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Utah dot com. Let's get out to the hot line.
He's uh down at the Big twelve Tournament. We got
j Drew of the Desert News. Jay, how you living.
Speaker 4: Doing well? Best time of the year right now if
you're a college basketball fan and uh, I'm blessed to
be part of it, in the middle of it with
the Big Twelve Tournament in Kansas City, So that's great.
Speaker 1: Yeah. How would you describe the Big Twelve Tournament thus far? Uh?
Speaker 3: You know, the the digital glass uh. Uh I guess
the basketball court, the uh maybe some of the surprises, uh,
the the the individual and collective efforts of these teams.
Speaker 4: What has stood out to you, Yeah, you know all
of the above. I think Iowa State right now, you know,
two wins by something like an average thirty five points whatever,
they've looked really impressive. They just just once this morning,
earlier today, Arizona about to take the court against UCF
for Arizona's debut. Is the number one seed in the tournament.
There haven't been a lot of close games. We've had
the one overtime game. UCF beat one in overtime yesterday.
B yu's games have been really exciting, especially for BYU fans.
They haven't been particularly close. I guess Kansas State was
fairly close until the end. But yeah, it's been you know,
there's just top level talent. That's just one thing that
stands out. You know, obviously BYU fans know about aj
Debosa and Rob Wright, but I mean every team has
a guy and seemingly is going to be going the lottery,
in the NBA lottery. It seems that so just this
is the place to be if you're a college basketball
fan right now in Kansas City. And brett Or Mark
has set it over and over again and He's right.
This is a fantastic basketball league. Even the bottom tier
team so called can jump up and play well and
win some games, as be what you learned in the
latter half of the season. So yeah, all and all,
it's just a great place to be.
Speaker 3: Yeah, isn't this would break your market visions with this conference?
Obviously football is still king, but basketball. He's a basketball guy.
He's an East Coast guy. He was trying to go
get Yukon, he was trying to bring in Gonzaga. He
wants he thinks, he has stated that there is an
undervalued market for college basketball and he wanted to create
the greatest basketball conference in America.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you're right. He was what was the DM or
had something to do with the New York the New
Jersey net and uh, he's in Brooklyn NETS now obviously.
But yeah, he's Uh, he's just a mastermind of marketing.
I just watched him on ESPN. They had him on
here after the after the game that just ended, and
he I mean, he's just phenomenal at that and innovative
and really well spoken. I mean, I just you know,
I think the league's in really good hands with Brett Yormark.
The floor. H it's it's received a little bit of
complaints from some of the players. It is a little
bit slippery.
Speaker 1: Uh.
Speaker 4: Mitch Harper and I sitting courtside yesterday counted probably about
five or six slips that we saw, not sure if
they were captured on ESPN cameras, but it is. It
is a tad slippery. But you know, it's just it's
just a fun league. It's just everything is pointed towards
entertaining the fans, making the best experience for the student athletes,
and so far, so good. He just seems to really
push all the right buttons to make something new and
something exciting. It seems like every year for the Big
Twelve Tournament.
Speaker 3: Jay, are you buying or selling this new identity of
BYU basketball in the Big twelve Tournament is sustainable?
Speaker 1: They just held West Virginia forty eight points. That's their best.
Speaker 3: Defensive effort all season long. The effort was on point,
the execution was pristine. Are you buying or selling who
this team is playing as they are playing right now
in the Big twelve Tournament?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm buying. I'm definitely buying. I think the usualing
Kadi Moop and Boop and Dominique Diamande especially kind of
as points on defense, and we saw him use Kebacada
in the Tech Tech game, and it's kind of the
same way. I think they're just realizing that they were
giving up too many three pointers and that was really
the way they were getting beat. They were letting teams
get going early. It almost bit them against Kansas State.
People forget after yesterday that the day before they gave
up ninety one to Kansas State and you know, basically
the second worst team in the league. So there is
still some work to do. But yeah, I'm fairly optimistic now.
I can't say I was that like a week and
a half ago, but I'm optimistic. I think BYU can
get to the Sweet sixteen now. I think that's the
type of team they have. I think that's kind of
a realistic expectation. Now, you know, final fource probably out
the window after the Richie and Dawson Baker injuries. But
right now, I don't see any reason why this team
can't really get to the second weekend in March and
in the tournament, just because of what they have and
the guys, especially these role players that have stepped up
and if they can get like enough a great game,
another couple of good games out of Canard Davis. I
think he's the wild card as far as replacing Richie.
A lot of people thought it might be Alex Kostitch
and who really struggled yesterday. I think it was Old
for six from the free three point line. But I
think the key now the more I look at it,
is Canard Davis. I think he's got to step up
and be that third scoring option.
Speaker 3: Yeah, then how does Canard find you know, his groove
a little bit like when he's played well, why is
it that he's played well?
Speaker 1: Do you think?
Speaker 3: And you know, how can he create some consistency on
that front? Reliability on that front.
Speaker 4: I think he senses confidence in the coaching staff. They
run some plays for him early. I can't remember what
game was it where he missed his first five three
pointers and they stuck with him. Yeah, Texas Tech game.
I think I think he kind of thrives off that
confidence that he gets from his teammates and coaches. He's
one of those types of guys that that's important to
him and you know, I other guys that you know,
like like maybe Richie Richie Saunders or Rob Wright could
kind of generate that on their own, but I think
that's really a big deal for Raw or for Kenar Davis.
And I think he's I think he's uh. I think
he's one of those prime time players that when the
spotlight is really intense that he steps up. At least
that's what he's shown here in the tournament and in
that game against Texas Tech. So yeah, it's it's really
and he he just seems a lot more comfortable. I
wrote my article last night that for the first time
all season, uh, since the Duy incident, that d Y
is letting him speak to the media and us. He's
really a wealth spoken, uh, interesting young man. I've I've
been really pleasantly surprised by that and had a good
chat with him yesterday, and so I think I think
he's just more up for Bill in his own skin
right now, and it's paying dividends.
Speaker 3: Jay Drew Live from the Big Twelfth Tournament here on
your Utah ESPN Radio Network, a little Cougar Beat, brought
to you by Central Garage Utah. Central Garage Utah dot Com.
This third iteration of the team Ky has admittedly vocally
and it just stated that this has been a struggle,
This has been really hard for him. He had to
look himself in the mirror and say, essentially, you got
to figure out a way. What have they done? What
did he say yesterday in the post game that leads
you to believe that this is maybe replicable and that
he has figured out what this third iteration the team
can do and will do.
Speaker 4: I think the key word is simplification. I think they've
simplified everything. He called it. He dumbed it down a
little bit. He stopped being so coachy in his words.
I mean, you know, you look at the bench and
they got like they got as many coaches over there
as players. It seems like a support staff. And and
you know, talking to Cannar Davis yesterday, he said, it's
kind of you don't have to remember so much. It's
it's simple, that's returning to the basics of basketball. And
you know, I think maybe maybe they were, like Kevin said,
they were just getting too uh, too particular and too
into the nitty gritty or what's that word you always use,
ben uh the grand grandule are getting too grand But yeah,
I just think they just they're relying on their talent.
I think Kevin's looked back and said, hey, I got
the best player in maybe the country. Uh, on my team.
I gotta we got to do everything we can to
utilize that. And and if that includes playing him summit
point guard and making sure he has the ball in
his hands at all times, uh, so be it. And
and it's worked so far, and uh obviously a really
huge test coming up tonight again Houston. But you know,
so far, it's almost like a completely different team than
we saw eleven days ago at West Virginia.
Speaker 1: Yes, indeed it is j Drew des red News.
Speaker 5: Jay.
Speaker 3: You mentioned what the ceiling of this team can be.
Is there hope that this team can be better than the.
Speaker 1: Supposed ceiling is? Do they have enough firepower?
Speaker 3: Do you think is there enough good players on this
team to get past the sweet sixteenth?
Speaker 5: Yeah?
Speaker 4: I you know, I hate to be uh skeptical, but
I don't think so. I think I think that's probably
the ceiling sweet sixteen. And frankly, after what's going on
this year, with the injuries and the mid season Lowell
and all that, I think the YU fans out to be,
you know, tickled pink. If this team makes the Sweet sixteen.
So yeah, I do think that's the ceiling. You know,
it'd be awesome, you know, to see aj debantsa because
him like a Danny Manning from years past or a
Cambell Walker. He just puts a team on his shoulders
and he certainly has the talent to do that and
carries him, you know, to the Final four. But I
just don't think his supporting cast is good enough. After
all that we've just said, as far as you know,
Canar Davis and Rob Wright and Cavacada, they've all stepped
up their games. But I yeah, I just think if
I were talking to BYU fans, I would just say,
just enjoy it. Just enjoy this and realize that how
difficult it is in college basketball nowadays with all the
powerhouse teams and all the money that's there to to
to become a Duke or a Kentucky and and a
blue blood and do that every year. So yeah, they
should just enjoy a Jabot the while he's here. He's
a generational, multi generational talent, and BYU's darn lucky to
have him, No.
Speaker 1: Doubt, He's been great on and off the court.
Speaker 3: He's embraced by Ubay's embraced him, and I think that's
impactful in so many different ways. We've heard AJ state
in a number of interviews now that it's not a
sure thing that he's leaving, that he's going to the NBA.
Are you buying or selling that rhetoric right now? And
what would lead AJ to come back truly? And he
mentions his mom his education. He wants the degree, but
I mean, you can't get a degree in two years,
can you. He'd have to be at By for three
years or four years. Possibly give me your insights here.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm not buying it. I think he's just AJ
can tease a little bit. I don't know if that's
the right word. He can let maybe play with the
media a little bit, like be a little coy at times.
You know, obviously he you know, he said that what
he said to a Desert News podcaster last week, and
you know, you got to watch the video kind of
if you read between the lines. So yeah, I don't
think anybody should get their hopes up at b YU.
I I think, I mean, I'm almost certain that he's
gonna go, and frankly, he'd be crazy not to. Why
is he saying it. I you know, I think if
you talk to most guys, very few even like your
Cameron Boozers and you're even last year with Cooper Flag,
I think most of them wouldn't flat out ever say
they were one and done, you know, until the season
was over. So yeah, take it, take it with a
grain of salt. It's kind of fun. It's a good
thing to talk about it. It got a few page views,
if you know what I mean. But I yeah, I'm
you know, I would. I would absolutely you could knock
me over with a sailor if if AJ comes back,
let's put it that way.
Speaker 3: Good news possibly for b what you fans is that
Rob Wright could be returning.
Speaker 1: That's surprise to some.
Speaker 3: Sometimes his body language doesn't always necessarily promote a whole
lot of confidence. That he's happy at BYU, that he's
bought into BYU, that he likes the b yu Wa,
likes playing defense, likes giving superb effort. Now we've seen
maybe a change in that demeanor, changing that engagement on
the defensive, ending that body language recently as the Big
Twell Tournament has has begun. But you caught up with
him in the locker room and got some gems. Give
us a little update on the status of Rob Wright
the Third's return.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I it was, you know, obviously he was in
the locker room a little early because of the tooth
thing and the cut lip after against State game, and I,
you know, I flat out asked him. I said, Rob,
are you happy at b YU Are you are you
do you regret your decision? And he went on, oh,
I'm totally happy. I love it. I love the way people,
it's a family atmosphere. And then I, you know, and
then I just happened to ask him, what, you know,
what's your future, like, do you feel like you'll be back?
You're going to go to the portal. And it's not
a type of question I would have asked him in
like a public from a podium or whatever with a
group interview, but you know, I just kind of seized
the moment and I, you know, basically, you just said, yeah,
if I don't go to the NBA, if I don't
go to pro basketball, I'll be back at BYU. And
I said something like, you mean you're not going to
the transfer portal and he said, oh, no, I won't
be going to the transfer portal. So that was Yeah,
I thought that was pretty interesting. And then he just
reiterated that he's enjoyed his year here at BYU, that
he's learned a lot, he feels like the coaching staff
has helped him improve, and the fact that he gets
to play a lot and gets to play with the
ball in his hands within reason with the superstar on
the court next to him and aj De Bonsa. Yeah,
I was totally positive vibe that I got from Rob
and his future in college basketball being at BYU or
as opposed to nowhere else.
Speaker 3: When Kevin Young took over this BAU basketball program, he
stated something that was very aggressive in that introductory speech
then introductory press conference. He said he wanted to create
essentially an NBA pipeline through Provo, and it seems like
he's doing such. I mean, he's got two, one and
done's under his belt. He's he's bringing Bruce Branch the third.
This is probably one of the most cursed teams from
an injury standpoint that I've ever seen in college basketball history,
and definitely in BYU basketball history. When you take it
all in, I mean it has Ky produced in his
first few years at BYU. Everything that he's promised.
Speaker 5: Absolutely.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1: Uh.
Speaker 4: Obviously the people you know, Jegor Demon's been a phenomenal
pro so far. Uh, you know, he's lottery picked, so
he delivered on that count. Now AJ is probably number
one or number two in the draft. He's uh, you know,
there were obviously some skeptics when A J picked b
Yu and people thinking that he couldn't develop as well
as b y U is maybe another school, and that's
been debunked. He leads the country in scoring. Uh, he
leads all the highlight shows. That seems like so uh
you know, so you're right, Kevin's two for two on
that and you know he's now he's getting a Bruce
Branch coming in. So yeah, I think I think k
Why has Uh it's pretty much what's his pet pet phrase,
something about proof of concept or something like that, and
I think he's going to be able to point to
that and as proof of concept as it were.
Speaker 3: Yeah, you and you and k Y have had some
interesting interactions.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 3: The reason why I love Jay is because you asked
traditionally the hard hitting questions. You know me, I'm always
soft tossing, you know, in the post game, I'm the Weekling.
I'm the I'm the guy.
Speaker 1: You know, I'm a b YU guy, right, it is
what it is, you know.
Speaker 3: But like you've asked some tough questions and he's pressed
back on you, and then you gave him some valid response,
and you know that that dance right of accountability and
asking some hard questions.
Speaker 1: I think it's important.
Speaker 3: But give me your perspective on some of the questions
you've had to ask and the responses you've got from K.
Speaker 1: Why thus sar this season?
Speaker 4: Yeah, it kind of dates back to last season where
there were a few questions I asked him, I think
after the Arizona State game where I thought the effort
wasn't that great and by you kind of coasted to
a win, and that he took a little umbradge with that,
and you know, we had a good talk about it,
and you know, I just think, yeah, we've got a solid, strong,
good relationship. I think there's mutual respect and trust there.
And you know, this year, I think I asked him
a question about taking AJ out of a game that
they ended up losing, and and whether it was a
crucial stretch where AJ wasn't on the floor and and
he gave me his honest assessment on that, So yeah,
I there's no negativity in it or anything. It's just
your typical coach, reporter or relationship. And I respect Kevin.
He gives good answers, He thinks him through, and he
tells you what's on his mind, and that's all you
really can ask as a reporter. And you know, I'm
not trying to antagonize him or anything like that. I'm
way too old and been in this way too long
to do that. I'm just trying to do my job
and he's trying to do his and and sometimes you know,
those two things clash a little bit, but all in all,
it's have a lot of respect for Kevin and what
he's done and how he's handled the media and really
all aspects of his job.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, I will have a t I do have
a tongue in chee cheek joke because someone just sent
this to me and it piggybacks off of this provo
right capitol pro lowercase vo that we talked about here
on the show and what many have talked about over
the last couple of years. But my buddy sent this
to me, said, Kevin Young really prepares his entire team
for the NBA. He had them playing zero defense until
the postseason.
Speaker 1: Is that fair when he joke at that? I mean,
you really do prepare like they didn't.
Speaker 3: Really, you didn't play much defense until the post sceum
when it really matters.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, he's he's limited in what he has.
I mean, you know, obviously, I think they try to
play defense. I think, you know, sometimes these teams on
the road, we thought at West Virginia, we saw it Cincinnati.
You get them going early and these guys are unconscious shooters.
It's amazing. I mean, you go back look at that
Cincinnati game. By you've had guys on them, and these
guys are just draining incredible shots. And you even saw
that against Kansas State, like I said, the fifteenth team
in the Big Twelve, that first half, those guys are
just making some incredible shots. So sometimes you just have
to tip your hat to the opponent and say, you know,
these guys want to win too. These guys are on
scholarship too, and and heck me, in this day and age,
these guys are making a million bucks too sort of things.
So yeah, I think sometimes you just have to credit
your opponent and move on.
Speaker 3: J Drew, Ladies and gentlemen, Jay Keys to the game
BYU versus Houston tonight.
Speaker 1: What do you make of it? Can they get a dub?
Speaker 4: I think I can get a dub. I think a
huge key is the start. If you go back last
year in the semi finals, Houston got off to a
fifteen to lead and it was over. I think by
You've got to get off to a great start. It's
going to be a pro BYU crowd. Houston doesn't travel
very well. There are a lot of BYU fans here
as we've seen the last two days. So I think
they got to get off to a good start. And
then I think they got to replicate that defensive effort
and that energy, hustle and effort that they showed the
last two games. And I think there's a shot of
all the first round or the quarterfinal games today. I
think BYU has the biggest chance of an upset. Let's
put it that way.
Speaker 3: Boom Shaka, Laca, J Drew, Desert Red News, Jay. Best
way to support you, what you do, how you do
it for all of our listeners. I know you have
a couple of great articles up. One regarding Rob Right
the third and his hopeful return and that he's happy
and healthy and strong here in provo. Anything else that
we can do.
Speaker 4: Now just find me at Drew j on X or
at Desert dot Tom black backslash by Sports or obviously
today I'll be writing another analysis on on the game
and uh and then go from there.
Speaker 3: Okay, Jay, we salute you man, We appreciate it. Thanks
for hopping on for a cougar.
Speaker 4: Beat my pleasure. Great guys, Yeah.
Speaker 1: Thank you man.
Speaker 3: That is a cougar beat brought to you by Central
Garage Utah. Central Garage Utah dot com. I love Kelly
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Speaker 2: This is a one oh three, nine and ninety eight
three ESPN SportsCenter updates.
Speaker 7: We'll start again today with the BYU men's basketball team
as they continue to dominate with the improved defensive efficiency,
incredible play from ajd Bonsa, and a welcome up ticking
performance from Hadem Move, Dominique ky Monde and Canard Davis.
The Coups won last night's game against seven seed West
Virginia sixty eight to forty eight. The last time BYU
held a Power five opponent under fifty points was when
they played Arizona State, but the time was still a
member of the Pac twelve back in November of twenty
twenty three. They gave up forty nine to the Sun
Devils in that game. Player of the game from yesterday
was Canard Davis. New scored a season high twenty points,
including seventeen in the second half. Davis was also five
or six from three in the game. Upneck for BYUS.
A matchup against the Cougars of Houston in Round three
of the Big twelve Tournament today five pm. Another news
from yesterday, BYU head football coach Kawane Seetake was named
the Utah County Person of the Year by the Utah
County Commissioner. According to the press release from BYU Cougars
dot Com, Sintake was recognized with the awards for quote
the impact of his leadership as the BYU head football
coach on Utah County's culture, economy, and national recognition resulting
from the success of the YA football program. Vonnie and
mc Cooks kick off the season against Utah Tech in
one hundred and seventy seven days. The other event that
took place yesterday was the final day of competition in
the NC Double A Zoni Diving Championships, where Marty Yachte
was Belonne Couger to make the finals. He finished in
thirteenth place in the one meter event. Next up for
swimming dives the NC DOUBLEA Championships at the end of
the month, where BYU will be represented by swimmer Tan
and Nelson. Three other teams are in action to days.
The women's tennis team kicked off the day with a
new match against Cincinnati in the Conference of opening. The
Cincinnati baseball team is also in town as they faced YU.
Speaker 1: At Millow Park at three o'clock and will.
Speaker 7: Is Baseball's conference from opener as well, and then at
four thirty BYU men's tennis will host number seventeen Arizona
and they're big pebl time Cameron Clark and this has
been your.
Speaker 5: ESPN the Fan.
Speaker 6: They or fsa car to purchase a device, call us
today eight oh one, four hundred and five to three
one eight. That's eight oh one four hundred five three
one eight, or visit us at Orthroprosiutah dot com.
Speaker 2: Macmisomarch's right around the corner and the Cougars are written
on metal level. It's time to talk some college basketball
on Cougar Sports with Ben Cripple.
Speaker 3: Welcome back Sports, one of three nine ninety eight point
three ESPN The Band. I've been Tritle broadcasting from our
Banderwealth Studios, Bandwealth dot Com. Get on a free q
and a no obligation to invest QNA with our tax
more wealth advisors certify financial planners.
Speaker 1: Nobody does it better than Vanderwalth.
Speaker 3: It He's time for Little Uh College basketball on Cougar Sports.
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Call them today. All right, let's get out to the
hotline and welcome in former b YU Great. He's on
the the BYU Sports network alongside Greg Ruebel. Always on
the call and he's lying from Adam on Diamed.
Speaker 1: We got Mark Durant on the line. Was up Durantela,
Well it's that Vane.
Speaker 5: I'm looking out at the beautiful valley as we speak.
I thought, you know what better way to ask for
some divine help for the Cougars tonight than to go
out and one of those most sacred spots in the world.
So yeah, I couldn't miss being out here. It's a
beautiful place. I love. I'm a church history guy.
Speaker 4: Man.
Speaker 5: I went, we went to Liberty Jail. I just love
everything about it. Those those early saints were the real deal.
Speaker 4: Man.
Speaker 5: They were amazing, amazing people of faith, and it's just
an honor to kind of follow their path and see
where they did their thing and think about what the
future holds for this place.
Speaker 1: Yes, indeed.
Speaker 3: Well look I read through the President's from poor Shane
Reeves's report today and you know, one thing I love
about Shane rees just to kind of circle back into, like,
b why you and the why of everything?
Speaker 1: Why we do in this, why we're playing hoop.
Speaker 3: It's got to be an ambassadorial tool mark basketball, football, sports, academics, spirituality,
paroselyting all the things, they all have to be ambassadorial
in my opinion. So I appreciate you being out there
and understanding the real why of it all.
Speaker 5: Well, thank you. I mean I it's you can't separate
BYU sports from the mission of the school and I
don't think you should. I think it should. You should
be crowd and wear that on your chest and say
this is who we are. And and I do think
that sports success can open some minds and hearts to
the greater, more important message. And sports is obviously fun.
It's a huge part of my life. I love everything
about it. I've dedicated a lot of my life to it.
But it's just a little part of life, and its
just that there's a lot more important things. And that's
kind of what we're about as a people and as
a church. And so anyway, I don't want to get
up here preach, but you know, I am an Adam
on diamonds, So I feel a little preachy right now.
You know.
Speaker 3: Well, hopefully the BAU basketball team will continue to play
inspired basketball at the Big Twelve Tournament, because this third
iteration of the BAU men's basketball team, Man, this is
a that was quite a performance offensively game one, defensively
Game two, we're seeing phenomenal effort. I remember seeing a
tweet from you in the middle of a game not
too long ago saying like, I don't know what to
tell you, guys, it's a mess. Wow, how things have
mightily changed over that time period.
Speaker 5: Yeah, it's crazy, man, that was just a week or
two ago, and it was a mess and there was
no sugarcoating it. It was They looked terrible, particularly on
that that roads. They just dropped the UCF at home
and went on the road and just laid eggs on
the road, looked lost, looked uninspired. And whatever coach Young
and the team has done has been miraculous. And the
coach Young deserves a heck of a lot of credit
for finding what this team needed, inspiring them. Guys like
Moo Davis who had his best game yesterday, Hadeen Boop
kakata I, like I say, Kostitch now Dominic Diamande has
played terrific in this tournament out of nowhere. Credit those
guys for stepping up, finding another gear, finding some passion
and effort. Credit the coaching staff a kind of simplifying
things to it. Sometimes what looks like a lack of effort,
ben is a lack of knowledge and understanding. And sometimes
guys just didn't know exactly what they were doing and
so you're lost. But I think they've simplified things and
and basically said, you know, look at the on ball
defense right now, for it's so much better. And they've said, listen,
your job is to stop the guy with the ball.
You're not going to get a lot of help. We've
been over helping. You're not going to get a lot
of rotations. Your job is to take a challenge and
stop your guy. And even and Rob Wright has done that.
And I talked about the other guys. You watch them,
they're not needing a lot of help. They're they're stopping
their guy on their own. And you just need to
be able to do that in any level of basketball,
but in college you just if you have to help
every time, then their teams are too good. They're going
to get to the open guy that if they're if
you have to help from somewhere, that means someone's open,
and teams are too good and they find the open
guy and they're knocking down threes and then everything's good
for them. So it starts with the point of the
spear on the ball. He's doing a better job of that,
and then just playing harder and with more enthusiasm and aggressiveness.
I think MoU is a guy that's sets the toughness
tone like you did for the football team. MoU is
for the basketball team. He's the tough guy, and when
he sets the tone and says I'm playing today, guys
they follow him. And anyway, that's a long winded answer
to say this is a completely different team that than
that tweet referenced. It's just been a short period of time,
but they've managed to do great things in that short period,
and I'm now much more excited about the future prospects,
even against a great team like Houston tonight, because of
how they've played and then going forward in the NCAA tournament,
I feel a lot better about the chances for this
team going forward.
Speaker 3: There is something to the sense of urgency of tournament
play in March madness. And I'm not trying to say
that these guys weren't trying, they didn't want to try.
They were just kind of even regular season mode. But
like we all know, in the NBA, for instance, right
we're all trying. We're trying to be provo, right, p
r O capitol, p r O lokvo. No one's playing
defense until you know, the playoffs anyway, no one's playing
hard until the playoff.
Speaker 5: Right, Well, it seems that way. I'm pretty sure That's
not the message that Kevin Young was communicating to his guys,
But it's just it's played out that way. And and
I guess if you're going to pick a time to
play well and to play hard, it's better to do
it in the in the playoffs type setting. And certainly,
you know, you know, effort is, like most things, is
about momentum and contagion. And and once you start playing
hard and kind of catch the spirit of it and
see the fruits of success and the you know, the
turnovers and the steels and the layups and the win dunks,
and that gets guys pumped up and and and I
think that's what they're seeing right now. They're seeing some
fruits of this success. And because working hard as I
mean hard work, and it's not easy to do or
else everybody would do it. But when you work hard
and see some success from it, then it, you know,
it kind of helps you to keep working hard. And
I think we're seeing that from this team, no.
Speaker 1: Doubt about it. Mark Durant here on ESPN the Fan
talking some.
Speaker 3: BYU Basketball, Little College Basketball and Cougar Sports. Brought to
you by Dental Pros of Utah Dentalprosofutah dot com. Speaking
of dental care, how about Rob Ray getting a lip laceration,
getting a tooth knocked out and still playing and balling
out doing well in the following game. I'll be honest,
I was a little concerned k wyhead for us.
Speaker 1: I was like, is he going to be limited? Will
he be as aggressive?
Speaker 3: Will he be as you know, as physical as we
saw him in the game prior in some of the
games prior? Your thoughts on Rob right the third he
also made He also mentioned that he's coming back to
be He's either going professional or he's coming back to Provo,
which I think is great news.
Speaker 5: Yeah, that's awesome to hear. Of course, a lot of
things can happen, But I love Rob He's just a sweet,
happy guy, always fun to see and and a tough
sent of a gun. I mean that I've had my
lip cut open, I have a loss of tooth, but
that that stitches, and that's painful to play the next day,
and it throbs, and you got he's probably got an
appliance in there to protect his mouth, and I don't know,
if you're not used to playing with that, it's hard.
And then I mean, this is this is a guy
that has to go over the top of screens with
seven footers NonStop, and their elbows are right near your face.
And he got hit a couple of times in his chin,
and and then he goes in the paint amongst the
trees and there's a lot of contact in there. I mean,
he's not a player that's avoiding contact and able to
avoid contact. So it that's really impressive how tough he
was to go out and play, and I think he
got more comfortable with it as it went and have
a nice strong finish to help you what you pull
away last night. But yeah, I love the guy. His
game is so fun. He's just he's like Curly Neil,
I mean the Globetrotters. Well you watch him out there
and he goes through his legs about ten times every
possession and back and forth, and imagine having to guard
that guy. It's pretty crazy. But he's fun to watch
and is a great kid. And if he wants to
come back to BYU, that is great news and Cougar
fans should just rejoice that we have a guy like that,
thinking of that thinks highly enough of BYU wants to
be there. And we'll see what happens. He might he
might go pro. He's good enough, but if he wants
to stay another year, I would love to have him
in Cougar Blue.
Speaker 3: Indeed, I think everybody would like to have He's tremendously talented,
a really good player, no doubt. There has been issues
with the defense, but he seems to be mongoose. Like
in the Big Twelve tournament, what do you think the
ceiling is for this BAU team? If they're playing the
way they're playing right now, they keep you know, this
is sustainable. Let's say it's sustainable through the Big Twelve
Tournament into the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 5: It's hard to say. I mean today, it will be
a good indication of how they compete against like Final four,
Elite eight caliber teams. Certainly they can beat. You know,
I would expect them to win a game or two
if they played like they have been playing. But then
you get some really really good teams, and I know,
by you beat Texas Tech at home, but on a
neutral floor against a team like Houston, we'll we'll see.
Like I said, I have a lot higher expectations of
this game than I would have had a week or
two ago, and I think the B way you can
play with Houston, but this will kind of be the
real test against one of the best defenses in the
country and a team that beats you at home. Then
we'll know if by use a team that can go
a couple of weeks into a tournament, or if it's
if it's not going to be the tournament run that
we hope for. I mean, it's not all depends on
one game. I mean, be what you has played a
couple of games, their legs maybe get a little tired,
and anyway, games like this can actually get away from you.
But so I'm not going to pin all of these
future hopes against the game tonight, but it will give
us an indication of can this team without Ritchie Saunders
and others compete at the very highest of levels. And
I'm excited to see what they can do.
Speaker 3: Mark I had a knee jerk reaction about a week ago.
I said, you know what, It's true, b what use
a football school? I thought they would become possibly maybe
a basketball school, but no, they're a football school. And
now I'm I'm I'm teeter tottering. I'm like, wait, wait,
do I have to change my mind again. I'm being
tossed to and fro by every win, every whim of
this Bway basketball team. I want to believe that we're
a basketball score because we have all the state centers,
all the basketball courts around the world, around the country.
Speaker 1: Uh And it just seems like.
Speaker 3: That would be the best aad to either that or
once upon a time in your era, a softball school.
It could have been that too, or baseball school because
we got all the all the you know you you
probably played church softball once upon a time, the slow pitch,
didn't you.
Speaker 5: Oh yeah, that was a big part of my childhood,
all the the ward and STATEI softball and basketball. That
was big time stuff back then.
Speaker 1: Massive.
Speaker 3: I know it's a liability issue now, X Y and Z.
I'm sure there's all manner of.
Speaker 1: Of litigation that occurred because of the thing. But hey,
are we a football score or a basketball school?
Speaker 5: Are you?
Speaker 1: What are you feeling right now? I mean, are we
a both school? I mean, look, we're doing a great
game in both.
Speaker 5: What's the mean, band? Why can't we both? I guess well,
how about we split it up? Basketball school during basketball
season and football during football season? I guess. The good
thing is it's hard to decide because they're both have
been so successful. That's that's fun. I mean, b YU,
I guess historically, I mean you think about football. But
hopefully in the future, b YU is going to be
a contender each year for you know, basketball titles, and
we'll have a chance at some of those, and so
let's let's be both. We'll split time for now.
Speaker 3: Yes, indeed, give me a prognostication, give me a scattering
report on Houston. How do you think this game plays
out to night? What challenges does this Houston team pose
for the BYU Cougars.
Speaker 5: Well, I just think depth and experience. You know, they've
been able to keep a lot of guys and coach
Sampson is a terrific coach and has built a culture
of great defense, and so it's going to make everything
more difficult on the offensive end. I'm sure they'll have
a good plan for Aj who's been just phenomen all
in this tournament, and there's been a lot of ways
they've tried to stop him, and no one has really
been able to do it yet. So we'll see what
Houston can do. But I'm not worried about a j
and Rob so much as is the part of the
success bo He's had is because of the bench play
and and Hadiem and MoU and Kaba, And it's harder
for those guys to really excel against excellent defensive teams.
If they can, then I think, BLI, you have a
really good chance. But Houston has so many weapons, such
a great defense, great coach, You're always going to be
up against the BO. He's yet to beat them in
Big twelve play, and uh, it's going to take one
of their best games of the year to do it today.
But we'll see. I mean, like I said, I'm I'm
my glasses are a lot bluer as I look at
this team now with what they've put on the floor
of the last three games.
Speaker 3: Is uh, is kepade for a big game? Is Alexi
maybe do for a big game versus Houston? Alexi struggled,
He struggled a little bit in the Big twelve in
Big pol tournament play.
Speaker 1: Thus far.
Speaker 3: We know he can get hot, we know he can
he can shoot it with the best of them.
Speaker 1: Who's due for a big game versus Houston?
Speaker 5: Do you think, yeah, Well, it'd be nice if Alexi
could do it. He has struggled. You know, he was
the one guy on the road trip that was actually
playing really well and his numbers went skyrocketing from three
and now when everyone else is playing well, he's kind
of one guy that hasn't. But he's going to get
open looks. If he could hit some, that would be nice.
Sometimes I think he hurries his shot a little bit.
Just step into it, you know, get comfortable, you got time,
you know, find the rims, shoot your shot, and he's
I think he'll be fine. But yeah, I think he
and I think Caba has actually been playing really well.
I wish they'd look for Kaba Moore on the block.
I mean, they're so concerned about a jen Rob that
he's Roman free down there. I think you could find
him a lot more than they do. And I trust him,
you know, to dunk it or catch it and score it.
He's actually developed some good offensive skills, So I hope
that you know, when teams, when teams are are are
helping with their big man, you've got to punish them.
You got to get it down low a k But
he could have a big game, but really everybody's got
to contribute. It can't be a two man game for BYU.
That they need to have five or six seven guys
that have really good games.
Speaker 3: Mark Durant, Ladies and gentlemen, live from Adam on Diam
and give us the scripts, the thought before we leave,
before we bid you farewell, and let you get to
your important work out there, not only on the court,
but off the court as well.
Speaker 5: Yeah, we better head back. I hear there's a game
going on in Kansas City tonight that I need to
get to. But I love man, Listen. I love the
church so much. I love the Saints. I love the pioneers.
At least two humble folks elders and elder and sister
from vernal Utah out here on a mission in their
late seventies, given us tours of liberty, jail and independence Missouri.
Elder and sister Tacker from vernal Utah. I mean, they're
just the best people in the world. The Gospel makes beautiful, kind,
faithful people, and so I'm grateful to be a part
of it. I'm grateful to be a part of BYU
that represents that church. And this team that plays hard
and plays is fun to watch and it's all good.
I'm here with my sweetheart merrilye. And I'm a blessed man,
and so I've got a lot of blessings and a
lot to be grateful for. And it kind of puts
it all in perspective when you come to places like this,
what's really important. So I'm going to cheer for the Cougars,
help they get the victory. But if they don't, that's
all right too. We're blessed in a lot of ways.
And anyway, so I love you too, Ben, You're a
great man. Ronald is a great great guy too, and
you do great service for bau fans and do a
great job. I admire and respect you guys. So thanks
for all you do. And I guess I better get
back on the road.
Speaker 3: Hit the road, get over to that game. We've got
to hear your commentary on the radio.
Speaker 1: Mark.
Speaker 3: We salute you, appreciate you, We love you. Always a pleasure,
always a blessing, talking ball with you. Thanks for the
live report from Adam on Diaman and talking ball with
us today.
Speaker 1: Thanks so much.
Speaker 5: All right, my friend, we'll talk to you later.
Speaker 1: There you go. That's Mark Durant.
Speaker 3: That segment was brought to you by Dental Pros of
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