Speaker 1: Utah and b YU Football, Utah Valley Sports, Utah Jazz, Utah,
Mammoth RSL and more on one oh three, nine and
ninety eight three ESPN The Fan. It's time to celebrate
the greatest team sport known to man, where modern day
gladiators collide for all the glory on the gridire Let's
talk some college football on Cougar Sports with Ben Crittle.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports one of three, nine, ninet eighty
point three ESPN The Fan.
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Speaker 3: It is time for a little college football and Cougar
Sports getting to all of the key stories of springball
here on your Utah ESPN Radio and never Camp Kalani
is about a week away before we kick off twenty
twenty six spring ball and we get into the depth
chart in all manner of college football Cougar Sport conversation.
So this segment's gonna be brought to you by Odeon
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Speaker 2: Braidon, how you.
Speaker 4: Live in I'm doing awesome.
Speaker 3: How you guys doing doing fantastic? How's the offseason been
for you? Regarding football seas? I know you're a basketball
fan too, but I know you lean heavy in the
football round.
Speaker 4: Definitely heavy into football. About what I would say this
football is the sport does no matter how the team is,
no matter what's going on, I'm gonna be just as
crazy as I am, even if they're they're pelve and
zero or if they're own twelve. But basketball I'm a
little more of a fair weather fan. So when they're
doing great, I'm following, whether or not I probably could
follow a little closer.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, no, totally get that. Well, Camp Killaani's a
week away. What are the key storylines you're looking at
right now of interest?
Speaker 4: I think one of the interesting things will be And
I think, actually I had already thought about it a
little bit, but I think Brady papinga on your airwave
said it even a better way that I think it's
going to be a little bit more like spring Ball
with the way that people are playing players as much
as we're paying them now, I don't think we're gonna
see as much of the guys that are high end.
The guys are gonna be playing quite as much as
spring Ball, just because you don't want to to risk injury.
And I think you're gonna be trying to figure out
what roster spots you have opened, where to push guys,
what's going there. So I really am being treated to
see how springball kind of turns into a like kind
of like mini camps, like roocky mini camps like I
think that was kind of what Brady said. So I'm
intrigued to see a lot of the backup battles obviously
in the receiver room. We want to see kind of
who if the guys can step up there. That's obviously
became has become a big point of emphasis now is
who can step up into those roles in the receiver room.
But I'm like, I'm excited to see who QB two for,
how that that battle turns out between Trayson and and
Watson iniquats and I'm intrigued to see kind of that
RB two situation. I'm definitely a Siona moa big fan.
I think he'll end up being that guy, but I
think they'll definitely be a battle there. So that's more
of my thing, is just kind of seeing how how
the depth works itself out in spring ball.
Speaker 2: So your RB two favorite is Shooney Mo.
Speaker 3: You think he'll he'll rise to the occasion to be
that RB two heading into fall camp.
Speaker 4: I one hundred percent things though. I think if he's healthy,
he is a great RB two option. I don't know
that i'd call him a great RB one in the
league forever, but I think RB two he's I think
he's on seventy nine carries, I think is what it is.
He's at five yards of carry, like that's not nothing.
Speaker 2: So no, it's solid. Who's your QB two favorite right now?
Speaker 4: I think it's got to be tracing just because of
the time in the system. But I think I think
it gonna be one of those situations where by by
the time the season comes around, if Bar went down
in game, Tracy would come in. But if it was
early enough in the season and Bar went down and
it was like a long term injury, I wouldn't be
super surprised with them going with Enick as a future
situation just to because I think he has higher upside.
It's just gonna be hard. You have to kind of
formulate the offense around him a little more where it
wouldn't be an in game type of situation.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm I've been. I've been very much intrigued by
Enick Watson. Goldie is the calm in his Family's the
golden child. Apparently. I really like whose skill set, whose athleticism?
What have you heard about Enick Watson?
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's that's why I think I think he'll definitely,
I think his upside is really there. He would he
played in his until his senior year. If I if
I'm right, he played in a really run heavy offense,
so he didn't get to really show off his arm
and played there, and then by the time he got
to his senior year, he really kind of got to
show that off and play under Max and all those
different situations. And so I think he was an under
the radar recruit in terms of what his high ceiling is.
And I think that I think Arob really likes it,
and I think there's gonna be a good battle there
and I think he's gonna push for that that QB
two spot pretty dang early.
Speaker 2: Love that breakdown.
Speaker 3: My guy, Vick Kram is very much intrigued by the
offensive line and the offensive line battles that could be ensuing.
You got some mercenaries coming through the portal. You got
Pockey Fee now junr Cia from a Utah State, Zach Yamuuci.
You have a few freshmen guys like Bob mul Talo
getting into the mix.
Speaker 2: Uh is that intreaking two years all?
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, I mean obviously as a as a former
Aligned guy, that's that's something that I'm intrigued to see
kind of how that breaks down. I think they have
the bodies there, it'll be interesting to see what rotation
of five guys or you know, even like last year.
Last year we played seven guys pretty inconsistently, so it'll
be interesting to see what rotation and who ends up where.
But I think they've got the bodies there to end
up even getting a little better this year.
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Men'swear odeonminswear dot com. Another question mark surrounding the offense
is the wide receiver room. Now that Parker Kingston's out,
who's ready, who's willing?
Speaker 2: Who will step up? In your opinion?
Speaker 3: Are you leaning towards the big body Tyler Casper from
Oregon that he's finally gonna get his opportunity Reggie fish Kinnet?
Is there others that you're intrigued by, maybe a true
freshman Legend Glasgar can he be a dude, he's a
mid year.
Speaker 2: Maybe he can get into the swing of things.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think I think that's a lot of those
are options. I think they'll probably play a lot more
by committee. I think obviously you'll have Casper, who will
obviously is when healthy. I think he's a great receiver.
I think he'll take a lot of that. Jojo was
going to be obviously a huge focus in the offense
as long as he can stay healthy. But I do
think Legend asks the one that I think has an
opportunity to be Parker Kingston esque receiver, just that quick
little you know, somebody's got a ton of speed to him,
but maybe not super big body type of receiver. I
think short term you might see a lot more of
like guys like Tiger. I even think Tanku is gonna
get some run. I think Reggie Fishnek I had heard
a lot of good things in a couple of practices
I went to. He played really, really well in practice.
So I think that this is still the most talent
one of the most talented receiver rooms in b A history.
Is just are any are the guys gonna actually step up?
And live up to that talent is a really big
question mark because we had none of them were proven
at all. We have a ton of high high end
depth there. I think I can't remember which one of
the Pula brothers is the receiver. I think it's Kennon
is the is the receiver.
Speaker 2: It's Karen poll is the receiver. Can's the safety?
Speaker 4: Okay, Okay, Yeah, So I think I think he has
options to be there. I think he could really come in.
He's a midyear early I think too. So I think
the depths there, I just have no idea who's gonna
actually step up. I think you'll get Casper and Jojo
will be the number one, number two targets, and then
we'll see who kind of slides into that third role.
Speaker 3: Love that one of the main questions that I've brought up.
I think most b WU fans, uh, you know, have
maybe a little anxiety about they They don't know how
how boy is gonna be able to place j Hill
and Gennaro Gilford? What is the defense gonna look like?
Speaker 4: Right?
Speaker 3: Who's gonna what type of scheme are we run? We
were on the same scheme, we're on a similar scheme.
Is this Spronkleman and all defense, what's going on there? Like,
have you had those conversations as well amongst Cougar Nation.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think I think the general consensus that I've
heard just from the fans is that they understand and
I think, I mean even Brady said it on your airwaves.
But I think Kelly said in multiple interviews like I'm
not stupid, like it's not broke, so it's not We're
not gonna go out and fix it. Where it's work
worked really really well recently. Obviously, I think he's gonn
throw some of his flavor into it. And I think
a huge part of the defense under j Hill was
Gary Anderson, and we still have Gary, We Stive Kilane,
We're both that kind of mentality. So I think you're
we're gonna see some Bronco flavor to it because of Kelly,
But I think there will still be very, very heavy
the same scheme we've been running. But honestly, if you
go back and look at last year's scheme, there was
a lot of odd fronts, Like we weren't really playing
even front as much as people think we were. We
were playing a lot of oddfront and then bringing one
of the backers off the edge every once a while coming,
you know, on twists and things like that, but a
lot of it still was odd front. So I don't
think it's gonna look very much different at all to
the to the average.
Speaker 3: Fans, no doubt about it.
Speaker 2: It's it's intriguing to me.
Speaker 3: Justin Enna also is the special team before now, and
we're not going to see the fruits of the the
these changes until the college football season. But Justin Enna
taking over the special teams in it that has traditionally
been the top for four forming unit between the offense,
defense and special teams. What do you make of that
particular move Justin in At getting over to the special
teams unit and taking control of that, and he's not
even coaching a position, he's all in twenty four seven
three sixty five special teams.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm intrigued by I think it'll be something interesting.
He's definitely a very intense coach, so I think it'll
be something that'll be that the guys will be disciplined.
I would guess it was interesting listening to his interview.
I can't remember where it was. Maybe it was the
GUP Club interview that I was watching but he mentioned,
you know, some of the things that he would try,
and they keep very very similar. But then he did
mention a couple of things like how the punt team
was gonna work, and maybe the strategy in some of
those situations would be a little bit different. So I'm
intrigued to see kind of how that goes. But I
think he's had correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm
pretty sure he had NFL special team experience coaching things
like that. Why I totally trust it will be there.
I think it'll look at tiny bit different, but I
think really the name of the game in special teams
is just making sure guys are doing their jobs and
not messing stuff up. But I think, I mean, the
part of thinks something I think hurts special teams as
much as that hard it hurts anything because he was
such a special returner. So I think that'll be one
of the hard things. We'll have to see who can
kind of fill into that that that role.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, Odeon Men's Wear Odeon menswear dot Com. Couple
last things before we let you go brighton day Uh
from Odeon Men's where this BA basketball team?
Speaker 2: What's the ceiling?
Speaker 3: What's the floor in your opinion of this BA basketball season.
Speaker 4: Oh ceiling. I definitely think the ceiling is lower than
it was. I do think this team would would still
having a J and Robb. I think you have a
pretty dang high ceiling. Like if things are perfect, we
started figuring out stuff and it all kind of rolled together.
I still think we could get to a nine of four,
but I don't think it's I think it's that's like
the ceiling where before I feel like the ceiling was
National championship and Final four was kind of not an
expectation but pretty achievable, but still kind of out of
you know, it was a it was a high expectation,
but not the highest end of the ceiling. I think
will probably be more like a Sweet sixteen round with
thirty two type of team. And then the floor I
think is, you know, first first round loss. So I
don't think it's I don't think it's changed a ton
a game or two, but obviously the height behind it
is what really hurts. So I think Richie was a
huge piece to it. But I think you've seen Aj
kind of step up and take a leadership role there
that maybe was I think it was happening before, but
I think he stepped up even more. So I'm intrigued
to see what happens as the team.
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time out, Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, We're gonna
go to break. We'll come back with more Cougar Sports content.
We got a great segment on the flip side.
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Speaker 1: Today extra, let's get the latest news coming out of
BYU Athletics with a Cougar Sports press release.
Speaker 6: This is Ronald the three Man Weaver bringing you the
Cougar Sports press release today. Ajidy Bonsa has been named
to the thirty player Late Season Team for the twenty
twenty six Jersey Mike's Nasoni Trophy Men's College Player of
the Year, it announced Thursday morning.
Speaker 7: The six to nine fourd has reached.
Speaker 6: Double figures and scoring in all twenty six games to
start his BYU career, the third longest such streak to
open a career in Big twelve history. He also has
set multiple freshman program records, including most twenty point games,
thirty point games, triple doubles, free throw made and free
throw attempts, and his latest performance, de Bonsa poured in
thirty five points to lead all scores, recording his six
to thirtieth point game.
Speaker 7: The outing established a new BYU.
Speaker 6: Freshman single season scoring record, surpassing a forty eight year
mark previously held by Danny Ainge. He shot thirteen to
twenty eight from the field with his twenty eight attempts,
also setting a freshman record.
Speaker 7: For field goal attempts in the season.
Speaker 6: De Bonsa added seven boards, two assists, and won seven
to eight from the free throw line.
Speaker 7: Congrats to agd Bonsa on this new freshman record.
Speaker 6: YU will return to the Marriott Center on Saturday, February
twenty first, when the Cougar is welcome in number six
Iowa State to the Marriott Center. Tip Off the schedule
for eight thirty pm Mountain Time, and the game will
be on ESPN. For more Cougar Sports press releases, too
into Cougar Sports on one, O, three, nine and ninety
eight three ESPN the fan every day from two pm
to six pm. Follow me on x last, Twitter, and Instagram.
Aron a three man we for all things surrounding and
related to YU. This Cougar Sports press release was brought
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Speaker 7: That's Cridle fifteen, Critle.
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Speaker 1: You are listening to Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle, and
it's time for a Cougar Insider report. Now, let's get
that proprietary inside scoop on Cougar Sports from Critle.
Speaker 2: Welcome back to your sports one of three nine ninety
point three ESPN. The bandom that.
Speaker 3: Trital broadcasting from our Vanderdwealth Studios Banderwell dot com. Get
on that free Q and A, no obligation to invest
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to set up an a point. Then we got our
guests on the line, Ronald the three Man Weaver. Okay,
we're still working on it. We'll get in some Big
twelve news and notes by the way. Big twelve news
and notes from a Big twelve insider. John Kurtz taken
to social media recently. He said, in my fifteen year
broadcasting career, I've been to games in Texas, I've been
to games at Oklahoma. I've been to games in the SEC,
the Big Ten, the Fiesta Bowl, Connon Bowl. The best
college sports road trip I've taken is hiding in plain
Sight in Provo and Utah, I'm like, all right, that's hey,
strong words, strong commentary. Look, bu fans, we want to
put our pat ourselves on the back if you will,
and say, yeah, we got a great environment at Lavelle,
we got a great environment at the Marriott Center. We
got great things to do here in Utah and in
Proving Utah Valley? Is it the best environment? I don't know, man,
It's all subjective. Everyone has different taste, every strokes for
different folks, if you know what I mean. But shout
out to John Kurtzer, give them some love, to brig
them and provo. Let's get out to the hotline. Welcome
in Big twelve Insider on the tune in app. That's right,
Big twelve Radio on tune in. We got Ari Tempkin
on the light.
Speaker 2: All right, how the heck are you?
Speaker 5: I'm great? Then?
Speaker 7: How are you?
Speaker 2: Buddy? Living the dream man?
Speaker 3: Just talking ball, solving the problems of the day, commenting
on all the problems of the day.
Speaker 2: What's keeping you busy today? How was your show?
Speaker 5: Yeah? No, I mean you know, and I saw you
were on Twitter talking a little bit about Darren Peterson
and that's obviously been a huge talking point kind of
throughout but we're also going through the top newcomers at
each position across the Big Twelve. So we've kind of
we concluded our series that there with specialists. So we've
gone through every position and the top five newcomers ever positioned.
Interestingly enough BYU, not many newcomers on the defensive side
of the ball. Yeah, yeah, true, So we've learned a lot.
I think about the conference as we had in the
spring practice here. So look, football season never sleeps, and
even though basketball seasons heating up, you still always have
to keep one eye on football season, you know.
Speaker 3: Yeah, So your band with you know, with with with
let's talk about the newcomers here, Like in the Big twelve,
who who do you think, I guess did the best
in the transfer portal this offseason from the Big twelve, Like,
who came out on top with the transfer portal additions?
Speaker 2: Would you say, Well, I.
Speaker 5: Mean Texas Tech, you know, I mean, and it's obvious
from a standpoint of the money that they've spent, you know,
they needed to improve on the defensive side, and that's
where I think, like it's an interesting series because you know,
not all the best teams are going to be active
in the total. Because a lot of these teams that
we're gonna be talking about as we gear for the season,
you know, are returning many of their key players, and
so Texas sack was not one of them, especially on defense.
You know, they were turned key players at running back,
they were turned key players at different positions, but not
on the defensive side of football. So I mean they
went out and spent some money. I mean, they brought
in Trey White, you know, a defensive end from San
Diego State. They brought in Austin Remaine from Kansas State.
You know, they really beefed up their linebacking corps and
their defensive lines to the portal and you know, look,
I mean, I don't I don't know that they're going
to be close to as good as they were defensively
last year because they were historically great defensively. But they
started a ton of money on that side of football,
and we'll see what they look like. And I think
offensively they've also obviously improved there and you know, and
we'll see how Soresby goes in that offense. But I
don't think they need to be as good as they
were defensively last year. But they need to be dramatically
improved offensively, because you know, what we saw against the
Oregon just wasn't good enough. Other teams like I think
West Virginia made a lot of hay in the portal.
They you know, they invested a ton in some younger prospects,
and you know, I mean they have a couple of
five stars coming in, including a kid named Matt Seeg
who was kind of a small small school warrior superstar
who played quarterback and was, you know, kind of a
monster in Pennsylvania. He committed to penn State, de commits
and goes to West Virginia. The interesting thing about what
West Virginia has done though, is, you know, when you
look at what they've had from a talent perspective, they've
had a difficult time, certainly Underneil Brown and retaining their
best guys. You know, we just saw a key messador
at Miami Go turn himself into a first round pick.
I mean, that was a kid that was initially at
West Virginia one of the best defensive ends of the
Big twelve. But he leaves for more money and we've
seen that, so it's you know, it's an interesting strategy.
I think from a standpoint of West Virginia has not
done a good enough job entertaining their top players, so
you know they're strategy in the portal. You'd think maybe
you go after some of the more known commodities guys
that have produced and have put up you know, have
had a lot of snaps and put up numbers. But
really what they've done is they brought a ton of
guys that were either four or five star prospects previously
that are looking for a fresh start, or four or
five star prospects that they were able to bring in
that are going to be freshman this upcoming season. But
they have a lot of talent and I'm very intrigued,
especially by what they did at the quarterback position. I
also like what UCF has done. UCF kind of did
the opposite where they did go after guys that have produced,
they from smaller schools, and I love what they did
at the quarterback position too. So I think two programs
that need to improve in year two with their coaches,
and two that from a talent perspective, have done that.
Speaker 3: Give me your thoughts on this, Like I've gotten back
and forth with friends with the coworkers, et cetera about
Is it better to go out in an acchoir or
is it better to retain? In this college football transfer
port world? Right Like, especially if you've won, right you're
winning the Bway for instance, it's it's the it's the
situation where they've gone eleven and two and twelve and two.
You know, they weren't able to beat Texas Tech. I
mean they were and they were far from beating them.
They were at times competitive, but they're far from being
It's like, okay, well you should go out and find
better players, right, b YU retained their players and only
strategically went out and got nine transfers. I mean there's
a few others too that were like more like p
wo walk Ons. I think they got noo Cy Tumwelpay's
older brother out of Eastern Washington, and they picked up
Seth Schigg from Army, a converted quarterback playing cornerback. But
you know, is it better to acquire is it better
to retain? Especially if you're BUYU do think?
Speaker 5: And don't forget about Roger Lyons's older brother, who's yeah.
Speaker 2: And he's one of the nine.
Speaker 3: He's one of the nine guys, right, Like, what I'm
saying is those two that I mentioned were just kind
of PWO transferal guys that came from other schools.
Speaker 5: Yeah, well, look, I think it's a great question, Ben,
and I think you know, it's different strokes for different
folks in many ways, because you know, look, Body Tataki
is really good retain talent, and I think that is
honestly one of the most important components to being successful
long term in this sport right now, because you just
cannot be turning over rosters every single year.
Speaker 2: Now.
Speaker 5: I know Texas Tech has done that to a degree here,
but at the same time, like they they brought in
guys that were one year guys that they expected to
kind of be out the door and be first round picks,
which is what we're about to see. I think, you know,
Lance light Bulb at Kansas Mi Alma Mater. You know,
before this past year, he had lost the fewest amount
of players in the portal collectively. So I think that's
how you build, and you want to you know, develop guys.
You want to have them in your system and develop
multiple years. You want them to play together, you know.
I think that is in many ways what the Big
twelve is. Is it development of league and there are
a lot of developmental programs. The problem is it's hard
for a lot of these programs to maintain and retain
these guys. You know, in some ways, I like get
it to the NFL. You know, when guys hit free agency,
for the most part, it's because their teams didn't want
to retain them, you know, they didn't see the value
in that for the for the most part, NFL team
are going to retain the most important guys because they
know more than more than anybody else about those guys.
And I'm talking about you know, in the locker room,
in the weight room, off the field, and on the field.
I think the same is true you know in college
right now is you want to retain your own guys,
and it might cost money to do it, if you
have the funds to will to retain it and you
have the right culture built internally, I think that's that's ideal.
With BYU last year, I mean, look, we know what
they were up against. They had a true freshman quarterback.
I'm much or make excuses, but like, you know, another
year for Bear and he should be a much better player.
I mean he wasn't. Even We're about to hit spring practice.
He wasn't even in provo for spring practice last year.
So I think like the success they had, especially on offense,
was so much a product of the system. It was
l J. Martin, it was an offensive line, it was
the right receivers right like it was. It was this
perfect storm that allowed him to be successful. But I
think Texas Tech showed the limitations that a true freshman
can have once things go off script, and I so
I expect him to be dramatically better. So going back
to your point about find better players, I mean, I think,
you know, being better and more consistent at quarterback, especially
when you get to a game like Texas Tech, I
think will make a huge difference because it felt like
at times, especially in the Big Twelve championship game, like
Bear was just overmatched and just did not know what
to do when his first read wasn't there what you
expect from a young quarterback. I think again, you get
now he's got a full spring. Obviously, they've got, you know,
the situation at wide receiver hanging over their heads in
terms of not having one of their top not having
one of their top targets. But I think despite that,
just being another year with an Aaron Rodgers system. Having
L J. Martin back, you're having more continuity with some
of these receivers. I think that goes a long way.
So I do think they should be considerably better at
the quarterback position. And that's not a knock on on Bear,
It's just the reality of the situation.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah, the Big the Big Twelve, I feel like, is
in a good spot, right. I think they're in a
good spot collectively across all these teams. They didn't show well,
maybe as well as we would have liked in Bowl
games and the CFP.
Speaker 2: But what's the state of the Big Twelve? Ari?
Speaker 3: You caught up with Brent or Mark. You know, he's
always monetizing. He has always thinking outside the box. He's
always trying to celebritize and monetize all things, all all
portions of the Big Twelve.
Speaker 2: Where do we stand right now? Do you think of
the Big Twelve?
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean I think overall, I mean there's so
much for momentum. You know, there's what's happening coming up
here in a few weeks at the Big Twelve tournament
in Kansas City with the ASB glass floor that I
think is going to be really cool. You know, DJ
Khaled was just announced that he's going to be performing
outside of the Big Twelve championship, you know, and then
like what's happening in the NBA is a disgrace and
it is front and center for all of the public.
And I think the corresponding year over year television ratings
within college basketball and specifically the Big Twelve our reflection
of you know, people are watching college basketball right now
at this point of the season in ways they never
had before. And I think you've got at least ten
NBA teams right now that are trying to lose, that
are actively tanking and sinking the bottom. It's bad. I mean,
there's some really bad basketball. I think. Like I'm from Chicago.
I watched the Chicago Bulls. I think there are probably
two teams the Big twelve that could beat Chicago Bulls
right now. And that's that is I mean, I know,
that's like we talked about that all the time. There's
no way like that could ever happen. But I mean,
what the Bulls are playing on the floor right now
is not a passable NBA team that is a D
is a G League team at best. So like the player,
the level of play right now in the Big twelve
level playing college basketball is far superior to what we're
seeing in the NBA and for a lot of these games,
and I think the ratings reflect that. So I think
like basketball is in a good spot. You know, overall,
overall sports I think are doing well. I mean there's
Utah gymnastics, there's you know, baseball has has some really
good teams by us on the come there. I mean
women's lacrosse is another, you know sport that Brett you
or Mark added last year, added Florida as a as
a member, and that's one of the top programs in
the country. So I think like overall, just the whole
the whole picture is really good. For the Big Twelve,
there's a lot of momentum. And then football, I mean
football is obviously the key, that's really the the litmus
test for you as a conference. And yeah, you know,
overall Big twelve did not show out well, but I
think just comparatively, the SEC sent six teams. I know,
we've talked about this, sent six teams to the dance
and didn't even end up playing for a championship. I mean,
that's a disgrace. They all the SEC keeps doing is
talking about how great they are, and all they keep
doing is proving how bad they are comparatively. And now
they're canceling series. You know, Arizona State had a series
canceled with Texas Mississippi State had a series canceled with
Texas Tech. Like they only want to play each other,
they and they want to live in this world where
they're the best, and they're not proving it. So you know, look,
I hope that the Big Twelve gets more than one
bud at the Apple next year. You know, I know
Ben and I have talked a ton about this, but
like the fact that it's one game that's basically the
one judgment for the Big Twelve is a disgrace. And
you know, hopefully, I think the BYU and Texas Tech
bolting at the front of the class for the Big
Twelve heading into this next season, you know, there's an
opportunity for two bids for the Big Twelve, but we'll
see how it plays out and then like long term,
you know, look, we're starting to really see this thing
play out, and like with like Sacramento State joins the MAC,
like everybody's trying to position themselves for this this next round.
And look, the Big Twelve is very solidified right now,
way more so than the ACC. And this is something
like that is very obvious. You know, last off season,
North Carolina, you know, basically turn in some you know
paper to you know, knowledge that they are in fact
looking you know elsewhere the SEC. There was an invite
with the SEC, was widely reported, you know that they
were trying to actively talk to the SEC. Clemson's upset
for states, upset, like there is a lot of upset
unhappy people in the ACC. And the more they change
their rules, which they did again this offseason to play
kate to the top, you know, a few percentage points
of the conference, the more it alienates the rest of
the conference. The Big twelve knows. I mean, this is
exactly what happened with the Big Twelve before BYU arrived,
where Texas at Ou, everybody play caated to Texas at
OU and they got whatever they wanted. It's the reason
they didn't bolt to the PAC twelve years ago. We'll
get you what you want, We'll give you what you want. Ultimately,
that is going to fail. It's a house of cards,
and we know that it's already happened. So the Big
Twelve is in a much more you know, a much
better position because there's a unification of the conference and
it's members that doesn't really exist at the ACC level
right now, and it's the a SEC in the Big
Twelve that are looking up at the SEC in the
Big Ten. So ultimately, I think we're looking at twenty
thirty as the year when the ACC officially breaks apart.
I think we'll see some of the big brands go
to the SEC in the Big Ten and then you know,
the Big Twelve being a good position to pounce on
some of those other teams. Now where does that put
them relative to the SEC in the Big Ten? I
don't know. I mean I think football and how good
and consistent this league can be at football over the
next five years will go a long way in that
because football is driving the bus. And when the Big
Twelve goes back for its TV rights, it can it
can show just how good the conference is from a
football perspective at a championship level. And now you're talking
about money that could you get close to where the
SEC in the Big Ten are. So look, I think
the Big Twelve is as positioned as good as positioned
as any league in the country right now in better position,
and the ACC which is a direct competitor, and the a
SEC is going to break apart. It's an inevitability.
Speaker 2: Great insight, great knowledge.
Speaker 3: There love the commentary, Ari Tempkin, Big twelve Radio on
the tune in app. What's the best way to support you?
What you do, how you do it for all of
our listeners are.
Speaker 5: Yeah, appreciate you, buddy, Thank you seven to ten am
Central each every weekday morning. It's Big twelve Today on
tune in and Big twelve Studios, and your audience can
search Big twelve Studios dot com to find all of
the platforms that the show is available. But appreciate you
very much, Ben, Take care man, couple.
Speaker 2: Actually, I got one more thing for you, Ari. Ceiling.
We didn't talk basketball. We didn't talk basketball.
Speaker 3: Ceiling and floor for this BA basketball team that's been
decimated by season ending injuries and still trying to find
themselves defensively, offensively, they're pretty sound, could.
Speaker 2: Be maybe slightly better.
Speaker 3: But what's the ceiling and floor for this BOA basketball team?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 5: I mean I think the ceiling is the getting out
of the first weekend. That would be a huge sass.
You know. Look, they were before the Richie Saunders injury
three hundred and fifty first out of three hundred and
sixty three basketball teams in bench scoring. So it was
not a secret that this team just did not have
enough scoring loss at Dawson Baker. You know, they just
didn't have depth, but they had the big three, and
that big three was gonna be good enough to carry
them if they got hot on offense. And without Saunders,
I mean, forget about it. I know that that Rob
Wright and aj De Bounce are just two NBA talents
and they're incredible, but that's just not gonna be enough,
especially because you know Richie obviously he brought the scoring,
and the fact that his scoring didn't really take much
of a back seat this year, like he's still looking
year every year at numbers that were similar. In fact,
I think his numbers are actually up. It's pretty incredible
to think that they add Rob right, they add to BATSA,
and his numbers don't take a back seat to those guys.
So I think that should speak to NBA scouts. But
he was a great leader for this team. I think
Kevin Young obviously mentioned that, and the leadership is gonna
be missed. And then the defense. I mean, I think
one of the most underrated part of Richie Saunders's game
in the fact that he was averaging one point eight
steals per game, and this is defense, you just hit
on it. I think we guy love Kevin Young. I
think he's a great coach, and I think he's gonna
win big at BYU. But I think this offseason he's
got to take a long, hard look in the mirror
and figure out a way to become more physical and
and better defensively and more consistently defensively. You know they
they haven't.
Speaker 9: They have a.
Speaker 5: Culture of finesse, and they're really good offense, and they
run great sets, and they've got you know, just I mean,
incredible stuff, but they to be good to win big,
you need to be good defensively. And like I go
back to that Houston BYU game and it was I
think it was tied late, and it's like there was
no doubt who was gonna win because one team just
culturally is physical and one team is culturally finesse and
fair or unfair, the physical team out physical BYU down
the stretch, Capatata. They need a team of capotatas, because
that that dude is physical. He's you know, he gets after,
he gets some glass. He's good, he's good at protecting
the rim. Promise. He's only one guy. So again, I
think love what Kevin Young does. I think this offseason
he's got to figure out how to be more physical.
He's got to scour the transfer portal and find you know,
more physical, defensive minded guys because they've got to be
more consistent as a program defensively some to win big.
But look, I think with the loss of Saunders, if
they get out of the first weekend, that'd be a
huge success in terms of their floor. I mean, they're
gonna make the tournament. I mean, they could lose out,
which they won't and make the tournament, I would think
based on what they've done so far. But and they
won't obviously lose out because they've got too much talent
at least for those two guys to lose out. But
it's just it's tough to think that they can win,
you know, more than two games. So I mean, I
think their floor is probably a first round loss, first
round upset, and their ceiling is probably get on the
first weekend. Winning two games.
Speaker 3: If you're an NBA GM, do you take Darren Peterson
number one overall? Or ag debonsa and next this this
year's NBA draft.
Speaker 5: You know what's really interesting is coming into this season
and forgetting about the Peterson all the off the court
stuff and the you know, the the injury stuff, Like
forgetting about that for a moment. Coming into the season,
was looked at as a guy that was he could
not stop him from getting to the rim. He was
a great facilitator. He was a great shooter and a
great defensive player. So far, what he's shown at Kansas
is he could be a microwave scorer. Like this is
a dude that can come in and score a lot
of points quickly. He's not getting to the rim a ton.
Most of his shots are from three. He's not getting
to the rim. He's not defending. He has eleven assists.
Eleven assists in eleven Big Twelve games. He's not facilitating.
So he's not really doing anything that he was expected
to be doing to be a number one overall pick.
So if I'm an NBAGM, I'm looking off. I'm taking
a long hard look at why did your numbers look
like this this year. Why are you not a facilitator?
Why aren't you driving to the bucket more? Why aren't
you defending at a higher rate. These are all things
that you were supposed to be doing, that you did
in high school. These are the things we're known for.
So yeah, I mean, if I'm a GM, I'm still
probably leaning towards Peterson. But I think beyond the injury stuff, like,
there's things on the court that he was supposed to
be able to do that he's not. And you know,
look me, while the vance is playing thirty nine minutes,
he's carrying the team. I think there's be a hard
decision to make for an NBA GM, there.
Speaker 2: No doubt about it. Ari. We salute you, We appreciate you.
Speaker 3: We invite everyone to follow you on X and listen
to you every single day, every single week over on
Big twelve Radio on the tune and out.
Speaker 5: Thanks so much, brother, Appreciate you, brother, take care of
a great weekend.
Speaker 2: There you go.
Speaker 3: That's Ari Tempkin and that segment was ronto by big
otires in an American fork. If you're looking for an honest,
hard working, cost transparent mechanic who's also a big BYU fan.
Let my guy Ryan Eldridges earn your business today. He'll
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Speaker 3: That's right, great, great event and you little Cougar inside
reports Slash Big twelve Sports update, Ari Tempkin Big twelve
Radio on the tune and Alf joins us.
Speaker 2: Next.
Speaker 3: This is Cougar Sports one oh three nine ninety eight
point three ESPN The Fan.
Speaker 1: This he's a one oh three nine at ninety eight three.
ESPN Sports Center updates.
Speaker 9: With a cancelation of bya baseball game yesterday dude to weather.
Only one team was in action yesterday. Is Softball split
their doubleheader in the Merry Another Collegiate Classic. Game one
against the Matadors of cal State North three YU got
off to a two to nothing lead in the third inning,
but couldn't hold on and ended up losing seven to two.
Game two was a different story. The start of that
game was gian Emarties, who threw a complete game shutout
and told twelve strikeouts against Tawaii and the eight to
nothing victory elive. And Birdingham also starred today with her
first two homers of the year, one in each game.
Now let's get you updated with this weekend schedule. Starting
with today's game, Women's tennis has a match at eleven
against Weaver State, and the distance team for track and
field gets started at eleven forty five in Boulder, Colorado.
Then there's a break in the action until four o'clock
when softball chases long each State in the first game
in their doubleheader before they take on Auburn later in
the day at nine o'clock. The women's tennis team is
back in action at five o'clock, hosting Colorado State, right
before baseball at San Diego State Gymnastics versus Denver on
Senior Night, and number seven ranked men's volleyball hosting Fort
Valley as they all start at seven o'clock. An action
on Saturday, Men's tennis looks to continue their undefeated start
to the year at noon, before women's basketball heads up
North take on the Utes at two o'clock. Baseball then
continues the Tony Gwinn Legacy Tournament when they take on
You See San Diego at four o'clock. Softball team also
plays at four o'clock against Washington in their final game
of their marry another College of Classic. After men's volleyball
tonight at seven, twenty third rank men basketball finishes off
our weekend slate as they host number six Iowa State
team looking for their first Quad one A win of
the season, well what looks like their last opportunity to
do so for the Big Twelve Tournament. That game tips
off at a thirty I'm Camra Clark and the Suspend
your ESPN the Fan Cooper Sports Center update brought to
you by Royal Art