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in Double THEE the Daily Raldia to talk some Cougar
basketball with his day Double d How are you, buddy?
Speaker 4: I am doing well, Thanks Ben.
Speaker 2: How's Portland? How is it?
Speaker 5: Uh?
Speaker 4: You know, I'm an oor going in by birth. Was
born in Grant's Pass down south, a little bit grown,
raised in kid Junction a little further south than that.
Been to Portland a few times. It's been a while.
I know they have a great zoom here and right
now they've got some great basketball's gonna be played in
about uh less than twenty four hours.
Speaker 2: Boom shot a luck. I love it? Well, Darnelle, how
do you feel about them?
Speaker 3: Koog's right now? How do you like this matchup between Texas?
Did you catch the NC State Texas game last night?
Give me a little scouting report? What do you see
and how you feel about this Cougar men's basketball team?
Speaker 4: Well, well, right now, I think you know it's interesting
because the last couple of times in the NCAA tournament
being why you played a team from a mid major
conference to open and then the last time they ended
up playing a team from the Power Conference was UCLA
back in what was it twenty one or twenty two,
and UCLA went on to the final four, and they
were a team that came out of the first four.
So but the difference there, of course, was all those
games were played in Indianapolis, whereas Texas has had to
jump on the plane. Sean Miller told us the plane
didn't leave dating until about three am last night, and
so they fly out here in practice, and you know
that's got to have some sort of effect. And Rob
Wright said he didn't think it would have no large
effect because both teams this point the season, they just
want to win. They just want to get that w
in the NCAA Tournament. But as far as this team,
and we've talked about this before with Kevin Young, is
this is kind of the third generation of his team
this year that he's coached because of injuries and some
things that have happened. And the team showed when they
played in the Big Twell Tournament they can score it.
They scored one hundred and six points in their first
round game against Kansas State and then they held Washington
or held West Virginia to forty nine points. So they
play some defense, so I think they discovered some things.
Texas reminds me a lot of teams from the Big Twelve.
In the middle of the Big twelve that the what
you struggled with at times, as they're very athletic. They
got a big guy in the middle, kind of like
Arizona does with the seventh footer. I'll be interested to
see how Rob Wright does getting to the basket with
a guy kind of lurking around the rim there that's
seven feet tall. They have some shooters. They have a
guy who's familiar with Byu and Sean Miller has coached
against them both at its Sadier and Arizona. I could
be a great game and it is going to be
a big test for this team. I can't help but
think what this team would be like if Richie Saunders
were healthy at this point in the season, because I
think Kevin Young and as coaching staff had done a
great job of kind of reinventing themselves a couple of
times with the injuries, and they put them in a
great position. And that's kind of what I wrote about
today was, you know, despite all the things that happened,
they're still in the NCAA Tournament. They are a number
six seed. They got to where they wanted to be.
Now it's just a matter of getting out of the
court and proven that you belong.
Speaker 3: How far can this team go in the NCAA Tournament
the way that they were playing in the Big Twelve tournament.
Speaker 4: If they can continue that kind of play, I could
see them getting out of the first weekend. But it's
going to be tough. I mean, if they do manage
to get best Texas, it's going to be Gonzaga. And
you know, I think BYU fans were hoped to be
done with the Zags after leaving the West Coast Conference,
and it turns out that you know, if they do
get past Texas tomorrow, that that Sudu Cougars would probably
play would be the Zags and they're really good again,
and Mark Feugh's a great coach. But I think it'd
be really fantastic matchup. Getting past that is going to
be difficult, but it's not like this is a team
that can't. I think they have that ability. I think
that they have the confidence in themselves, maybe a little
better now than they had a month ago, and that
plays a big role as well. And you know AJ's
walking around here. They were a few minutes late coming
to the news conference, and there's a documentary crew following
him for behind the scenes in the NCAA tournament. They
were like three cameras following him as he walked up
to sit and answer our questions. There's a lot of
attention on Aj and b Yu in this tournament, and
you know how they handle that is also kind of
an interesting thing, and Kem Young said he believes in
AJ's ability to get through that He's had that attention
since the time he was about thirteen years old, and
so he's been through it already. But there's a lot
going on here, and there's a lot at Steak for
the coopers.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed plenty at Steak. Were you at the shoot around,
by the way, doubled, you.
Speaker 2: Got to see this?
Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I did see some of that.
Speaker 3: Okay, So what did you see at the shoot around?
What stood out to you?
Speaker 4: It's pretty relaxed. I mean, this isn't like a full
fledged scrimmage. It's more like a get familiar with the
arena kind of thing. They were shooting and kind of
joking around. I saw Charles Aboo out there taking some shots.
He's a grad assistant former BYU player. And then there's
a lot of fans that were watching. I know Kevin
Young and some of the players are walked over to
sign some DYU flags, the shirts and things. So it's
more of a let's just get used to the arena
kind of thing more so than you know, what they
can practice with. But they've had some good time off
to rest. I know, someone like a Bacata can really
benefit from that time off because he was really banged up,
and I'm sure the other players, there's others who needed
to kind of get a couple of days to get
their their feedback under them and get themselves in the
best position to win on Thursday.
Speaker 3: So blessing the sky's kind of a silver line, because blow,
you got a six seed.
Speaker 2: They really couldn't have.
Speaker 3: The only way they got a five seed is if
they maybe got to the finals or won the Big
twelve tournament.
Speaker 2: So maybe a blessing in the skuys. They got to
rest up for seven days it is.
Speaker 4: And you know, I talked to Chris Burgess over the
summer about their scheduling and he told me they really
kind of patterned after Arizona. The way the Arizona last
year had I think eleven or twelve losses heading into
the NCAA tournament's still ended up with like a four
or five seed, I think. And so BYU did put
the work in early in the season, playing Villanova and
Yukon and Clemson and Wisconsin and just you know, even
the preseason when they're playing Nebraska and North Carolina State,
who are all all NCAA tournament teams. So they put
in the work to make themselves attractive to the NCAA
Tournament committee. So even with all the issues that they had,
with injuries and some of the losing streaks, a six
seed is still pretty good and puts them in a
position where they feel like they can make a run.
So that's the way I kind of think about this team.
And they head into in the first round.
Speaker 3: If you're Ky and this Cougar basketball team, do you
like or dislike playing a playing team in the first round?
Speaker 2: Texas could be warmed up.
Speaker 3: They're also having to travel, right, they played yesterday, they
got to travel. They were at Texas and other in date.
They were in Dayton, another in Portland. You know, it's
like you can go either way with this, right, do
you like it or dislike it? If you're b Yu
and Ky.
Speaker 4: Well, if you're Ky and we've asked him these kind
of questions before, he says, these guys are young, they're resilient.
They're going to be fine.
Speaker 5: He said me.
Speaker 4: On the other hand, I need to go home, take
a nap. But these gets pay. You know, they've been
raised playing AAU basketball. They played two or three games
in day and they travel everywhere you know, they go.
They go travel to all different parts of the country.
So for most of them, it's not a big deal
to do something It's different, for sure than your regular
season grind. When you play two games in a week.
You may have two home games, you may have one
road game and a home game. You may have two
home games, and but they just adjust to that. So
I don't know that it's a big deal. And at
the end of the game you might look at it
and say, well, because BYU won this, or because because
Texas won that. But I don't know that it plays
as big a deal as maybe think it does. It's
not like these guys are flying coach, you know, they're
like the NBA man. They're flying sharter and getting everything
taken care of farm. So I think both teams are
going to be fine.
Speaker 3: Who are you predicting to win the NCAA tournament? Have
you filled out your bracket yet?
Speaker 2: Double D? Where you leaning right now?
Speaker 4: You know those number one seeds all look great. And
my personal opinion is that Arizona was the best team
me what you played this year. They're just so versatile.
I mean, the first game, it was the guards, the
eight b yu up. Second game, it was a completely
different set of guys. And they can do that on
a on a game by game basis, where somebody steps
up and has a great game, because because you know,
Barry's was terrific in that first game, he didn't really
affect the game as my second time, but Arizona still won.
And that's what makes that's their superpower. That's what makes
Arizona best indifferent and you know we had Bradley Whin
the Player of the Year. The Big twelve is a
little on by the coaches and there were some grumbling
about that, but any one of those guys there starting five,
and they have a couple of guys even coming off
the bench, and Doloroso is one of them that can
lead them in scoring tonight. And so their their depth
and their versatility I think make them my favorite in
this tournament.
Speaker 3: Double d Darnell Dixon The Daily Heraldi and talking to
bu Basketball here on your Utah ESPN Radio network. Do
you feel like the benches built to make a run
right now? Do you feel like Kadeem is going to
be there that Alexi. I know he's been in the
starting lineup, but like he's been more of a supporting
cast role.
Speaker 2: Alexis going to show up.
Speaker 3: Do you feel like, you know the big three now
with Canard, Canard's gonna show up and play good basketball.
Give me kind of an evil of it. We know
what we typically get from AJ and Rob. More often
than not, they are the consistent elements of this team.
What about the other elements Keva as well?
Speaker 4: I really feel like those guys you just mentioned other
than Rob and AJ, have have caught the attention of
the opposition, which means that nobody's taken them lightly just
because they're not AJ and they're not Rob. Any coach
that does that is at their peril because those guys
have all shown that given certain games, they can step
up and make place. I think they're are more comfortable
in their roles than they were before because they'd played
you know, four or five games in those roles and say,
interesting to me about can artists that he's basically playing
the same way he played when things weren't going well,
when he wasn't making a shot, when he wasn't really
affecting the game as much defensively, I think he's playing
the same way. It's his shots are falling, which gives
him a lot more confidence on both ends. So all
of those guys have stepped into roles they feel comfortable
with what they're doing it feels like. And what Kevin
said today in that news conference was this is the
time of year. You can't fake stuff. You just go
with what has brought you here. And he feels like
he has a team that's built to be successful because
they're confident in what they're doing and they're playing to
their strengths. You can't make stuff up. It's the tournament, man.
You just do what you've got to do and do
what you've been doing. And that's how they feel heading
into it. With that win against Texas Tech at home
and then the three games in the Big Twelve tournament,
I feel like they're as good as they're going to
be in terms of preparation and confidence heading into the tournament.
Speaker 3: Darnell, give me a little prognostication, a little of score prediction.
How do you think this BYU Texas game plays out?
BA only a one and a half point favorite. I
believe they are. They're eight and eight versus tournament NCAA
tournament teams right now.
Speaker 2: That are in the field.
Speaker 3: They they're they're playing in Portland, could be a home
court type of feel.
Speaker 2: What do you make of it?
Speaker 4: I think both teams are going to be able to
score the ball. You know, BYU's discovered some things defensively
that might help them. But Texas has some shotmakers. And
you saw out of Mark in that game last night.
He made two just follow away kind of jumpers with
a defender in his face or the defender really couldn't
do a whole lot else on what they did and
the guy just made a shot. So Texas has some
guys like that. So by is going to be tested
for sure on the defensive end. I see a score
somewhere in the seventies or eighties, and you know, I
think Byu comes out on top, but I'm a very
close probably, you know, like eighty six eighty two. That's
what I'm going with.
Speaker 2: My guy W D.
Speaker 3: Darnold Dixon live from Portland, Oregon. A couple let of
things before I let you go. Camp Killani is still underway,
and you know, the the the Camp Killani conversations continue.
I've been looking at some of the highlights evaluating, you know,
who the starting offensive line is, you know who who's
going to be in the rotation.
Speaker 2: Check this out like in a recent rep.
Speaker 3: Tell me how you feel about this offensive line that's
going to be protecting bear Bachmeier. And granted this is
not the number ones right, but I thought it was instant.
Kyle Strufer Joke getting some reps at center. We all
know Bruce he's the guy, but he doesn't need to
prove himself. Kyle Stuferchoke getting reps at center, Poki Fen
now left tackle. We got Trevin Ossler left guard, at
right guard, Junior Sea getting some reps at right guard,
and then Andrew Gentry at right tackle. Today, Aaron Rodgers
said this offensive line is gonna be good. He was
oozing again. Last year he said the same thing. This
offense allow is going to be really good. How confident
are we in the offense a line protecting bear Bachmeyer
in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 4: Well, I think there's still some questions to be answered
with those guys. And we all know that the rotation
is really important, and you have your five, but who
are the other two or three guys that may get
some time that may need to be called upon based
on matchups or injuries or things like that. I think
they've got a good start, and I think they brought
in some good talent, and what also helps them tremendously
is to have a returning starting quarterback as well as
the best running back and the MVP of the offensive
MVP of the Big twelve coming back at running back.
So one of the things that Aaron Rodrick actually this
was Kelly Pepinga said, was facing Bear Bockmeier this spring
has been a real eye opener because Bear has picked up,
you know, where he left off and gotten better at Reeds.
So you know, he Delly and his defense is being
challenged a lot by what Bear can do. And so
as far as an offensive line, that helps you a
lot when you have a quarterback who can read what's
happening and it makes you look good when he gets
through the ball before he gets sacked. And then he
got a running back like Algie and Martin who can
find a gap or doesn't even need a gamage and
it runs over a guy if you missed the block
and still gets five yards. So I think the offensive
line is in a position where they're going to get
a lot of help and that's going to help them
to be good this season. But I still think, like
I said, there's some impressions to be answered at certain
positions and how effective they can be and you can
be why your second game of the league game, so
we'll find out very soon.
Speaker 3: Darnell Dixon, Ladies and gentlemen, Double D always appreciate our
time together. Thanks for hopping on live from Portland for
a Cougar beat.
Speaker 4: You bet Ben have a great one, all right, you.
Speaker 3: Too, man enjoyed the game. Manyana that segment. Great segment
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Speaker 1: The world of Cougar athletics. Here from players, coaches, and
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world the BYU Sports. In this segment, all the news
and notes coming out of Brigham Young University. We're going
to get through all of these rapid fire. It's going
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BYU Men's basketball out in Portland, getting prepp getting ready
for the Texas game, NCAA tournament, March madness. Just a
little breakdown here as we preview. This game BYU is
slightly favored one and a half points, right, and it's
going to be a five to twenty five pm tip off.
Speaker 2: It's going to be on television TBS.
Speaker 3: You can also I guess on HBO, Max, YouTube TV, Hulu,
Live TV, Sling TV, all those things. Radio is gonna
be on Westwood One for the live call. I'm sure
Greg re Bell is gonna be on the call as well.
But matchup snapshot if you will. B YU twenty three
and eleven on the season, Ken Palm rating of twenty three,
Net rating of twenty three. Texas is nineteen and fourteen
on the year. They have a Kim Palm rating of
thirty seventh and a net rating of forty second. And
it's gonna be It looks like, at least on paper,
that these are both elite offensive teams, and Bay's defense
is slightly better than Texas's defense. On a neutral court
that seems would seem to be more BAYU fans are
going to show up to they're in Portland. I feel
confident that by is gonna have a little bit of
that home court advantage. Texas fouls a lot and they
also draw a lot of fouls. You hope that AJ
draws a lot of fouls as well and maybe balance
that all out. But who's gonna put they're big man
into foul trouble. By the way, Texas one of the
worst three point defenses in the country. They did elevate
their defense or play a little bit versus en C State.
They limited I think the volume of three point shots
at NC State was looking for. They only at thirteen
with like thirteen or sorry, thirteen with like three minutes remaining,
and then NC State started getting some buckets. They end
up shooting thirty eight percent from the three point line.
But Texas was actually much improved on their perimeter defense.
And BYU has I don't know, they've been intermittent in
their three yu ways. So that's a little breakdown for
you as we get ready get prepped for another March
Madness run. Now, the history of BYU in March Madness,
we've seen the Big Dance many times, and we don't
necessarily always survive in advance. We've seen more NCAA tournaments
without a Final four opportunity a Final four berth than
any other team in college basketball history. We thought we
had fingers crossed that this was the year, this is
the time, this is the place that with all of
the talent, all the resources allocated.
Speaker 2: That this would be the year.
Speaker 3: Now, they still have metrics that qualify them to become
a I believe a Final four team. The most likely
destination though, with their path is Sweet sixteen, and I
think the metrics would I mean, they dictate that they're
gonna beat Texas and then most likely they play Gonzaga.
They can be Gonzaga good by the way, Gonzaga's good
team too. I mean they're top ten and Ken Palm
twenty ninth offensively, ninth defensively, so they they know Joe
West Coast Conference maybe a little bit of a weaker conference.
Speaker 2: They are thirty and three on the season. Their strength
to schedule not necessarily.
Speaker 3: As maybe as robust as byus, but if I'm not mistaken,
their strength of schedule rating was actually twenty seventh. Non
conference strength of schedule rating twenty seventh, So.
Speaker 2: I mean they.
Speaker 3: They played some teams. They played some teams, no doubt
about it. So that's a little breakdown. And then if
they beat Gonzaga, they're probably facing Perdue and Purdue is
one of the teams that is favored to win it
all perdue the number one team offensively in college basketball,
then number thirty sixteen defensively in college basketball, they're eighth
and Ken pom So a little preview there with the
march madness upon us. That is a little bit of
the world of BYU Sports. BYU Basketball is the prime
topic of the day. The topic djure if you will,
and that segment was brought to you by Advanced Windows
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Speaker 2: Today, let's get out to the hotline. Welcome in.
Speaker 3: One of the best linebackers in BYU football history just
turned forty one years old.
Speaker 2: I can't believe it.
Speaker 3: He's over the hump now and he's still yeah, he's
still fast, he's still nimble, he's still quick, he still
jumps out of the gym.
Speaker 2: Let's welcome in, David Nixon, D Nicks, what's up, buddy?
Speaker 5: Oh triddle man. I know anytime I come on your show,
you can just lift my spirits. And this maybe still
like I'm like, I'm twenty years old again, so I
appreciate it.
Speaker 2: Clubhead speed of one hundred and thirty miles an hour.
Speaker 5: As well, it might have a lot of speed. I've
got to get that bag on a little straighter these days.
That's my problem.
Speaker 4: But hey, the.
Speaker 5: Weather's glorious outside, so golf golf seasons here.
Speaker 2: I love it.
Speaker 5: We're finally getting out and playing some golf.
Speaker 2: Heck, yeah, dude, Well, what is the clips head speed
at right now? For for d Nix? I mean, it's
still it's still up there.
Speaker 5: It's yeah, I mean, listen, just trying to keep the
back nimbles. What I'm trying to do. It's not problement
back every time I swing. Okay, so lots of stretches
and just just stay nimble. That's my goal.
Speaker 3: Stay nimble, stay quick, and keep them keep them straight
off the t David Nixon d Nix b YU heading
to the n C Double A Tournament.
Speaker 2: They're taking on Texas. It's the round of sixty four.
Speaker 3: Gonna be I think on TBS for all those that
want to watch, it's gonna be a great event. I
believe five twenty five tip off Brad Nessler whilely Zerbiak,
Jared Greenberg gonna be on the call. March Madness has
arrived in the Cougars are seventeen and thirty five all
time in the NC Double A Tournament, including a five
or four record as a six seed. That bodes well, right,
They're making their third straight appearance in the Big Dance,
which is always actually their longest streak since making the
tournament six straight seasons under Dave Rose from two thousand
and seven to twenty twelve. What makes you optimistic that
b Y's going to survive in advance in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5: You know, the last few weeks make me optimistic. The
prior week before that that was not so optimistic because
I think everyone's kind of thinking, like, hey, let's just
get this season done with because this team just seemed
to be foundering and had lost his identity. I love
what Kevin Young did and he's missing this in the
media where he dumped down defense, kind of went back
to the basics and challenges this guys to go fight
an identity, right, And I'd like in this the football
I look back at our Bronco Men Hall defense days.
We didn't run the most extravagant defenses, right, It wasn't
the most complicated defense, but we knew what to do,
and we knew what where to be and knew we
knew how to execute the defense in mind. And I
think there's something to be said about simplicity and not
trying to get too much in the weeds. I mean, clearly,
he's got the athletes on the basketball team right, and
now it's just getting into to play proper defense and
execute the defense. And so I love what Kevin yungons
Doug had done. Like I said, he's simplified it. He's
allowed these guys to go out there and just be athletes,
because as we know, I don't care if it's football, basketball,
and he's sport. When you're thinking too much about what
you're about to do, you play half the second floor
than you should. Right, But if you're cough in your reads,
if you're tough in your abilities, you're tough in the scheme,
you play exponentially faster. And I think that's where the
defense specifically for Bou, because offensive they can score, but
defensively they were given up ninety nine one hundred points
a game. You know, this last at home stretch, and
they finally found their identy and realized they can't go
out there and compete and execute and man, have some fun.
He's lost, he's at this last little run. So I'm
excited for this game. I think, you know, I watched
the Texans game last night. Texas they're athletic, obviously, right,
and they're long. But I think this BOU team, the
way they've been playing these last few weeks, I think
the obviously got a real shot at it.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, it is a neutral site, but it seems
like it could be a home game, right with all
the b YU fans out there in the Portland area
the northwest is uh is full of Latter Day Saints
and Brigham Young University.
Speaker 2: Lums, so they could make kind of a run.
Speaker 3: Last year they were in Denver, it seemed like it
was a hometown crowd there as well.
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean you travel as well, especially for the tournament,
and the Heights has been around this team. Most likely
last chances you'll get to watch a j debands and play.
I mean yeah, I uh. It wasn't for the fact
that Maury traveling this weekend, I'm probably would have found
a way to make it out there. But yeah, it
should be a really fun environment. I'm excited. I think
you know, Texas they played in Ohio, have to fly
away across the country. They haven't had chance of scout
buy u. Uh you know, coming off you know, short
prep preparations. DUU obviously probably did a scout for both
for Texas and at Paranci State, so they probably had
that ready already. Uh So I like uyu chances of
this game, but it was interesting. You know, the Heck's
coach is a Shawn Miller right for for Texas. Yepik
I mentioned that it is nice to play in these
playing games because you kind of get the excitement out,
you get the jitters out in that first game, and
he thinks that that's going to play todvantage. I would
tend to somewhat agree. I think sometimes it is nice
to kind of play in that first playing game and
just settle down and play from there. But I feel
like the Yu in this one obviously, I'm I'm excited.
I mean it's tomorrow, right, this is like Christmas Eve
for for basketball fans. We've got Barson Maddis kicksoff tomorrow.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, I'm intrigued by what's the ceiling and uh
for this team? Do you think looking at their path
and their bracket, I thought that it was a I
thought it was a fortuitous bracket.
Speaker 2: I really think there's a path for b Yu.
Speaker 3: If aj is getting calls, if he's getting whistles, a
getting to the line, I think anything is possible for
BYU Man's basketball.
Speaker 2: What what what path? Do you see? What's the ceiling
for this team?
Speaker 5: I think some down those role players. I mean, he's
gonna get his right, but I think it comes down
to your Canard Davis and you know, can Robert Reich.
Can he get his I mean the supporting cast and
goud to their job. I mean, a J's gonna get
twenty thirty every night, but can the other guys step
up and contribute? I think that's been the biggest thing too,
And just defensively we talked about already. But you know,
he can't be given up in the NCA tournament. Can't
be get up eighty points and ninety points a game.
You're not gonna win a lot of ball games because
every team at this point obviously is a great team
and they've had success and they know how to win, right.
So what I do like in Dway's favor is the
Big twelve is just such a gauntlet and the fact
that you survived that gauntlet and it was it was
weak in and week out. You're playing a top ten team,
it felt like. And so the fact that now you
go into this tournament and I don't think they're going
to see the type of caliber a big tole opponents
that they had to face here in this first couple
of rounds against Texas and then you know, down the
road against Gonzaga. I mean, I don't know. I think
dou has a great shot. I think, like you said,
I think that the bracket itself fare as well. And listen,
if they had to play Arizona. They played Arizona really
well this year, even though Arizona's been phenomenal, you know,
they played it as on pretty close. So I don't know,
I like deuy chansons, this is gonna be a fun,
fun tournament. I you know, I've had Buddy's ass or
what is the you know, what is the success? Like,
how would you how would you measure billy success in
this tournament?
Speaker 4: I don't know.
Speaker 5: I think it's Sweet sixteen. I'd be happy with the
Sweet sixteen?
Speaker 2: Right, Yeah? Like quota quota?
Speaker 5: To me?
Speaker 2: What's quota?
Speaker 5: Right?
Speaker 2: So what's quota? What's overachieving? Would you say?
Speaker 4: Right?
Speaker 2: Is it Sweet sixteen?
Speaker 3: That's kind of the overachievement because of the sixth season,
any injuries?
Speaker 2: Or is quota? Is quota? Sweet sixteen?
Speaker 4: Right? Is it?
Speaker 2: You know? Does that make sense? I mean, yeah, where
where's that at?
Speaker 5: I would say, making it to the second weekend, making
it to the Sweet sixteen? Listen, I'm a competitor. I
obviously want you to go to the final four, right,
but I think realistic, I mean, if you can make
it to the Sweet sixteen. I think that's with like
you said, with the injuries that have occurred, I think
that's a big win. I mean, I don't want to
get too greedy here, but I think you has the
pieces even with Richie being out and Traving and the
rest of the players. I think Deally has the peace
just to make a run.
Speaker 1: I really do.
Speaker 5: I mean, you're going to have a good team that
don't have a full scout on deal you like all
the Big twelve has, and we don't have deal you
fared in the preseason when they're not playing Big twelve teams. Granted, yes,
very teams and of these other guys were still playing,
But I don't know. I think I think this time,
even after the Big twelve tournament wrapped up to now,
has helped. I think Bible is some self scout. I
don't know. I'm optimistic this I'm just gonna be really
really intriguing. But hey, the guy gets through Texas tomorrow.
I mean Texas, like I said, no joke, it was.
They were obviously very athletic yesterday, so we'll see how
they're fair.
Speaker 3: David Nixon, former b why you great talking be what
you basketball? Do you ever get you ever tell Jerem like, hey,
I can be a basketball analyst too, Like why don't
you call me up? Why Eric make a y j
T while these other baskeball players when you can talk
ball with the best.
Speaker 5: I've played off around high school. But that's about where
it stopped. And it's funny. I actually called the Blue
White scrimmage laid back like ten years ago. I was
I had to fill in because all the guys were gone,
and dask me until in last minute, and I quickly
realized I'm not cut out for that job. And I
can chat hoops, but I can't. I can't jump in
to the Techicallians as their relates to hoops. So I
quickly humbled me and I said, you know what, that's
the one and done for me. I'm an aj Devanta
on BATV for basketball. I'm one and done.
Speaker 2: What have you been seeing? D Nicks? What have you
been hearing about?
Speaker 3: Camp Kolani twenty twenty six, spring ball is well underweight?
Speaker 2: Would have been the storylines? Who have been the players?
What have been the.
Speaker 3: Position groups that you've been most intrigued by? And what
you've been watching?
Speaker 5: For me, it's just blotching our guy k Pop, you know,
kind of take the reins and make this his defense.
And you know, I know we all have to chat
with him a little bit here and there. He's obviously
super excited for this position. I think he's pretty confident
as well. I mean, but I tell people is, you know,
Kelly's been in that room with Jay Hill and the
rest of that staff for the last three years. I
mean he's in of those same in game adjustments that
that Jay was making. I mean, these coaches are very
capable that have been you know, that stayed on the
staff and stayed behind. So I'm confident that Kelly's you know,
put his own twists on his defense and put his
own identity on his defense. He's gonna probably make some
changes that he wants to change. But the luxury that
Kelly has right now is the fact that you bring
back all this depth, like you bring back all these
studds and these playmakers, and then and then you add
on to it. But I looked all across the board,
I mean Kate Delave what I mean, Well, yeah, that
that guy speech, his experience and his play on the
field speech for itself. But Jake Clifton coming in, I
looked at even Miles Hall at his production last year.
You look at you look at tacuity at Kana, I
mean New Tautama, Payal like there's some Bonafi playmakers Carol
and ton of Bosta clearly you know get justin Kirkland healthy.
I mean it's not just the starters, which has usually
been the case for Byu.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 5: I've always says even during independence, I thought BOUS twenty
two could match up with the majority of the schools
across the country. The problem was by you never had
the depth, right, And that's what we've seen these last
few years is they're building that depth and and I
think that's what you specifically have this year. Not only
do you have depth, but you have experience in that
in the too deep guys that have played meanful snaps
throughout the season are backing up the starters and can
come in and relieve them and you don't skip a
beat and that and that, Like I said, that wasn't
the case five six, seven years ago, the second singers
come in, it was a huge drop offs. So I
think Kelly's walking himself into a really good situation. I
think he had some studs all across the board, even
the secondary you talked about the Mooney and Satsawala, you know,
and Pula's out there, new newcomer. Pula's out there making
plays in spring ball. I think he's gonna have I
think his toughest time will be find out how to
get his playmakers on the field and how to utilize
their talents and uh, you know, try to put him
in positions to succeed. I think that's gonna be the
toughest position or spot as a deep courtner, not not
what defensive call of it, how to get these guys
to get the most out of them and put him
positions to win because you have the playmakers out there
so defensively, that's that's been fun to watch kind of
all that evolved offensively. For me, it's just the continued
production watching watching Bear continue to progress to the quarterback.
But you know, the wide receiver, I think with obviously
with with Parker being gone and the shoes that have
to be filled there as well Chase Roberts, there's some
meaningful production that's gotta that's gotta step up, you know,
and and and Casper is obviously one that's that's I'm
mentioned to see kind of how that all evolves. But
you know, I think I think more than ever we
saw last year with Beuty tight ends with Carson, Ryan
got got involved, and now Lions and Sarny Poker there,
I think you're gonna see a lot of two tight
end sets and getting those big dudes the ball.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's uh, you know, Katie Luave like, well, let
me let me let me break this down. Kele Thinker
said that the deepest position most likely is the linebacker
position on the entire team. Uh and uh, it kind
of begs the question of, like, you know, when we're
talking about scheme and front and the personnel that tip
that typically we like I was having this debate with
Cameron Jensen. A lot of the BAU fan base think
that Jay Hill came in and we were running a
majority forty front.
Speaker 2: I'm like, guys, I didn't see that.
Speaker 3: I saw a lot of stand up edge work, whether
it was Jack, whether it was New c. I mean,
we were still running probably sixty to seventy thirty front
with a stand up outside edge.
Speaker 2: Every once in a while we'd have a forty front.
But I've always said, I don't.
Speaker 3: Know if we have like the personnel yet to have
a two three D forty front, you know, like at
Tech Texasttack or even Utah for years, right, they they
had depth there. We have continually recruited. You were a
part of that pipeline linebackers and we are LBU right now.
Speaker 2: Look at the NFL.
Speaker 3: Look at what's been produced consistently year over year undrafted
free agency draft picks. Give me kind of your analysis
of the linebacker room, how stacked it is, and maybe
with the future of our defensive scheme is with like
with it seems like every single generation has linebacker coming through.
Speaker 2: It at b YU.
Speaker 5: Yeah, like a couple of comments there. I agree with that.
With what Kelly said, he actually was We were texting
earlier this year and he said the same thing. He's like, man,
the linebacker room, could you you lose Jack Kelly also
he started to panic a little bit right and started
to thinking, MAT's a lot of production, gone, how how
doig you get to back filled that? And then all
of a sudden, you get glaster back and you get
all these newcomers a lobby and clipped and some of
these newcomers coming in, and then you get the young
guys that contribute last year as well. I agree. I
think that linebacker room is completely stacked. And like I said,
I think that's one of the issues tell you going
to have is how do you get all these dudes
on the field right? Like, how do you get these
playmakers out there? And I go to your next question
about the scheme itself.
Speaker 4: It's interesting.
Speaker 5: I was having a conversation last night with the decordinator
for quarter Canyon. You know, my kids go to Corny Cannons.
We were up there doing some stuff on seven stuff
last night, and uh, it's Frankie Setera. The decordinator is
the brother of Casey s there is now the head coach,
and we're just tiving through schemes and kind of the approach.
And it's funny. The game of football evolved, I think
even from our time at b YU, where you really
don't have a true base defense anymore. I feel like
I feel like it really is catered to the opposing
offense you're playing and your ability to be nimble and
switch your defensive fronts up and put your personnel out there.
To your point, last year with Nucy, Newsy's a stand
up at the end, but he was strong enough you
can put him down at three point and take on
the tackle and and be a run stuff for like
these guys at day and eighties, the football players, they're
so versatile that you can move them around and put
different schemes in front of them and have them execute
pretty well. And you know, even look at the days
of It's funny because on Instagram they have that whole
that thing going viral right now where it talks about
the nineties, right, like everything that happened in the nineties.
And I saw one another day about linebackers in the
nineties and they showed like ray Lewis and yeah, you
know all these guys with neck rolls, right and just
two fifty. I mean, look at today's linebackers right to
day's linebackers are in the NFL, A freend warners, guys
that can run side and the sideline and cover cover
fast tight ends that are no longer two seventy tight
ends like they used to be. So the game just
continues to change and evolve. I think, Kelly, I recognize
that this defense, Yeah, you might be a true four
to three, but on any given down, you could switch
that to a three four, a five to two. You
can roll out five dbs and go back to like
a three three five hybrid. Like there's so much you
can do and the game's evolved so much it's tough
to say, hey, here's here's exactly our defense because you
can be I mean you can. You can throw a
lot of different fronts out there, and like I said,
a lot depends on the opposing offenses that you're running,
uh and and what you plan to what you plan
to scheme up.
Speaker 3: No doubt any players that you're most intrigued by right
now on this roster as we go throughout spring ball,
and you've been keeping an eye on whether it's offense
or defense.
Speaker 5: Yeah, I once again I'm a little biased towards the
defenside of the ball. I For me, it's just continue
to build the depth. I want to continue to see
hide you know, Cad and Jake evolve For me too,
it's it's just it's just getting the younger guys reps.
That's what spring ball is all for, right Like, you
don't you don't need to see Bosper out there and
getting meaningful reps like stots of all on it. We
know what these guys can do. That's not what spring
balls for spring Balls to get the younger guys reps,
let them stand out, get some tape out there. Uh
as they head into kind of the summer summer years now,
it is good for the older guys to get good
reps and just stay you know, stay well oiled. But
for me, it's just watching the younger guys step up
and offensively, you're gonna have to have some playmakers, like
you've got to have to that and go up and
and and high point the ball and attack the ball
offensively and come down with big catches. And like I
said earlier with with the departure of Parker, like who's
going to become that dude? And I think we all
have an idea, right, But once again, that's what spring
balls for. It goes to go jump off the tape.
You know, as we talked about the eye and the sky,
don't lie, like, go make some plays and and try
to catch the coach's eye and and and try to
ride the momentum to fall ball, you know, summer and
then fall ball. But I'm just excited team. You look
at their returning production all across the board offensive and defensively,
I think the sky's limit for the team and I
think they continue to buy into the culture of what
Kalani's building there. And uh, you know, especially off the
success of the last two seasons, this next season could
be really fun. I mean you think about, like I said,
everything everyone you bring back and and key parts as well,
you can throw all day in their bearing there. I mean,
there's some great production all across the board. So I'm pumped.
This is it's gonna it's gonna be a fun year.
Speaker 3: David Nixon, Ladies and gentlemen, talking ball today. Make sure
you follow d Nix on Twitter and then link up
with them on LinkedIn too. He's the senior manager at
JL Commercial real Estate Expert specializing in leasing for growth companies.
Check them out, connect with them. If you need a
commercial property you know who to call.
Speaker 2: Hit up David Nixon.
Speaker 3: D Nix always appreciate our time together, man, Thanks for
hopping on.
Speaker 2: Let's go soon.
Speaker 5: Likewise, thanks benmin talking buddy, they go.
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