Speaker 1: The backness of marches right around the corner, and the
Cougars are in the metal of it. It's time to
talk some college basketball on Cougar Sports with Ben Crippen.
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eight point three. Yes man the Fan. I'm in Trinal.
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Cougarnation for giving back to those in most need. I
want to talk some college basketball in this segment BAU basketball.
Kevin Young hawked onto the Ari Tempkin Big twelve Now
Show and it was you had some nice gems, some
nice nuggets I want to break down here on your
Utah ESPN Radio Network. But it is officially official, by
the way, that Abdullah Ahmed and kJ Perry are part
of the BAU men's basketball team. So they're going to
be showing up, showing out in practice, getting into the facility,
putting in work, and you hope both of them are
red shirts. kJ has been alluded to as a red shirt.
I think they want a red shirt Abdullah Ahmed, but
you never know. Abdullah may be the guy. We talked
about that just a few weeks ago, that Abdullah could
be a guy that you need in March to make
a run, to get past that threshold of Sweet sixteen
in order to make a true run and do something
BA basketball has never done, which is make it to
a Final four. The team that has gone to the
most NCAA tournaments without a Final four appearance. That streak
ends hopefully in twenty twenty six, and that March Madness Tournament.
Speaker 3: At any rate, we'll get into that here momentarily.
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Those wraps are fantastic. All right, let's get into some
of this commentary from Ky and what he has to
say about his squad. Ari Tempkin interviewed him. Big Twelve
now is the platform. Shout out Tory. He's joined our
show many times. We appreciate him always showing up, showing
out on our airwaves.
Speaker 3: Let's get into.
Speaker 4: It means world. I am Ari Tempkin. We are going
to be joined momentarily by Kevin Young, the head men's basketball.
Speaker 5: Coach at BYU.
Speaker 4: As the BYU Cougars are a ten to one with
the lone loss coming against Yukon and eighty six to
eighty four. Barn Berner, James and you know, in the
last segment and let's get it on, we kind of
made the case for could Iowa State be the best
team in the Big twelve. But I think with the
way things have started, you've got a pretty in case
for four teams right now at the top of this conference,
which includes BYU, Iowa State, Our Arizona, and Houston.
Speaker 3: And people are sleeping on BYU.
Speaker 6: They lose Dawson Baker to a season ending injury, which
will challenge their depth, but they have guys that aren't
seeing the floor more than ten or fifteen minutes a
game that are very capable cutting boop. My favorite name
in the conference is an athletic big who's a sophomore
from the Senegal was an NBA Academy Africa guy, super athletic,
like has an NBA ready body, He's just raw. Dominique
Diamande's another post player that adds a ton of rebounding
and length for them that again they don't on paper
have the stats as some of these other teams when
it comes to depth, but those guys are critical pieces
and Kava Cata down low, and then the guards like
with AJD Bonsa and Richie Saunders and Rob Wright, that's
a big three that can take you deep into the
NCAA Tournament one. There's so much further along than they
were this time last year, and they're almost being overlooked
because of what Iowa State did it Purdue, because of
what Houston did at the end of last year making
the championship game. And they're nine and one start and
beating Auburn and some other high quality teams in the
early part of the season and then Arizona in all
the top twenty five teams that they've taken down.
Speaker 3: So it's like, why is BYU why are.
Speaker 6: They not in the same conversation or the same chat,
because I see just as much talent on that roster,
and I think they're very much under the radar and
going to be a major factor come Big twelve play.
Speaker 4: All right, let's talk now with Kevin Young the head
men's basket.
Speaker 2: Okay, so that's kind of their their their initial presentation
of who BYU is. BYU is listed in the most
recent bracketology. Okay, we're not even really in the meat
of conference schedule yet they're already seated as a number
two seed. Do you feel like anyone sleeping on BYU
basketball or is this Are they a little up in
the night on this?
Speaker 3: But I don't feel like anyone's sleeping on BOAF. That's
what fact.
Speaker 2: I think they their their hype that they're bought into
BAU basketball.
Speaker 5: I think it's a little bit of both.
Speaker 7: I think the reason why they're slept on is because
they haven't played the non conference opponents that other top
ten schools have. Right if they didn' beat Yukon band,
that had been a national bread But like you gotta remember,
Arizona knocked off the defending chance Florida to Florida like that.
That goes somewhere when you beat the number one team
and now they are the number one team, they've been
running amuck.
Speaker 5: They beat Arkansas.
Speaker 7: So the team's listed above BYU have beaten hiring teams
at times.
Speaker 5: Not saying that be these Quad one games in Quad
two aren't important. They have.
Speaker 7: They've also played a formidable schedule, but maybe a little
bit more formidable. It's been more nationally televised. That was
what I was talking about yesterday on the show. It's
not necessarily that the team has been bad, but when
you're just playing on T and T for you know,
maybe the second time compared to when you're playing Florida,
you know in primetime, and then when you're playing Yukon,
and then when you knock off Perdue, Iowa State, like
the schools above BYU right now can beat BYU. They're
gonna see three of them twice. They're gonna see Iowa State,
gonna see Arizona. Then they're also gonna well, they'll just
see Houston once. But all of those teams can beat BYU.
But this goes back to Robbie mccoms post ben BYU
could definitely be a top five team by the end
of the season. Why you beat number one Arizona, you're
gonna move up. You beat number seven Houston, you're gonna
move up. You beat number four Iowa State, You're going
to move up. So I think that's why I don't
think BAU necessarily is getting slept on. Think they might
be getting overlooked because of what other people have done.
But when you look at their resume, it's a good resume.
But there are other resumes that might just be a
little bit better or might be on that same level.
Speaker 2: So I mean, I'm pulling up all the rankings, the metrics,
anything that I can find in regards to BYU basketball
right now as it relates to common you know, common foes,
common opponents, the rest of the college basketball world obviously,
you know, so from like a human element a people.
Top ten right you're number ten in the nation right now,
coaches pol your tenth in the nation. The nine teams
in front of you or Arizona, Michigan, Duke, Iowa State, Yukon, Perdue, Gonzaga, Houston,
Michigan State.
Speaker 3: You're listed as as a two.
Speaker 2: Seed right now, which is to me, uh in the
latest bracketology that that says, hey, you're you're, you're you're
probably going to be in a You're you're an elite
a team, right, that's what that's what you are.
Speaker 3: That's who you're gonna be.
Speaker 2: The men's college basketball power intex Okay, the BPI has
BYU at number eight as well.
Speaker 3: They're up four spots from their last game.
Speaker 2: And their resume from a strength of record standpoint is tenth,
so their strength of record is tenth. Their strength to
schedule is twenty second. Many of the teams in front
of them Okay, Arizona Wildcast, for instance, have a thirty
the thirty six ranked strength of schedule. Michigan actually has
the number one ranks stser Duke fifty fourth, Iowa State
sixty second, uh Yukon's nineteenth, Gonzaga I believe is eleventh
they've played a gauntlet, and Michigan State's at twenty three.
So a lot of these teams have a worst strength
of schedule than than BYU does, or worst strength to
record than BUYU does. So Sagarin excuse me. Ken Palm
has Bau's number at number eight. Their offensive efficiency and
defensive rating is eighth and fourteenth, respectively. So and their
net ranking right now is sixth in college basketball.
Speaker 3: I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 2: Who's sleeping on this team, right I just don't. I'm like,
how can you sleep on this? So anyway, interesting stuff
from all right. Look, I'm not I'm not doubting are
maybe they They're very well connected in.
Speaker 3: The basketball world.
Speaker 2: But all I'm saying is I'm surprised anyone is sleeping
on BYU basketball. If anything, they're like the committee. They
maybe the only watched the first half of the Clemson game.
Speaker 3: You know they didn't why they don't. Oh this team
not good enough.
Speaker 2: Those that are sleeping on on college on BYU college
basketball team. They only watched that first half of the
Clemson game. They didn't watch aj De Bonsa taking over
in the second half.
Speaker 3: All right, let's get back to it.
Speaker 7: I just want to finish on this tick again, just
to go over that the reason why it might be
boused six in the net right now. Look, you beat
number twenty three Wisconsin by thirty, you put belt to booty.
You lost to Yukon by two on a neutral coming back,
but look again, Arizona, they're four and on quad one games.
Check it out ben number three Florida, number fifteen, UCLA,
number three Yukon, number twelve Alabama. So like that's that's
my maybe why you might get overlook not necessarily because
you're bad, but ba, you hasn't played at that schedule
at Iowa State, you.
Speaker 8: Beat number four quad one games too, though they do,
but it's been four But BYU beating Villanova, Yukon, Miami,
and Clemson is not as formidable as Arizona beating number
three Florida, number fifteen, UCLA, number three Yukon and number
twelve Alabama like that.
Speaker 7: And you beat number twelve Alabama. You beat number three
Yukon away on their home like that does matter. And
I think that's why you might get overlooked, not because
you're not good, because of who they played and where
they played, and how Iowa State beat Saint John's on
a neutral they beat number one per Due at their
crib like that was a belt to booty and then
you know, so that might be why. I think of
the opponents said BYU had scheduled that many ranked opponents
and they were three and one or two and two,
I think the same thing would happen.
Speaker 5: So it's not that.
Speaker 7: They're getting If they're getting overlook is not because they're
not good. It's just because of who they maybe have
played in who the wins are against.
Speaker 5: But like I said, that's gonna get itself worked out long.
Speaker 2: I don't know who's sleeping on that by basketball right now,
but hey, let's move forward. Kevin Young interviewed with Ari
Temkin and his Big Twelve Today show.
Speaker 4: Let's tune in, well, coach for the ten to one
BYU Cougars, who, aside from that loss to Yukon, have
beaten Wisconsin, Miami, Dayton, Clemson, amongst many other high quality opponents.
Speaker 5: Morning, coach, how are you?
Speaker 9: I'm doing great? How are you guys?
Speaker 5: Doing very well? Thank you?
Speaker 4: Appreciate your time. You know, curious like what's different? What
have you found to be different year two here as
opposed to year one?
Speaker 10: Uh, just more comfortable for me, just kind of knowing,
you know, the college game a little bit better, you know.
Obviously the biggest difference for us is just our schedule.
You know, number one travel. We've been to the East
Coast three times already. You know, quality opponent has been
extremely high for us, so that that's presented a lot
of different challenges in a good way that we've been
able to work through.
Speaker 9: So that's been kind of the biggest differences for us.
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, are you do your does your team
even know where your home court is?
Speaker 10: I mean yeah, I mean up until I think to
to to what five days ago, we'd only played two
games in our home arena, even even the games in
Utah were neutral site games up So but no, it's
good man, It's a good test for our guys. You know,
it's get us out of our comfort zone. But at
the same time, you know, we've got a home slate here,
two more games at the Marriott Center during the Christmas
time here, which is nice.
Speaker 9: Coach.
Speaker 6: I go back to that Wisconsin game, and you know,
people are talking about does BYU have the depth that
they need to be the team that we think they
can be, And I say yes, Like Ajd Bonsa, he
gets his fourth foul early on in the second half
against a really good Wisconsin team and you guys still
outscore them in the second half even when he's on
the bench. So what does that say about your team?
And when a guy like that is out of the
lineup and on the bench next to you that this
is still a really good, deep basketball team.
Speaker 10: Yeah, and I was worried about that that moment. You know,
I wasn't sure how the guys were going to respond.
But you know it's been That was a big moment
I think for for our team just to be able,
like you said, not just kind of maintain, but actually
pushed the lead out against the high quality team. So
you know, we've got we've got good players. You know,
Rob Wright has been somebody that stepped up. I mean,
he's a guy that that feels like he never gets tired,
so he you know, I feel comfortable leaving him out
there for long stretches. And then you know, we had
some bench guys coming and produced. Now, obviously we've had
some injuries. Uh this is the most season ending injuries
I've ever had in any time I've coached. So that's
something that's presented a challenge. But you know, we've had
some of the young guys come in and and accept
bigger roles and step up and make shots and unless
something we're looking at even more as we move forward.
Speaker 3: Yeah, you mentioned Rob Wright.
Speaker 4: The clebs at the shot at METSK regard against Clemson
will live in infamy. Certainly take us in the huddle
one point three seconds left, high game?
Speaker 5: Was that the look you wanted?
Speaker 10: Well, first of all, we we should have had about
two point one seconds. And I know that sounds silly,
but no, but seriously, like I was when I was
in the NBA, you know that was that that responsibility
fell on my plate, particularly when I was with the
seventy six ers, and so you know in the NBA
you can advance the ball with that time out. So
so being in that situation, low clock, front court throwing
his one I've studied a million times over, so two
seconds is a lot of time.
Speaker 9: One point three gets a little diceier.
Speaker 10: But to answer your question, I mean we were really
looking for a full court play for AJ.
Speaker 9: They guarded it well. Rob called the.
Speaker 10: Time out and then on that particular play that was
actually the third option. Wow, and so our guys executed
it well. I think an unsung hero in that situation
was my Hilo Boskovich. I hadn't played him at all
in the second half, but I really trust him as
a decision maker and as a passer, and he's tall,
so I like him as an option as a throwing
guy in terms of the passer. So he came in,
read the situation, delivered an on time, on.
Speaker 9: Target pass to Rob, and then Rob, you know, did
the rest.
Speaker 6: Obviously, Kevin, you said a moment ago that you've lost more.
Speaker 2: Got okay, So obviously third options. This is something we've discussed.
And I like how he Kevin talks a little bit
about what his job responsibilities were at other locations, uh,
specifically uh in Philly, right, and how he was the
guy that had drawn up in certain situations at certain
times and uh, and he like it was kind of
a disadvantage with the lack of time that was on
the clock. It was unfortunate, but hey, they got it off.
It was beautiful, it was great, and granted was wonderful.
What I want to piggyback off if here is actually
a discussion that we've had over the last week, Roddy,
and that is who do we trust coming off the
bench and who is it that they're gonna try to
force feed.
Speaker 3: So we we had Alexi Coastick.
Speaker 2: Come off the bench in two games ago and we're like,
it's gonna be Alexi. Alexi's gonna be that guy. We
gotta get him. And then we we kind of prepped.
Remember we were discussing who's gonna be that guy.
Speaker 3: To step up?
Speaker 2: I said, hey, it's got to be Mahilo, Right, It's
got to be my Hilo. We weren't e thinking about
Tyler Maruss. Tyler Morss goes off h versus Pacific, and
it's like, well, wait, is Tyler Maruss finally getting into
his own I find it interesting that that k why
Gibbs loves as the unsung hero to Mahilo Boskovic as
a decision maker. We see the potential with Mahilo. Is
Mahilo going to reach his potential this year?
Speaker 3: Uh?
Speaker 2: And I know they play different positions, that are all
different players. Alexis a different player than Tyler. Tyler's a
different player than Mihilo. But you need all breathe these
guys to to fulfill a role. And if you want
to go deep and you in the in the NCAA tournament,
if you want to win games in the Big twelve,
I wonder how far away Mahilo is from gaining the
trust collectively of the coaching staff and collectively of Kate.
Speaker 3: Kate why to get more pt your thoughts?
Speaker 7: Yeah, you know, I got the word that everybody will love,
and Kevin Young is used in multiple times. It's really
going to come down to matchups, That's what it's going
to come down to, right and certain moments of the game.
Who has probably the best excuse me, high Qi basketball
over to passed the ball, and when the moment matters
the most, it's not Dominique, not Kadem, not Tyler Alexi,
It's it's Mila. You know, the experience been obviously playing
overseas and then again he did a last year. Remember
he was in the pick and roll with Richie a
West Virginia and then he fakes it off, you know,
gets it back and you know he gets to an
one and then makes the clutch bucket that haven't been there,
Like Mahilo can make those key plays. But look, he's
gonna have the shooting struggles. He's not gonna not see
a shot he doesn't like. But at the end of
the day, he's got the best ability. I go back
to the game against Utah, who got Dawson Baker of
the ball? You know where he should have probably gotten
that foul but he didn't.
Speaker 5: Was Mihilo.
Speaker 7: So Mahilo can is gonna be your pastor. I think
in those late game situations, Kevin Young trust him. He
trust every guy on this roster for a very specific role.
But I think it's gonna come down to that Ben,
what matchup is presented, what game within the game, And
it's also gonna come down to who has the hot hand.
If Alexi has the hot hand, he's gonna stay and
if Tyler has the hot hand, he's gonna come in.
But what needs to happen for sure, which is, you know,
imperative Alexi and Tyler must hit shots. Kadeem's gonna go
rebound Domini, He's gonna take guys out defensively, maybe chipping
a few points here and there, you know, from the
corner of threes, or get into the free throw line.
But you need these guys when they come in been
to be effective with their minutes. That's what it's gonna
come down to. So they all have to hit their shots.
If Alexi's gonna get eight minutes, he's got to hit
a three or two. Tyler's gonna come in for eight
to ten minutes, gotta hit a three or two. You
have to do something to affect the game and be impactful.
You can't go in and not impact it at all.
So I think it comes down to matchups. Do your
one eleventh in basketball whatever he looks like, Like Kevin said,
if you're good at shooting, shoot and help aj out
and let him facilitate.
Speaker 5: To me, that's what is gonna come down to. Ben.
Speaker 7: I think at the end of the day, everybody has
the role, and Kevin Young knows your strengths.
Speaker 5: You just have to go execute now as a player.
Speaker 3: Let's go.
Speaker 2: Let's hear a few more cuts from the Big twelve
Today Show with Ari Tempkin and James West from the
interview in k Why and then we'll go, we'll take
a brief time out. We'll come back with a world
of bau sports.
Speaker 6: Nice to season ending injuries than at any point in
your career. How many guys have you lost?
Speaker 10: So we've lost too for sure, and a third one
that's that's most likely uh in that in that same
same uh, same situation.
Speaker 9: So you know, tough to see for our guys.
Speaker 10: And two of them are the same position, and Nate
Pickens and Dawson Baker. But you know, credit to our
coaching staff out on the recruiting trail.
Speaker 9: You know, Alex.
Speaker 10: Alexei Coastage came in the other night and went five
to eight from three, and he and that's in that
same same role that Dawston and Nate would have held.
And so and then the next night Tyler Ross came
in and goes four or four from three. So you know,
obviously the consistency is gonna have to be there for
those guys. But you know, that's what you have a
team for. That's which we have depth four. That's what
you have player development for.
Speaker 3: Okay, we may need to play that.
Speaker 2: I don't know if you can remind that because like
he said, there's two guys. There's two guys we lost,
and there could be like a third. Let me know
when you got that back Q up. Man, we we
got just wait a second here, man.
Speaker 3: I don't who's the third guy?
Speaker 2: Uh, let me know when you're ready, because like I'm like, well,
we haven't seen Brody Koslowski yet. I don't know if
that would be a third. You hope it's not anyone
on the guard line. Again, like you cannot lose any
more guys on that on that in that backcourt, Like
you cannot lose anybody Otherwise you're gonna have to pull
a kJ Perry's red shirt.
Speaker 3: All right, let's listen back into what he has to
say about this.
Speaker 6: Just more guys to season ending injuries than at any
point in your career. How many guys have you lost?
Speaker 10: Uh so we've lost too for sure, and a and
a third one that's that's most likely uh in that
in that same same uh, same situation.
Speaker 2: So you know, wait, wait, wait what this is some
breaking news right here. I'm glad we played we played
this and we're reading.
Speaker 7: Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna have to contact those officials
down there at b YU because yeah, I didn't know
about this. A third in that same scenario. So you're
saying another guy now is out for injury for the season,
that's what that says. Wow, this is crazy. Wow, that's nuts. Man,
that's dude. Oh dude, bro bro.
Speaker 5: Reacting live to it. I don't know what to say.
Speaker 3: Man's gonna be and cougar cuntry, that is.
Speaker 7: Look, I mean the speculation, he didn't give a hint
to that. But if it's on that guard lineup, I'm
gonna say it right now, if Alexi Coaster has out
been kJ pair will not be red shirting, he'll be
playing right away.
Speaker 5: You have no choice, like you have you have no choice.
Speaker 7: You have no guard that can back up Rob right there,
there is nobody. If Rob gets in foul trouble, you
literally would be playing four forwards in the lineup with
the just the main point guard. And then who's gonna
take over when he goes to the bench? Ritchie like, no,
you pray that it's not elect coachs Oh my goodness.
I don't think Kevin has spoke right there. I think
he said that I that we gotta We're gonna have
to find that out because this third person is gonna
be is crucial to the season.
Speaker 5: Who is this third person that's also in that mix?
Speaker 7: And you pray it's not at the guard land because
they can't if this team can't afford any more injuries
in general, Ben, but.
Speaker 5: Especially these all three your point guards. If if if
Alexi's out, Nate and Dawson.
Speaker 7: Oh man, Kevin Young is gonna have seven guards on
the on his team next year because oh man, I
don't know what to say, but I'm truly shocked.
Speaker 3: Man. Let's go to break.
Speaker 2: We'll come back with the World of b A Sports
we'll see if we can get confirmation on who's injured.
We're gonna know, probably are we gonna know tonight? We
probably should know tonight.
Speaker 5: Yeah, we're gonna dicuss it in the basketball pre game.
Speaker 9: We'll look.
Speaker 7: We'll keep a lookout from from Gregor Bell. I know
b Yu and Nate was out put a press release,
so maybe they'll do that. But I think we should
maybe know by by tip off, we'll.
Speaker 2: Get we'll get confirmation on these as chaff maybe uh
here towards the either the end of the Cougar Sports
Show or during the Cougar Sports Basketball pre game show. Guys,
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Sports Coming up next, this is Cougar Sports on LIETO
three nine ninety eight point three.
Speaker 1: H Who's going on world in Cougar Athletics. Here from players,
coaches and experts on all the latest happenings with the Cougars.
Speaker 2: Welcome back Cougar Sports one of three, nine ninety point
three ESPN the Fan. I'm at Quittal broadcasting from.
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that's eight seventy three hundred or give via pen, PayPal
or Venmo. At the Road Home, I'm gonna get into
the news and notes of today, all the news and
notes coming out of BYU. We are going to prep
get you ready for the BAU basketball game tonight with
our Cougar Sports basketball pregame show, So stay tuned for that.
In the six to seven hour Ronald will teak take
you all the way up to tip off. I think
Trevin Nell will be joining us as well to give
us some uh content and uh and and content of
as to what's going on at b YU. You heard
us in the last segment discussing b YU basketball.
Speaker 3: Season ending injuries.
Speaker 2: Kay said in the interview, We've never had I've never
experienced this many season ending injuries before. We know too
obviously Nate Pickens and Dawson Baker, but he alluded to
a third now we got on the line.
Speaker 9: Uh.
Speaker 2: They weren't able to confirm or deny the reports. Obviously,
k Why discussed it in in the Big twelve Today
interview with Ari Tempkin and his crew.
Speaker 3: But man, the only thing I can think of is
the guy that that.
Speaker 2: Didn't play last week or didn't play in the last
game versus specific it was Alexi coasting. They can't we
can't lose Alexi, can't we You.
Speaker 5: You very well could.
Speaker 7: Look, I've I've done some due diligence and it is
a third injury for this team and the guy will
be out. So that's uh, man, Ben, My heart just
goes out to one. First of all, this the athletic
department of the staff, Kevin Young the third player, but yeah,
this is this is I haven't seen this many injuries
for a basketball team in a minute. Like this goes
back to you know, the Dallen Hall days been a
way back then when Dallon Hall had to play because
guys had the one playing well and there was injury
and you didn't have anybody because you didn't trust your depth.
Like it feels like that all over again. And those
guys were healthy. But I haven't seen this in a while,
but it's unfortunate. But yeah, third third player out for
the season, and I'm with you. I think the only
possible thing is that could it be the guy that
didn't play, you know, And if that were the case,
then man kJ Perry is gonna get caught up to
speed real quick.
Speaker 5: Again, this is speculation. We don't know.
Speaker 7: I will have the opportunity to ask Kevin Young this
in the post game, you know, following the game, which
I will do my due diligence. But man, we'll find
out sooner rather than later. But this is an unfortunate
hit for a program that had aspirations been of playing
in the e LIEA to compete for a final four.
Too many injuries right now for this BAU basketball team.
Speaker 2: One thing he said though in this interview, he said
two of them are the same position, and he didn't
mention anybody else, so like, and then he mentions Alexi
and Tyler Moross right, so like, I mean, what you
were there at the game?
Speaker 3: Did you see anything? What did you notice?
Speaker 7: I didn't get out of it. I really didn't see anything.
I didn't notice because it could have been a practice.
It could have been a practice, it could have been
this morning and shoot around, or it could have been something.
It could have been something happened during the game. You
get it evaluated. You have no I you have no idea.
But you would have to think if he mentioned Alexi
and Tyler that they wouldn't be the ones out, but
you never know. But obviously he's talking about how those
guys performed and played well. But you have to think,
is this a big guy? Is it seems like this
The vibe I'm getting is this is a contributor to
the team. That's what it seems like. This guy plays minutes.
And whoever it is, whether it's Mahilo, whether it's you know, Dominique,
and heaven forbid, if it's Kadeem, its just it really
tested deb Like I'm I'm I'm just gonna make this statement,
Ben this hot take. You very well might have both
kJ and I do the play that that might be
what it comes down to if this keeps racking up
because you're losing bodies and at some point you just
you have to buy obligation. You have to have enough
bodies and in the rotation. So, uh, this is crazy.
But Kevin Young's gone through this, right, He's been an
NBA coach. You have to figure it out. You have
to get guys prepared ready. So he's not gonna be
you know, wrecked mentally or emotionally by this. It's not
going to deter what him and the staff have planned
because they've dealt with us before. Right, he was in Philadelphia,
Joel Embiid had health issues, you know, being in Phoenix,
guys are hurt.
Speaker 5: So he's used to this and working through this. But
it is still unfortunate.
Speaker 9: Ben.
Speaker 5: It's an impact to the team. It's an impact to
the program.
Speaker 7: You already lost Night in the offseason, lost Dawson Baker
in season. Now you lost a third player. And if
it's at the guard line, that's just unfortunate. But even
not whoever it is, it takes a toll on what
BAU basketball is trying to accomplish, Ben.
Speaker 2: Man, Goodness gracious, what a spell of bad luck? Hey,
great persevering the vicissitudes of a college basketball season. I mean,
it rears a suddenly head no matter how you much
you prepare for it. Man, I hope that BYU is
in a situation where they can continue to survive in
advance with the depth that they have that they've brought in.
Speaker 3: I mean, kJ Perry.
Speaker 2: And Abdullah Ahman maybe play in Balford BYU this year.
And there's still time though, right, there's somewhere December nineteenth.
Speaker 3: We got a lot of basketball to be played.
Speaker 2: But that they haven't developed a whole lot of chemistry, right.
We always talking about get old stayed in college basketball,
and that's gonna be maybe the most difficult thing if
you're having to play a couple of new faces, a
couple of new personalities, a couple of new skill sets
on your roster as you get into February and in March.
A couple of other news and notes as it pertains
to b YU and the b YU Cougar Athletics program.
Looking forward to obviously tonight's game, we'll be previewing it.
We'll be going into depth on this game. But could
you give us just like a brief synopsis here, Ronald,
of this game, what you're looking for, maybe some of
the goals that you'd like to see accomplished, apart from
finding out who this who this third season ending injury is, well.
Speaker 7: My goals have changed because of that. It's completely derailed
my goals. You're talking them over here, updating my pregame
sheet now. I'm switching things around because I'm like, this
is new information that we're gonna have to talk about.
Speaker 5: It's like, what in the hell is the rotation gonna
look like? Now?
Speaker 7: Depending on who this third person is and we're going, look,
this is nothing that you can hide from. We're gonna
find out during tip Like, it's gonna be very prevalent
been in the game, who's in street close, who's not. Like,
there's not gonna be a run from this. So we're
gonna find out who. But oh my goodness, but goals
are now? Is you gotta no no, no, no plays off.
That's the biggest thing. The more bodies you lose, no
plays off. And this is just look, I know that
you don't want to do this with players. It's easier
to ask more of your superstars to put more on
their shoulders been than to have bench guys step up. Now,
some may say you're wrong about that, but I don't
believe that superstars. So AJ now is gonna have to
do more, Rob is gonna have to do more, Richie
is going to have to do more. Those guys are
gonna have to step up, and the Big three is
gonna have to do more of it.
Speaker 5: It's crazy, but that's just what it comes down to.
Speaker 9: Ben.
Speaker 7: Now, is your superstars like that, the guys that you're paying.
You went out and got all three of those guys
for well, got two of them, retain one of them
for a reason.
Speaker 5: They have to do more. And that's just what leadership
looks like.
Speaker 7: And you're gonna have to have your bench guys step up,
and there's a few guys depending on who it is,
but if it's not Alexi or Tyler, they have to
hit shots. So if the goal doesn't change, Ben goals
don't change, the rotation does. But the expectations are the same. So,
oh man, this is crazy. We're gonna find out sooner
rather than the later.
Speaker 5: Who it is.
Speaker 3: The good news?
Speaker 2: I guess possibly, I don't know if it's good news,
but but kay, why said it that that those two
injuries were in the same position. But he kind of
eludes that it's not in the in that guard line.
Speaker 3: So if it's not in the.
Speaker 2: Guard like, like, I mean, you know, who is it
that you can't lose and you're gonna still be okay
with it? Like I hate to say that, right, Like
this is not I'm not a transactional human. I'm not
a I don't like to commoditize human capital by any means,
But goodness gracious, like you're like, all right, who can
we lose and still be okay?
Speaker 3: Right, like, who can we lose and still uh move
forward with with success?
Speaker 2: I mean the one guy you can lose is agent
the Bonds obviously can't do that.
Speaker 3: That's the last guy. Rob Wright can't lose.
Speaker 2: You can't lose one of the Big three, right Richie
Saunders of the Todd King can't have that? Do not
need that in my life? Real quick couple of football
news and notes. All American Second Team long Garrison Grimes
was named second Team All America by the American Football
Coach Association, selected by the football coaches since nineteen forty five.
The AFCA All American Team is one of the five
selections for the NCAA Consensus All American Teams. So the
six foot two, two hundred and twenty pound fresher pound redshirt
senior from American for Utah, Grimes appeared in all thirteen
games for the number twelve rank Cougars and was perfect
on the year and combined one hundred and fourteen snaps.
In mid November, Grimes was named a semi finalists for
the Patrick Mannley Award, presented annually to the top long
snapper in college football. Shout out to Garrison Grimes. He's
the son of Jeff Grimes, currently the OC at the
University of Wisconsin. Also shout out to Will Ferron and
Sam Vanderhart, great football players.
Speaker 3: You talk a little bit about your special Teams unit here.
Speaker 2: We were discussing earlier today who favorite transfers have been
since the NIL transfer portal landscape has kind of changed
the way we do things and recruit and retain talent,
and all three of these guys are transfers. You got
Sam Vander harprom Pitt, you got Will Barron from Boise State,
and you got Garrison Grimes from Baylor.
Speaker 3: So your entire special teams specialty.
Speaker 2: Unit is comprised is comprised of transfers.
Speaker 3: And I don't know if that's a surprised.
Speaker 2: The the the modern day mercenary football players that are
coming in. But all three of these guys have been
tremendous for BYU, and I imagine they'll continue to be
tremendous for BUYU. In k Pop we trust in Kelly
pipinga we trust over the last three years, Ronald the
three man Weaver, would you say the offense, defense or
special teams unit has been the most elite within the
BAU Cougar football program.
Speaker 5: It's a good question.
Speaker 7: It's a good question, Ben Right, You're gonna have to
go look at the numbers. Look, the offense has played great.
You know how much I love and defendit A rod
shout out to my Illinois brother and he's not too
far away from the hometown in Chicago over then Elgin.
But it's not the offense. They've been good, they've been great.
They've been good, but they haven't been great. Uh, you know,
good better best. The offense has been good. Uh you know,
defense has been better. But and this is up until
you know this season. Under they had a few miskis,
but up until this season been I think the special
teams has been the best.
Speaker 5: I think it's been very elite.
Speaker 7: K Pop has had it dialed, So I have to
give a lot of love to the special teams unit. Look,
when bo has been playing their best, football has been complimentary.
Football's because of the kicking team. It's the punting team
flipping the field. It's because of excuse me being able
to for like Marcus McKenzie, I don't think I think
people are not looking at how big of a deal
that is to push guys back into his own guy
blocking in costs almost Kevin dough the special teams unit
is special at BYU, and Kelly Papinga being at BYU
is really taking that group to the next level, and
it's caused by to change you on win of them
flip games. You've seen it in Iowa State, You've seen
since and now it just it happens. So I'm gonna
go with special teams, Ben. I really think that's not
the maybe popular or hot take answer, but I think
the special teams unit is what I like to see.
I love the punt coverage, the punk return, kickoff return,
I've loved.
Speaker 5: Everything about it and what they've done.
Speaker 7: I know this season has been some few miscues, but
when you go look at the numbers and even at
the be end of the season, this special teams unit
has been amazing and phenomenal for BYU, no.
Speaker 3: Doubt about it. I kind of feel that way as well.
Speaker 2: I think the defense's definitely emerged the last two seasons,
but I think the consistency amidst you know, so much
change on the special team side of things has been
has been you know, just barely maybe inched out that
defense and the offense has continually approved as a rod
has required more resources, more coaching talent.
Speaker 3: The acquisition of t J.
Speaker 2: Woods and coach Gilbride, in my opinion, we're fantastic additions
and we've seen the fruits of those acquisitions. If sands
or buts about it, check out this news and notes
it doesn't necessarily I mean, it doesn't impact BYU a ton,
but it does. It's a topic that we've had to
address over the last month or so with Abdullah Ahmed
coming from the G League to BYU.
Speaker 3: So Kyrie Walker checked this out.
Speaker 2: Per Jeff Goodman, who's twenty five years of age, who's
played in the G League and professionally for the last
four years, has drawn interest currently from Fresno State, Texas Tech, Louisville, Rutgers, Tennessee, Michigan, Everybody, Kansas, Maryland, FSU,
cal U, Tatmazoo, and Washington. His agent, Chris dis told
the Field of sixty eight so Walker just finished playing
in Mongolia. He was set to play in China, but
the NCAA's new rule basically allows anybody to come back
to college if you haven't exhausted your eligibility, So essentially
Lebron James could come back because he never went to college.
Speaker 3: Never went to college.
Speaker 2: So if you have college eligibility remaining because you were
you were a high school player, a prep academy player,
and just jumped in the NBA, then you can technically
play college basketball. So Walker has one semester left and
will likely get paid in excess of one hundred thousand
dollars for one semester. Don't blame Walker, blame the system.
Isn't that crazy? Like how many high school like Carmelo.
Speaker 3: Anthony could come back?
Speaker 2: I want Carmelo Anthony BYU right now. Carmelo was a
one and done. How many one and done's are you know? Candy,
I guess he can't. I mean, guess can see he
played the NBA. But technically, I guess you know, if
Lebron has eligibility left, Carmelo's got eligibility left you they'll
play these rules that were just instituted right technically allow
due to anti trust law, anybody to come back as
long as you have eligibility remaining. So pretty crazy times
in the college basketball world. Okay, guys, it's been a
fantastic show. Big Cougar roar to everyone that joined us
Big Coogarwar to all of our guests. It's been a
star set of cast. We've been live from the Road
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Any fun other final thoughts oh, I got one more
final thought before I handed over to Toronald for his
final thoughts. The jerseys and the helmets have been dropped
for the Pop Tarts Bowl, and every single one of
these beautiful helmets that Georgia Tech and BAU football players
will be wearing have pop Tart sprinkles all over them, not
all of them, but just along the stripes, right down
the middle of the helmets. So hot or not, I
asked Kugarnation. They love it.
Speaker 3: I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2: The wide outs that Georgia Tech is going to be
repping at the Pop Tarts Bowl.
Speaker 3: They are beautiful. They are the very nice.
Speaker 2: They are gonna have some fine twined linens showcase as well.
Speaker 3: Do we have an official uniform that we're We're right.
Speaker 2: I see the helmet, but I don't know if i've
seen the uniform drop just yet.
Speaker 3: Ronald the three Man Weaver, do you have the update
on that.
Speaker 5: I do not have the update on that. I've asked
for the update.
Speaker 7: I'm waiting for it because Georgia Tech with the white,
so it's gonna be interested. I could see Bogle in
the classic white helmet, blue Royal is royal top and
then white pants. I could see stick into the classic bin,
but at the same time I could see them going
white helmet and then the royal top royal bottom.
Speaker 2: We'll see they wore their wide outs at the Big
Twelve championship games, so you could see maybe a little
bit of the uh the traditional white helmet, royal accent,
and the royal tops with the white bottoms.
Speaker 3: That is what you'll probably be seeing. Guys, that's our show.
Speaker 2: Please download the podcast iTunes, Spreaker, Google Playing Music, I
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Speaker 3: Give us a bread and give us a review. We
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Speaker 2: From all of us here at ESPN the Fan, we
wish you a good night, have a safe night. Coming
up next, Ronald the three Man Weaver will be taking
up the tip off with the Cooper Sports Men's basketball
pregame show, so don't miss it. I get to know
the Foe, get to know this BWA men's basketball team.
Speaker 3: Maybe we'll have an.
Speaker 2: Official update on who the third player of this roster
is that suffered a season ending injury.
Speaker 3: Maybe we'll find out here in the next hour.
Speaker 2: So stay tuned, don't go anywhere more to get to
you've been listening to the Cougar Sports here on your
one o three nine ninety eight point three ESPN.
Speaker 3: The fame