Speaker 1: They'll connect this so marches right around the corner and
the Cougars are in the metal level.
Speaker 2: It's time to talk some college basketball on Cougar Sports
with Ben Critton. Welcome back Rick your Sports one of
three nine ninety eight points three ESPN the Fan. I've
bet crital broadcasting from mar Vanderwealth Studios vanterwellth dot com.
Get on a free Q and a noble obligation to
invest Q and A with our tax Mart Wealth Advisors
certified financial planners. Nobody does it better than Blaine Anderson.
He wants agents support you in that quest for financial stability,
answer stigutability calling today.
Speaker 3: Set up an appointment.
Speaker 2: Check out that tax Mart Wealth playbook today at Bantererwealthbantterwealth
dot comed. He's time for little college basketball segment. We're
gonna welcome in Jonathan Tabnari's You Live from Madison Square
Guard and get a break down this BYU Clemson matchup
BYU a five and a half point favorite, and we
hope the Kougs, who are our top ten team in
the country, can knock off a top twenty five team
in the country Clemson Tigers. Right now, I think the
Clemson Tigers have two losses, BA only one loss, and
we're gonna break it down for you here on your
Utah ESPN Radio Network. It's gonna be brought to you
by Odeon Men's where Odeon Menswear dot Com. Looking to
elevate your suit game, then head on over to Odeon
Men's where in along the wasa satch front. They got
three locations now mentioned myself or ESPN the fan for
VP products, VPP service, VP discounts. You can get the
Crittal fifteen coupon code online for fifteen percent off, but
they also have other deals in store that you should
take advantage of, especially if you've been called to serve.
Speaker 3: You get a free gift with your missionary call.
Speaker 2: So if you've been called to serve and you're looking
to thrust in your sickle with your mind, then head
on over to Odeon Men's where Odeon Men'swear dot Com.
By the way, there at Madison Square Garden, the Who's
Who of BYU gonna be arriving here momentarily.
Speaker 3: I heard yeg Or demon Gilman.
Speaker 2: Excuse me, yeg Or Gentleman is in the house looking to.
Speaker 3: Rep the why the right way. He's got his leather men's.
Speaker 2: Jacket, looking all nice and pretty, not too far away
playing for Brooklyn where Brooklyn at Yegor showing up to
support the Koogs. He's one of the stories of BYU
basketball that I think has the Board of Trustees and
the Brethren supporting BYU athletics in the modern era. Ronald
the three Man, you were there at the farewell press
conference of Yegorg Genteleman. I was, and I think you
asked him a specific question about his experience at BYU,
is why he came to BYU, what made it so special,
and how faith played a role in all of it.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 1: I was told from a specific source that the boys
up here nor if the brother and they liked that question. Look, guys,
I mean, look, we were talking about basketball being the
whole time. Much is great, right, I don't want to
take that away. He did some amazing thing. He was
a lottery pick. But when you see a kid who's
from Moscow, Russia, from a different part of the world
at general conference dating a member of the church and
the any give him a quarter for what I know. Still,
you know, in a long distance relationship, I'm like, this
question has to be asked, like we have to ask
what his experience has been like, right, And he commented
on it. He said, you know, BYU, it's bigger than
you know yourself, my faith in Christ, and you know,
I've grown as a person here lily bearing his own testimony,
the Yego Joeman version of BYU. And that's stuck out.
And I think that is the reason of why a
lot of people want to be here. You know, on
and off the court, there's multitudes of non members here.
I look, Fu Sine Treore was another person right, reports
that you know he's gonna get baptized, right, you know
in France like that. That's the type of people that
are in this culture, that are a part of it,
like the Bachmeier brothers. Right, we had them on the show, Ben,
Did they not say that we are BYU like we
are the culture? Like these are individuals around the world
that come to be a you not just to play
at a high level, but also you know, grow their
faith and grow their testimony and be with people of
different faiths than people of the same faith.
Speaker 4: You know.
Speaker 1: And it's been open and Jegor is a positive experience.
He's he's been one of the faces been I think
during the time of BA even more post right, I
think we've heard more commentary about Yegor in his time
at BAU since he's left BYU. Right with Legion of
Hoops put it out there. Yeah, New York is different
than BYU. You know, at BYU people don't want to
drink or party like that was a struggle for him, right,
I think he struggled a couple of weeks, maybe mentally
figuring it out, but now he's been thriving with Brooklyn
and playing a lot more. I know fans didn't like
that draft pick at first, but I think fans have
started to come around to Yegor. And yeah, he's at
Madison store Garden rightfully, so he was there for the draft.
So tip to Yegor been great individual that you're able
to get into your program. You only had him for
a year, but I don't think you have to be
here long to make an impact on people.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think that's one of the reasons
why the rubber stamp of approval from the Board of
Trustees has been you know, it's been so willing to
be given, right you see, also recently the one hundred
and fifty anniversary of Brigham Young University being celebrated in
Elder Oaks President Oaks profits here and Revelator Oaks at
the Church Jesus Christ Letter Saints and Elder Holland, both
having been former presidents of Brigham Young University, outwardly openly
declaring their love and appreciation not only for BYU as
an institution academically, spiritually, morally, but also athletically.
Speaker 3: We went into it. We gave you some of those
sound bites.
Speaker 2: Maybe I can pull them up again for all of
you guys, Cougar fans and Cougar country. And so they
know and that they love BYU's institution, and then they
see what's happening in athletics and that BA Athletics is
doing it the right way, and they're willing and ready
to support it. They are more than willing to say, look,
do you guys get to play in your sandbox and
do what you do. As long as you're doing it
in the right way, then we'll continue to support you
in all things.
Speaker 3: So I love it.
Speaker 2: I think it's tremendous and I love seeing Yegor showing
up in support his former BYU basketball teammates as they
ball out and do great things now, Richie Saunders, Okay,
Richie rich the Todd King. What do we expect from
the Tator Todd King versus the Clemson Tigers.
Speaker 3: We're pretty close to tip off, are we not? Yeah?
Speaker 1: I think they're about the tip off of what I'm
looking at. I got the game pulled up here been
we are close to tip off about to happen, yes, sir.
Speaker 2: So Obviously, Ajda Bonsa has been the headliner I think
for a lot of the propaganda out there in the
sports media world, and with two reason. I mean Ajda
Bonsas is second in Jeff Borzello's and Mior Medcal's most
recent Freshman of the Year contenders. His previous rank was
number one. These things gets mixed up all the time.
But biggest performance so far he had twenty five point
six rebound two steel game versus Yukon in Boston on
November fifteenth, So under the brightest lights, he's balled out.
While the highlight worthy dunks have helped A Bonsa go viral,
his defensive impact deserves equal attention. Byu is a top
twenty five team and adjusted defensive efficiency and when Debonsa
and Canard Davis junior are on the floor together.
Speaker 3: Watch out.
Speaker 2: Opposing teams have registered just eighty three point four points
per possession. That I think, just eighty three point four
points per possession against the Cougars. Players who are who
have tried to take jump shots over to Bontsa are
just five for twenty eight percentergy Sports data. His versatility
has altered BYU's makeup on both sides of the ball.
That is Myron medcalt breakdown of AJ. But Richie rich
has also been tre medicine. He's taken the torch. Is
this Richie's team, Ronnie?
Speaker 3: Or is this Aja's team? Gosh dart it.
Speaker 1: Look, that's a very tough question. That's the question the
day that everybody wants to say. But I'm gonna let
the fans speak for themselves. Right, I go to the
games for you? Did I not put out on your platform?
There's a kid dressed like Richie Saunders with the hand
Ben Richie with the jersey, right, But I also see
AJ jersey as well as he had beans. But I
think if I had to pick Ben, if you had to,
you know, answer the question flat out. Richie's gonna get
the national age, is gonna get the national attention to
excuse me, because he's the number one overall recruit project,
the number one draft pick.
Speaker 4: He is.
Speaker 1: But when you ask whose team it is who averages
more point, I think it's the Top King, right who
won MVP, you know at the Terry Chocolate Invitational, the
Top King. Look, Richie is in the best position possible
as one of the best stars. And I don't want
to say co stars with A J and Robb because
I think they all the superstars in themselves. But he's
benefiting at the best point in my opinion, as one
of the big three because AJ and Rob demands so
much attention that Richie can just play and shoot as
many threes as he would like. He's already made twenty
three on the season. Ben has made seventy five last year. Look,
I think it's Richie's team right now. I think you
have to scout a J and Rob. But if you
leave the three point line open, number fifteen bears you,
so I still think it's Richie Saunders team. I still
think he's a leader as one of the captains. Even
though AJ is getting a lot of the spotlight.
Speaker 2: The Todd King, ladies and gentlemen hopefully he goes off
tonight for the BA Cougars. But if you missed it,
let me just take a brief time out from basketball
talk and discuss what happened up on the hill. The
University of Utah signed a college sports first private equity deal,
So if you missed it here, University of Utah Border
Trustees unanimously approved a measure Tuesday to create a for
profit company in partnership with New York based equity firm
Otro Capital that could help infuse more than five hundred
million dollars to the athletics department.
Speaker 3: According to Josh.
Speaker 2: Furlong OFKSL dot com, the first of its kind d
first of its kind deal creates a new for profit
company called Utah Brands and Entertainment LLC that will operate
as part of the university structure but be outside of
the athletic department. Utah will maintain majority ownership of the
company and full control while being in part partnership with
Otro Capital, who will be a minority owner and the
source for immediate infusion of cash into the department. Ultra
Capital will receive a percentage of the annual revenue from
the Utah Brands and Entertainment LLC that will be split
with the university, with a goal to exit the partnership
in the next five to seven years. Yahoo Sports, Rossdalger Notes,
Utah Brands and Entertainment will house most of the components
traditionally held within the university's athletic department through fundraising will
no fundraising will remain with the school. The new company's
primary goals to generate more revenue across an assortment of areas,
including ticketing, concessions, corporate sales, and sponsorships. The move isn't
completely foreign to college sports, as a host of schools Kentucky, Michigan, State,
Cleans in Texas, Tech, and SMU have announced the creation
of a private revenue generating entity outside of the athletic department. However,
none of those schools have partnered with Inequity. For let's
transition back to hoopstock, we got Jonathan Tabinari, the Brazilian bomber,
live from Madison Square Garden to talk some BYU hoops JT.
Speaker 3: How heck are you buddy?
Speaker 4: Hey? The game is started and AJ with Keke panners,
So I couldn't be better right now?
Speaker 3: Hey?
Speaker 2: Uh, you know how How good is this BYU basketball
team right now? Are you feeling good about where they're
trending their chemistry? I think everyone's always want to, Hey,
how's the chemistry, How's the cohesion?
Speaker 3: How's the continuity within the players?
Speaker 4: You know, the season they've had so far in an
nonconference chedule has been tremended. You've seen all the players evolved.
Obviously a couple of injuries that you weren't expecting. But
you know, we knew that this was going to be
the Robert right, you know, the RW three and AJ
and Rich the show and uh, you know, and now
you're hoping that some of the other supporting casts will
be able to step up. You know, you're hoping that a,
let say, you will be able to get going as
the backup point guards. You're hoping that Tyler Russ and
U and Mohilo are able to knock down shots, and uh,
you know, and then obviously I'm super happy with how
you know, Kadeem has come in and and does an
incredible job. You know, he sat playing the four and
the five, and uh, but again you need more and
you know, skim forget I'll Mick Fiomandi, who also has
been incredible and so it's a great team that they're improving.
And this game here against Dumpson is the last game
that they actually have a real talent before they play
about four bunnies, you know, to finish out the season
of the year or to finish out go on Compert schedule.
So that's you know, the players to take their finals.
But you know, so far, it's a really good game
here five three physical Uh juy Leen former Sinview guy.
Uh playing Fort Clemson right now and uh, good game
so far, you know, my first time in the garden then, so.
Speaker 3: Love that man. Yeah.
Speaker 2: The starters for b you rod right the third, Richie Saunders,
Kennar Davis Junior, Asier de Boncer, Kepaketa on Clemsonside, Justin Porter,
Dylan Hunter, Jake Walleen, Nick Davidson and then Carter Welling.
You got to b yu or excuse me, you got
two Utah based uh prospects there, Carter Welling and Jake Walleen,
and then I think Nick Davidson instead also played basketball
at by a lot of bo your connections. There are
a lot of Utah connection with Jake Walleen being a
former BO you commit.
Speaker 4: Yeah, and you know, I was really bummed when Jake
decided to go to decided to go to Utah. You
know where the prospects of r you had, you know,
even going back to Burby, Causelow's incredible, incredible players and uh,
you know there's different fastor success now and Jake looking
at here right now, looks big, looks strong. Uh you
know a J's ping another jump over him and uh,
but phenomenal game. I think this VRU team, you know
is boys. My expectation for this game benefit very much.
You know, are they going to be able to be
the team by twenty you know or thirty because like
he did against Wisconsin, I don't know, there'll be different
to sell. But uh, that's the type of performance that
I expect m D y years. You know, right before
the rep up the non confidence part of the season.
Speaker 2: With Dawson Baker suffering an a cl tear, obviously Nate
Pickens is out for the season. Uh, who who gets
those minutes? What will the rotation look like now with
Dawson out of the lineup?
Speaker 4: Oh, I think that the rotation gets tightened up with
you know, probably Xavion being the one that gets you
a little of the last playing time with Mahilo Dominich
and being an Alexe getting most of the minutes, right,
they beginning to see that Mihilo was getting them and
then the Indian amount the stepped up. But it'll be
interesting to see it because this team doesn't soonly have
a snipers, right, someone that is a a prolific catching
shoot guy. I s out for Richie. Uh, you know
that that's just a starter. But from the bench, they
don't have a you know, someone like seven Network last year,
and so just based on that or being just going
to see who steps up.
Speaker 2: Jonathan Tabinari talking to some b YU pass catball here
on your Utai ESPN radio network. He's live from Madison
Square Garden as the b AU Cougar is taking on
the Clemson Tigers. Uh.
Speaker 3: Do you feel like this is gonna be another blowout?
Speaker 2: It sounds like you're alluding to it similar to Wisconsin,
who was you know, a top twenty five team as well.
Speaker 4: To my expectation is that you know, b y U
games and wins well, right, you know, and uh, you
know aside from from aside from ukon, b YU hasn't
really been challenge and even in that game. They were
able to come back and almost win the game. And
so I think that's the expectations for this turning playing
against caliber. Now, person who's very athletic, very long and so,
you know, decided to see where's game the game fans
out to.
Speaker 2: Be Jonathan Tabinari Live from Madison Square Garden. Jonathan, last
thing before we let you go, uh this uh, this
b YU basketball team. This is their their last non
conference games, you know, leading up to in conference games.
Do you think they've they've been prepared through the non
conference in order to battle with arguably the best. I mean,
it is the best college basketball conference in the country.
You look at their records versus the SEC, the Big Ten.
Speaker 3: Everybody else.
Speaker 2: They have been dominant versus everybody else in the college
basketball world.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you know all other teams. We have to hear
about the USCC and football. The UYU gets told probably
say God about a Big twelve and basketball, and you
know b YU happens to be you know, not do
want to be premier seams in the Big twelve. And
so as the season goes on, the team is only
going to get better. The high is only going to
get bigger. You know, and focusing on AJ for a minute.
It is crazy to think that the more goes on,
the hype gets bigger, and he's still and he still delivers, right,
And so you know, definitely by a mile, the greatest
basketball season in program. Heretory the most hyphe to one
for sure.
Speaker 2: And I think so is DeMarcus Harrison in attendance by chance?
Speaker 4: Uh, now that I see it.
Speaker 2: DeMarcus Harrison, I think, is the only I don't know,
is he the only guy that played for BYU basketball
and Clemson in his career?
Speaker 4: Now, I don't know. I know, I know the market
didn't go to go to Clemson, but I don't see
him here right now. So I do see I see
I see Yagor, I see President Gen Dave Road, and
then I see my boss. My boss was Bob uh
David Tlana. But I did not see James Bolin.
Speaker 3: All right.
Speaker 2: I was just I was just seeing, if you know,
who's the who's who out there at the ed Madison
Square Garden. So uh, JT always appreciate her time and
enjoy the game. Man, We'll catch up with you later.
Speaker 4: I appreciate it. And you know, it's all of the
ESPN fans always on forever Kid.
Speaker 3: They go, that's Jonathan Devin Are. Yeah.
Speaker 2: The Big twelve is thirty eight and twelve one against
other power conferences. Right now in this basketball season, they're
fourteen to two against the SEC eleven and seven versus
the ACC. Big Ten is seven and six, Big East
is six and six. I may put out real quick
a photo of DeMarcus Harrison.
Speaker 3: Who is this?
Speaker 2: And why am I asking it? Cougarnation hit me up
on Twitter? Who is the only UH basketball player to
have played for both BYU and the Clemson Tires.
Speaker 3: Did you know that little little trivia of the day.
Speaker 1: I did not been though I didn't.
Speaker 2: DeMarcus Harrison man, Yeah, that was an interesting situation. Man
Like DeMarcus had decided I think he was gonna serve
a mission after his freshman season balled out.
Speaker 3: He had a great year.
Speaker 2: You pull up his stat line, I think in the
tournament just was trending in the right direction, and then
decide he I'm gonna I'm gonna go supermission. But then
decided not to submission, and by you had already kind
of filled their US spots, and so de Marcus found
his way to Clemson. It was the transfer portal before
the transfer portal kind of thing. And because he wasn't
a graduate transfer anyway. Any that that's your your Staturday,
but you, yeah, you gotta look up DeMarcus Harrison for
those that know.
Speaker 3: He was a great player.
Speaker 2: I don't know what his his overall stat lines were.
I think he was a contributing player, no doubt. I
don't know if he was a starting lineup guy, and
I think he played. He played well for the Clemson
Tigers for multiple year six point one points per game,
two point four rebounds, one assist, thirty seven percent from
the field. Played in uh you know, from two thousand
and twelve to twenty fifteen. He actually, yeah, he started
thirty one games played that first year, thirty six games
the following year, then thirty one after that started in fourteen,
twenty two, and twenty one. So overall, I think he
had fifty seven starts for the Clemson Tigers. Averaged on
his career with Clemson over twenty minutes per game too,
So great player, great players. Final year with Clemson average
seven point nine points per game.
Speaker 3: So it would have been nice. It would have been
nice to have the.
Speaker 2: Marcus Harrison as a BYU Cougar All right, that's our segment. Guys,
appreciate you guys tuning in, chiming in wherever you've been
tuning it, tuning in and chimon infom BYU basketball currently
up in this BYU Clemson matchup, and hopefully they get
another convincing victory there. It's nine to seven currently with
about fifteen minutes left in the first half. Let's go
to break, We'll come back. More Cougar Sports commentary here
on your Utah ESPN Radio Network one O three to nine.
Oh and by the way, hey, let me just reiterate,
Tune in every day a twenty am for your chance
to win a four pack of tickets to an advanced
screening of Avatar Fire and Ash at the Jordan Commons
Megaplex on Tuesday the sixteenth. That's right, Tune in a
twenty am for your chance to win a four pack
of tickets to advanced screening of Avatar Fire and Ash
here on ESPN the Fan at the Jordan Commons Megaplex.
That's Tuesday, December sixteenth. Don't go anywhere. This is Cougar Sports.
One O three nine ninety eight point three