 --> 00:05:29,160 Young has been trying to do this year. And the 112 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,879 Richie Saunders thing has to be one of the most 113 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,759 the saddest story that I've heard in basketball at BOE 114 00:05:36,759 --> 00:05:39,639 for a long long time. Quote a tremendous athlete, a 115 00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:44,600 tremendous asset, a great attitude, mister b Yu, him and 116 00:05:44,639 --> 00:05:48,480 his wife a former Boa basketball player, lovely, a lovely bride. 117 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,920 And to see them honor the way they were tip, 118 00:05:52,079 --> 00:05:54,759 I tip my hat off to him and everything's done. 119 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,120 Could you imagine if they had him on the team still? 120 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,839 What games may have been won, but the momentum would 121 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,439 have been gained, What kind of confidence would have remained. 122 00:06:06,079 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: I've noticed that the last two wins post Richie Saunders injury, 123 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,360 the only wins that b Yu has had is when 124 00:06:15,519 --> 00:06:19,279 Richie Sanders is on the bench with his teammates, holding 125 00:06:19,319 --> 00:06:22,480 them accountable, coaching them up in between timeouts, coaching them 126 00:06:22,519 --> 00:06:25,680 from the bench. How impactful is it to have Richie 127 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,839 Sanders on the bench during March madness during the Big 128 00:06:29,879 --> 00:06:30,519 twelve tournament. 129 00:06:32,199 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 3: Well, they're two and zero with him on the bench 130 00:06:34,639 --> 00:06:38,560 injured with his leg banished uff. So I think it's 131 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:40,720 a big impact. What I don't know, because we're not 132 00:06:40,759 --> 00:06:42,560 in the huddle, is what is he saying to them 133 00:06:43,399 --> 00:06:46,720 and he is he saying, hey, you got to do this, 134 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:48,800 or you got to do that, or hey, you are 135 00:06:48,879 --> 00:06:51,439 not doing that, or he's speaking to him in a 136 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,519 voice which is holding them accountable in the way that 137 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:57,480 maybe is getting through that the coaches can't do. I 138 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,639 guess sometimes when it's one of your own, when it's 139 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,639 one of your own peers, a guy with the uniform 140 00:07:01,639 --> 00:07:03,879 on that's sweating and has been there with you, maybe 141 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:05,639 you listen or it gets through to you a little 142 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,040 bit better. No doubt he's had an impact being there, 143 00:07:09,519 --> 00:07:12,120 having his face in the huddle saying things, and they 144 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,959 respect him because they know that nobody on that squad 145 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,399 has put more in its plain harder than he has. 146 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,199 I think AJ will probably come close to the work ethic. 147 00:07:21,279 --> 00:07:24,879 But Richie Saunders is a machine. He's that way in 148 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:26,920 the off season, he's that the way during the season. 149 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,800 It's just a freak accident that he got hurt because 150 00:07:29,879 --> 00:07:33,199 in tremendous shape. But his voice and the tone that 151 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,560 he says it and the effect that he has it 152 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,279 seems obvious, and I would love to be able to 153 00:07:39,639 --> 00:07:41,600 hear what he's saying. Let's put a mic on him, 154 00:07:41,639 --> 00:07:43,480 Ben work on that. Let's get him wired up. 155 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: I would love that. 156 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:50,199 Speaker 1: That's worth everything, whatever it costs, right, whatever it takes. 157 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:55,040 I'm sure that you know one way, Brett, your Mark way, 158 00:07:55,439 --> 00:07:58,800 a Brian Santiago way of monetization, would be to mic 159 00:07:58,879 --> 00:08:02,319 him up and only give it to the Legacy Donorship, 160 00:08:02,639 --> 00:08:05,079 the headset to the Legacy Donorship so they can listen 161 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,839 in on what Richie's telling his teammates. Would you pay 162 00:08:07,839 --> 00:08:12,000 for that if you had insurmountable funds to allocate to 163 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,279 BYU Athletics, Dick Harmon. 164 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:19,399 Speaker 3: Let's do it. Let's have orthopro sponsor that founders mic. 165 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:25,879 Speaker 1: You know or Orthropros is a profitable entity, but I 166 00:08:25,879 --> 00:08:28,439 don't know if it has that type of money to 167 00:08:28,439 --> 00:08:31,879 throw at that particular sponsorship. 168 00:08:32,279 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 2: Dig what's the ceiling? What's the four for this BOMs 169 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:36,000 basketball team right now? 170 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:39,279 Speaker 3: Would you say, well, I'd hate to say it, but 171 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,480 I think for them to get the most out of it. 172 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,720 They got to win one game in this tournament. I 173 00:08:44,759 --> 00:08:47,159 think if they go two games, you want them to 174 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,440 win every game they can, but this team needs to rest. 175 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,279 They've got two of their best players playing almost forty 176 00:08:52,279 --> 00:08:55,200 minutes a game and to go night after night after night, 177 00:08:55,279 --> 00:08:57,399 that's not a good thing, and I think they wear 178 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,919 down and they lose because of that. No matter what, 179 00:09:01,039 --> 00:09:03,279 I just don't see them making the finals of this tournament. 180 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,080 So best case for scenario, I think is to go 181 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,080 and win a game and then get home as soon 182 00:09:11,159 --> 00:09:13,600 as you can. You don't want to throw a game, 183 00:09:13,639 --> 00:09:15,440 but you got to get better. You got the NCAA 184 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,799 tournament is the goal, and you want to go as 185 00:09:18,799 --> 00:09:20,759 deep as you can in that. So you got to 186 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,279 you got to take care of your assets. I don't 187 00:09:23,279 --> 00:09:26,919 think that's tanking. I'm not suggesting the tank, but you know, 188 00:09:27,039 --> 00:09:29,000 win or lose. You want them to win. But if 189 00:09:29,039 --> 00:09:32,159 they lose, I wouldn't lose any sleepover because you're going 190 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,600 to be heating some guys that are the machines of 191 00:09:34,639 --> 00:09:37,639 this this basketball program and they need their rest and 192 00:09:37,639 --> 00:09:39,639 they need to get their legs back under because they 193 00:09:39,919 --> 00:09:41,720 you go to the NCATE tournament. You got the one game, 194 00:09:41,759 --> 00:09:43,039 you got the next game, and then you go to 195 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:48,120 the next regional if you win too. So yeah, I 196 00:09:48,159 --> 00:09:51,440 think that this team is capable. We've seen it. They've 197 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,159 come so close of beating top ten teams. They beat 198 00:09:54,159 --> 00:09:58,559 two already, Texas Tech and the Iowa State. They're capable 199 00:09:59,279 --> 00:10:02,360 of the Sweet sixteen. I don't know if this is 200 00:10:02,399 --> 00:10:04,519 a team in its current state that could make it 201 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,039 to the Elite eight. I think earlier in this season 202 00:10:07,039 --> 00:10:09,159 they probably could have, but I don't think that's a 203 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,519 realistic goal to think they can Elite eight team. The 204 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,600 way that they've been playing defense, they've had some flaws. 205 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,600 Maybe they've found some energy here late. We saw them 206 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,120 play a tremendous defensive game against Texas Tech that was 207 00:10:24,159 --> 00:10:28,480 without aj thomptin Toppin. What the job they did on 208 00:10:28,799 --> 00:10:33,840 Christensen was tremendous. But I think that they have This 209 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,039 team is flawed defensively, no question. 210 00:10:37,519 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 2: Indeed they are. 211 00:10:38,759 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: And sometimes they're really bad at passing, and sometimes they're 212 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,080 really bad at rebounding. But when they are good at 213 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,320 passing and they are good at rebounding, they can beat 214 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,240 a top twenty five team. They've shown that they can 215 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,519 beat a top ten team when they actually rebound and 216 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:53,960 not turn the ball over, even if they do lack 217 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,200 on the defense side of the ball at times. 218 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,639 Speaker 3: Yea, And I think part of what we're seeing is 219 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,120 we saw a team that had the big three that 220 00:11:03,159 --> 00:11:05,039 were doing most of the work and most of the scoring, 221 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:06,840 getting most of the credit and most of the time, 222 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,000 most of the spotlight And I think what happened is 223 00:11:10,039 --> 00:11:12,080 the rest of the team, as much as they wanted 224 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,039 to and were encouraged to and had the desire to, 225 00:11:15,639 --> 00:11:19,679 they weren't getting their beaks wet. And I think psychologically 226 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,840 that has an impact on a team, on players of 227 00:11:22,879 --> 00:11:24,600 how much effort you're going to put into it when 228 00:11:24,639 --> 00:11:27,639 your beak doesn't ever get wet. And I think what 229 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,080 we saw against Texas Tech is there were some people 230 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,240 that were getting spotlighted, they were getting featured, they were 231 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:36,720 making plays, and I think that that turned on a 232 00:11:36,799 --> 00:11:40,120 chemistry switch on that team. They played better defense. They 233 00:11:40,159 --> 00:11:43,039 hardly had any turnovers in that game, which was remarkable, 234 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:47,320 and it was some switching that they did on defense. 235 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,720 All of a sudden, they're playing defense that Texas Tech 236 00:11:51,399 --> 00:11:54,960 just could not maneuver around and the comeback. What was 237 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,519 it eleven points or thirteen points to come back from 238 00:11:58,519 --> 00:12:01,120 that and take a lead. A couple of more plays 239 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:02,559 here and there, it should have been even a bigger 240 00:12:02,639 --> 00:12:06,600 lead than they want at So maybe with some players 241 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,000 getting some energy because of the roles that they're playing 242 00:12:10,039 --> 00:12:13,000 and the involvement that they're getting. Now you've got two 243 00:12:13,039 --> 00:12:15,639 guys that are doing most of the work, but those 244 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:17,559 two are being helped by a couple of other people, 245 00:12:17,759 --> 00:12:21,480 namely MoU and Bope, And I think those two have 246 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,480 to be credited for what we saw them do. Shooting 247 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,399 with confidence, rebounding hard, playing good defense, hustling a lot 248 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,279 of energy on there, and I think it led into 249 00:12:30,279 --> 00:12:34,080 the whole team. Whether that continues Tuesday night, I don't know, 250 00:12:34,159 --> 00:12:35,919 but you kind of hope that it does. And if 251 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,759 it does, then you think you can build the second 252 00:12:38,759 --> 00:12:42,120 team game at the Big twelve in Kansas City. That'll 253 00:12:42,159 --> 00:12:44,480 be fun to watch to see if that happens, or 254 00:12:44,519 --> 00:12:47,879 if they go back to really looking quite pathetic on 255 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:49,879 defense and turning the ball over with some of the 256 00:12:49,919 --> 00:12:53,120 stupidest turnovers you can never imagine. 257 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think everyone's been frustrated with the defense. 258 00:12:57,840 --> 00:12:59,799 Speaker 2: So like when I pull Bay fans, like, what do 259 00:12:59,799 --> 00:13:01,879 you most frustrated the it's always the defense. 260 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: Like to me, I already know this team, Like the 261 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,799 team is not good in the first half offensively, and 262 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:10,759 they struggle on defense as well. 263 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 2: Throughout both halves. 264 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: Typically they're just not a great defensive team and they're 265 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,919 going against some of the best offenses. 266 00:13:17,399 --> 00:13:18,879 Speaker 2: In the country too. I think we got to take 267 00:13:18,919 --> 00:13:19,960 into account. 268 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: Like I get more angry with like just piss poor passing, 269 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:28,159 like just lack of dusical like lazy passing, and then 270 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,240 lack of energy on the rebounding end than I do 271 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,799 honestly the defense right now, because I'm like, all right, 272 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,519 conserve energy on the defensive end, and let's be more 273 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,559 efficient offensively and just but just get rebounds at least 274 00:13:39,639 --> 00:13:43,960 rebounds offensive defensive glass and don't turn the ball over. 275 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:48,080 Like I don't ask for much, Dick, I have you know, 276 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,720 I have low standards all things considered. But because like 277 00:13:52,759 --> 00:13:54,159 I said, it's been a part of the b Way 278 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,639 You brand this season and they're staying true to it. 279 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,799 They did do some things defensively versus the guardline, versus 280 00:14:02,879 --> 00:14:05,480 small ball of tex attack, and I think that's where 281 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,159 they thrive. You look at Iowa State small ball, I 282 00:14:08,159 --> 00:14:09,639 think where they're going to run in some issues as 283 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,600 they as they get into these tournaments, the Big Twelve 284 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:13,799 Tournament and the CWA Tournament. 285 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 2: If they get matched up versus. 286 00:14:15,159 --> 00:14:18,879 Speaker 1: Some bigs that have you know, some one on one 287 00:14:18,919 --> 00:14:21,039 capability in the low block, that's where they're going to 288 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:21,720 be exposed. 289 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would agree with that, And I think there's 290 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,000 another question that we don't know. We will see the performances, 291 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,000 we see the effort, we see what's going on. We 292 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,559 don't know how bad injuries are on this team right now. 293 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,600 There are people that are playing. Yeah, we don't know. 294 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,039 AJ may have some things going on. I think Robert 295 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,320 Wright he might have some things going on with his 296 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,320 ankle and it may limit him in some ways. It 297 00:14:46,399 --> 00:14:49,000 can unicate that. I don't think he's one hundred percent. 298 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:50,840 I don't think he's been one hundred percent for a month. 299 00:14:51,279 --> 00:14:53,559 We don't know those things because they haven't been explained 300 00:14:53,559 --> 00:14:55,679 to us. But I think after the season we'll find 301 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,840 out that this team was probably more injured than we fought. 302 00:14:59,159 --> 00:15:03,399 Because sometimes the effort's not there. The explosions not there 303 00:15:04,279 --> 00:15:06,840 like you. Like you mentioned, there's been some really head 304 00:15:06,879 --> 00:15:09,799 scratching passes that you just say, what in the world 305 00:15:09,919 --> 00:15:13,639 is that? And you know, uh so, I think some 306 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,600 of that psychologically can wear down a team. But it's 307 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:18,679 been a fun team to watch. I think watching a 308 00:15:18,799 --> 00:15:23,200 j debonsa having a five star, number one recruit type 309 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:26,879 guy on your your on your team as a fan, 310 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:28,559 you know, and I got I gotta do this too. 311 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,480 I got to give props to buy us fans to 312 00:15:31,639 --> 00:15:33,600 show up in the Marriott Center the way that they 313 00:15:33,639 --> 00:15:38,440 did against the Iowa State and against Texas Tech. Uh 314 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,159 some of the loudest I think that you've heard a 315 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,960 crowd be it b Yu since the Gym or San 316 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,399 Diego State game, that kind of energy from a fan 317 00:15:48,519 --> 00:15:55,679 base with a team that's struggling, really struggling physically, mentally, emotionally. 318 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,120 But to come and give that kind of support, My 319 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,399 hats are off to this BOYU. I think that they 320 00:16:01,399 --> 00:16:03,600 have proven to be one of the best crowds in 321 00:16:03,639 --> 00:16:06,639 supporting crowds and loud crowds in the entire country. 322 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:11,799 Speaker 2: Barnutt, they are loyal, strong and true. Baby ah Man. 323 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,399 Speaker 1: The the BA basketball team gave this fan base something 324 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:18,679 to believe in. You know, they gave him a little 325 00:16:18,679 --> 00:16:21,000 taste of the glory. See what it tastes like the 326 00:16:21,039 --> 00:16:24,360 Iowa State game of the Texas Tech game. Hopefully BAU 327 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,759 basketball can make it deep into the NCAA Tournament. I 328 00:16:27,799 --> 00:16:29,559 think if they get to a Sweet sixteen, it would 329 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:34,840 be an overachievement considering all of the season ending injuries. 330 00:16:34,919 --> 00:16:38,720 Let's talk Camp Kolani. Shall we dig twenty twenty six? 331 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,639 We're essentially a decade into the Klanisattaca era. It is 332 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:47,080 flown by How would you describe the colonial shattacka era 333 00:16:47,399 --> 00:16:50,799 from its inception to present day? 334 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,799 Speaker 3: Well, I think that there definitely was a shift in 335 00:16:54,919 --> 00:16:57,080 everything when BA came a member of the Big twelve. 336 00:16:57,559 --> 00:17:03,240 Recruiting got better, support, got better money, got better coaching staff, 337 00:17:03,279 --> 00:17:05,720 the salaries got better. And I think what we've seen 338 00:17:05,799 --> 00:17:08,480 now is a twelve win season and eleven win season 339 00:17:08,519 --> 00:17:10,720 because of that. So I think the turning point was 340 00:17:10,759 --> 00:17:15,640 in the early twenty twenties, twenty twenty three, when all 341 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,160 of a sudden, BOU football took a giant step forward, 342 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,599 to the chagrin of a certain fan base up north. 343 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,400 BYU has now got the resources, they have the backing, 344 00:17:25,799 --> 00:17:28,559 they have people that are willing to open their wallets 345 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,079 and come forth and say we're going to put it 346 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:32,799 on the table. We want to see a good product, 347 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,599 and I think what you're seeing right now as the 348 00:17:34,599 --> 00:17:38,279 results of that. I really hated to see Jay Hill 349 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,960 go because I think he was part of a real 350 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,200 renaissance the BYU football, especially the defensive side. And I 351 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,680 think that defense, the way they played and the place 352 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:52,359 that they made the turnovers they got was exciting and 353 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:54,839 I think it energized the whole team and lifted up 354 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,640 the offense, gave them confidence that they knew that their 355 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,200 backs were covered. Right now, I think we're at the 356 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:05,119 stage and a very important part where Kelly Poppinga has 357 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,920 got to prove that he can come in here and 358 00:18:08,039 --> 00:18:11,599 pick up the momentum that Jay Hill had and put 359 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,039 it forward. Can he do it? I don't know. Will 360 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:16,880 he do it? I hope he can. But from what 361 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,119 I've seen in some of the staffing situations that they 362 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:24,119 brought forth, bringing in Danny Soorson as kind of a 363 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,319 graduate assistant or assistant, a safety's coach, and some of 364 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:31,200 the others who are double minorities and recruiting. We're gonna 365 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,960 miss Jennaro Gilford, no question about it. And Jay Hill 366 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,440 has a big, big loss. So the biggest thing that 367 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,160 I'm looking for is to see what Kelly Poppinga does. 368 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,160 Can he do it? And will he do it? How 369 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,519 will he do it? And what's the measurables to say 370 00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:46,799 he did do it? So that's what I'm looking for. 371 00:18:47,319 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think those are all great questions and to 372 00:18:50,559 --> 00:18:52,279 be determined just. 373 00:18:52,279 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 2: How just how good this defense can be. 374 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: They retained a ton of players, they did lose, you know, 375 00:18:59,599 --> 00:19:02,720 pretty much all their staff in the secondary. What type 376 00:19:02,759 --> 00:19:05,839 of impact will that have on the coverages and the 377 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,400 defensive efficiency in the past game, in the past defense. 378 00:19:09,839 --> 00:19:12,880 Dick Harmon the legendary Dick Harmon at the Desert News 379 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,680 here on ESPN the Fan. This Cougar Beat is brought 380 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,200 to you by Primo Golf a parel, Premo Golf, a 381 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:17,640 pair dot com. 382 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:18,279 Speaker 2: If you tried out the. 383 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: Premo golf apparel yet, Dick, you're a big golfer. You 384 00:19:21,559 --> 00:19:23,279 like to swing, you like to swing the sticks. 385 00:19:24,079 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've got Primo. I've seen the owner of that 386 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,480 company down at East Bay or a Temple, Novias Golf 387 00:19:29,519 --> 00:19:32,640 Course for the Provo Open and others which he's a sponsor. 388 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,720 I've met him as a young guy, energetic, great ideas, 389 00:19:36,279 --> 00:19:39,519 and he's got a great product. Primo Primo is Primo. 390 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,079 Speaker 1: Yeah, Primo does great work, no doubt about it. The 391 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:47,039 ESPN coupon codes, it gets everybody fifteen percent off. They're ordered, 392 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,200 by the way. A couple last things here from me 393 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,200 and Dick. Appreciate you joining us for a little Cougar 394 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,039 beat brought to you by Primo Golf Apparel Premo Golf 395 00:19:55,039 --> 00:20:00,599 Apparel dot com. You've been around Cougarnation forever. I feel 396 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:06,079 like the monumental seasons of BYU football always coincide with 397 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:13,200 twelve personnel. Now, maybe the outlier has been if you 398 00:20:13,279 --> 00:20:16,079 look at, you know, the last two seasons, you know, 399 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:19,720 twenty twenty five, twenty twenty six, you know, I don't 400 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:21,480 know if you can make an argument that twelve personnel 401 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:26,440 was truly a part of the offensive unit. You didn't 402 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:31,880 have like two marquee NFL type tight ends. But prior 403 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:36,000 to twenty twenty five, twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five, 404 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,680 it seemed like the double digit win victories the monumental 405 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,119 seasons they like coincided with you. 406 00:20:42,079 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 2: Know, robust tight end sets. 407 00:20:45,319 --> 00:20:49,599 Speaker 1: Right, it's hard to account for, you know, a run 408 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,920 pass type of Reid if you're a linebacker, if you're 409 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,680 a defensive back, it's hard to get a read on 410 00:20:56,039 --> 00:20:58,960 what type of plays they're gonna be running with two 411 00:20:59,039 --> 00:21:02,559 tight ends on the field at any given time. With Walker, 412 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,359 Lions and Roger Saliapaga and others in the mix, is 413 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:11,759 this a revitalization of the twelve personnel that made by 414 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,279 U the quarterback factory of the past. 415 00:21:15,079 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 3: No, absolutely. I mean these are not freshmen coming in. 416 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,480 These are guys that are experienced. They are men, They've talented. 417 00:21:21,519 --> 00:21:24,519 They're both four or five stars. I think Walker was 418 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,799 one of the top twelve players in the country tight 419 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,000 end position, probably one of the top three. And Saga 420 00:21:32,039 --> 00:21:36,359 Pelo has proven to be a dangerous athletic weapon. I 421 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,160 go back to the days of all the great tight 422 00:21:39,279 --> 00:21:41,519 ends that by who's had being part of the greatest 423 00:21:41,559 --> 00:21:45,559 offense As you go back to Gordon, Gordon Hudson, Todd Thompson, 424 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:55,880 Chris Chris christ Christ Todd Christiansen. He played fullback at BA, 425 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,079 but he ended up being a force in the NFL. 426 00:21:59,599 --> 00:22:02,599 But tight Depmer had a tight end that set an 427 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:09,440 NCAA record for total yards in a season. And you 428 00:22:09,559 --> 00:22:11,759 go back to all the great teams that b always had. 429 00:22:11,759 --> 00:22:14,319 They've had a tight end that has caught about fifty 430 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:18,640 to fifty five passes and they've become a force. You know, 431 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,440 Max Hall. You look at the tight ends that Max 432 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,400 Hall had a great overtime win against Utah. Was it 433 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:26,799 George that cut that pass? 434 00:22:27,319 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 2: Oh? 435 00:22:27,519 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 3: Yeah. You go back to all those big playmaking tight 436 00:22:31,559 --> 00:22:35,359 ends and it elevates this offense. And it's true, this 437 00:22:35,559 --> 00:22:38,799 offense and the BA philosophy has built been built around 438 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:42,799 a twelve personnel set, no. 439 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:43,319 Speaker 2: Doubt about it. 440 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 1: Dick Harmon, Ladies and gentlemen, Dick, best way to support 441 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,359 you what you do, how you do it for all 442 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:49,039 of our listeners. 443 00:22:49,079 --> 00:22:53,319 Speaker 3: Brother Well, I got to be more active on Twitter, 444 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:58,880 on x It's harmon rights, the Desert News, It's desert 445 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,240 dot Com. That's where most of my stuff is found, 446 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,759 usually two or three times a week. Pretty active in football, 447 00:23:05,039 --> 00:23:07,359 More active I need to be in basketball. But I've 448 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,880 also got to get my cruises in so golf seasons 449 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,480 coming up. Hope to see people at the tournaments and 450 00:23:13,559 --> 00:23:17,119 around town and come up and say hi. And it's 451 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,319 just a fun time of life right now, Ben, I'm 452 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:20,440 enjoying every minute of it. 453 00:23:20,799 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 2: Well, God bless you. 454 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:22,319 Speaker 3: Dick. 455 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: Always appreciate our time, and thanks for hopping on for 456 00:23:25,559 --> 00:23:28,200 yet another Cougar beat. I always appreciate you and the 457 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,480 gems you drop on our airwaves. 458 00:23:31,079 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 3: Thank you. I'll see you down at practice today, all right. 459 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:34,279 Speaker 2: We'll see you soon. 460 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 1: That is Dick Harmon, the legendary Dickarment at the Desert 461 00:23:36,759 --> 00:23:38,240 he was in. That segment was brought to you by 462 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,160 Primo Golf Apparel. Premo Golf Apparel dot Com. Utilize that 463 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,200 ESPN coupon code get fifteen percent off your order for 464 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:48,960 all the fine twine linens of Primo Golf Apparel Primo 465 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:55,160 Golf Apparel dot Com, bladpolos, right quarter, zips, joggers, hats, 466 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,200 you name it, they got it. Get geared up for 467 00:23:58,319 --> 00:24:01,359 the golf season at Primo Golf A pair. Uh, we're 468 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:04,759 gonna get into some insider knowledge. Coming up next, we'll 469 00:24:04,799 --> 00:24:07,720 welcome in Jerem Jordan, one of the faces the personalities 470 00:24:07,759 --> 00:24:11,319 of BYU Sports Nation and BYU TV. He's got boots 471 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:13,359 on the ground, getting this prep, getting this ready for 472 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,880 Big twelve Tournament basketball. 473 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 2: How deep can BYU go