Speaker 1: From Chicago to prog from dodgy tackles on the rugby
pitch to covering drives on the Marriotte Center baseline.
Speaker 2: He's traded in scrums.
Speaker 1: For stat sheets, cleats for courtside coverage, and somehow he
draws more contact than half the Big Twelve.
Speaker 2: He's Ronald the three Man Weaver.
Speaker 1: He'll break down the matchup storylines and give you everything
you need to know before tip off. It's the Cougar
Basketball pre Game Show on one, O, three, nine, and
ninety eight three ESPN, the Fan, part of Utah's ESPN
Radio Network.
Speaker 3: Yeah, welcome in to the basketball pre Game's up here
on Cooper Stars one nine, ninety eight three ESPN Fan.
Ronald the three Man Weaver Here, let me taking you
guys up until tip off. For the next hour, we
got a great pregame show tuned into. Everybody that joined
us on Saturday for the first edition, I appreciated again.
Just want to thank Jackie Louis, the general manager for
this opportunity, Bryce Larsen, the program director, James Peterson the
director as well, and then most importantly, Demand that's been
advocating me for this whole time. My entire time on
the air start as an intern. Just want to thank
Ben Crittle as well. Guys, you work hard in the business,
You're afforded opportunities, and this is one I definitely don't
want to mess up a little.
Speaker 4: Bit of a starting lineup for today. We're gonna take
you through some.
Speaker 3: Of the questions I have of you know, what is
bu what you need to do tonight against Pacific, what
it needed to keep up doing.
Speaker 4: I have my thoughts, want to hear your thoughts as well.
Something that we're gonna do as well.
Speaker 3: We're gonna put it out on Ben's Twitter on Crital
Benjamin score predictions. So the closest person that has the
correct score of what tonight's game will be, we're gonna
give some swag away.
Speaker 4: We'll want to do that just like we do for
the football game.
Speaker 3: So if you're the closest to whatever your score prediction
is tonight of what the final score would be, it
has to be the closest and you have to go
on Twitter. You can't wait until the end of the game.
I will go check timelines. We're gonna give you some
roll Limi Brand, give you a free T shirt. We're
gonna be doing at all this season. A couple of
those questions that I have, as I mentioned the first one,
the second one kind of our poll question of the
day of which non star will have the biggest impact
in tonight's game against specific couple guys I named Alexi Kovich,
Kadem Maboop, Dominique Diamande, Mihalo Boskovich.
Speaker 4: Will Tyler Maruss work himself?
Speaker 3: I think back into the rotation A lot of guys
along this bench if you are listening to any of
the show earlier, we had Jonathan Tavnari on.
Speaker 4: Some guys have been disappointed so far.
Speaker 3: Mihalo Boskovic hasn't played up to expectation his second year
in the program. You also have Alexi, who finally had
that coming down to Earth moment where he finally was
able to hit a couple of shots. Can he keep
that up tonight? Tyler, I think has worked himself out
of the rotation until he showcase otherwise. And look, these
are all important questions because I've caught up now to
tease it a little bit, you're hearing my interview with
Coach Bergers in the next segment. But kJ Perry gonna
red scher per Brandon Dunson. You heard from that on Saturday.
You also have Abdullah Achmed he's gonna be coming in.
Are you gonna have to bring both of those guys
in this season? It's happened in BAU basketball history before.
But you don't want to do that. You really don't
want to do that. Kevin Young probably does not want
to even think about that. You want to red shirt
those guys, get an extra year. You've seen the development
with Kadem. A lot of people may forget that, but
Kadem red shirted came in around December kind of what
A and Abdullah are doing. Red shirted and then what
happened is they were able to have a full year
in the program in college nutrition, strength and conditioning program,
get the playbook down, learn the plays, be with the
team practice and you're starting to see it right.
Speaker 4: Had his first career double double last game. So you
don't want to have to burn that.
Speaker 3: But if you do, they will do that because you
can't squander an opportunity with the number one with the
potential overall number one pick. If you live under a rock,
like as I say, Patrick Starr, Darren Peterson, don't know
if he's going to play in conference real talk about
shutting him down. Bill self has mentioned that with hamstring tightness.
So right now, the two freshmen that are showcasing themselves
are Cam Boozer and aj De Bonsa. And there was
a report that went out that NBA scouts don't necessarily
know if Cam's going to fit the narrative of being
at the NBA of that level. He's bouncing between the
four and the five, so I could even demons a four,
but he can play small ball.
Speaker 4: At the five, but that's not his true position.
Speaker 3: So right now, this is a perfect moment for Aj
to take over, and he's been doing it, coming off
to career high against Clemson, had twenty six, eight and
seven against UC riverside.
Speaker 4: Look, this is a phenomenal athlete. You need to enjoy
time watching.
Speaker 3: If you don't want to pay big bucks, I'm gonna
tell you right now, pay the big bucks to go
watch this kid in the Marriott because to watch him
every single game, whether I'm covering the game or on television,
this is a generational talent that you're not gonna see
probably ever again at BYU and the potential number one
overall pick. So we'll discuss that a little bit more.
In this segment, let's welcome in the guy that has
advocated for me a lot. He's my colds for today.
We got Ben critical as well.
Speaker 5: Ben.
Speaker 4: Thanks for joining me today.
Speaker 6: Yo Yo excited to be a part of the BYU
Basketball The Cougar Sports Basketball pregame show, Fun Fact of
the Day to start us off. Okay, you know me like,
I am a quarter zip guy, right up a quartership show?
Speaker 2: You are?
Speaker 5: You said that? All right?
Speaker 6: I like to keep it simple. Do you know something
that's form fitting, et cetera. How would you describe k
Why's swagger?
Speaker 7: Right?
Speaker 6: I feel like he's he's a pullover guy. He's a
quarter zip and pullover guy. That's what he is, right,
I mean, look at what he wears. Okay, if you
have been to a BYU game since k Y took over,
you will know he enjoys wearing a variety of pullover
By the way, here's his record this season with the
Black with Brigham Young Script He's three and oh there
black with ybat Digger Cougar, three and oh black with
b YU beat Digger Cougar. He's one and one and
then gray with b YU beat Digger Cougar two and oh,
he likes the black and he likes the gray.
Speaker 5: Have you noticed that.
Speaker 3: Black also makes you look slim too as well, Ben,
black and gray help you look slim. Nothing sim to win,
slim to win, you gotta go slim to window. He
does like the black, and he was wearing the black
last game. And it's not even just that beIN. He
likes the quarterszip. He told us that, you know, in
them media availability at the luncheons we had he is
a quarter zip guy. So the old coaching staff and
the suits at home, you're not gonna see that. I
think remember COVID been in the NBA when they said, hey,
you can now wear pull up zip ups. They didn't
have to go the traditional suit anymore, and that's what
they changed to after that.
Speaker 4: That became k wise like outfit. His sleep is pajamas.
Speaker 3: He's never gonna wear a suit unless it's a press
conference at another school or going back to the NBA.
But I don't think Kevin Young is ever gonna wear
anything different.
Speaker 4: So he wears that.
Speaker 3: He wears the jogger pants and then he wears the jianowskis.
He doesn't coach anything different watch the shoe game guys tonight.
His staff might have dunks, they might have one's eleven's.
The sneaker game of this staff is tremendous, right from
Chris Burgess to Brandon Dunston, a Will Void to Tim Fanning.
You know then they Austin, they got you, they got swaged.
Trust me when I see them, I'm nodding my head
because you know, I'm a sneaker guy. Ben, I'm like,
it's a lot of talent. But Kevin Young is a
simple man. Quarter zip Joggers and Janowski's. He doesn't like
it any differently. And then you know he keeps it
high and tight like you've been with the hair.
Speaker 4: That's how he is.
Speaker 3: He's all about business. So I love that you pointed
out the swag. I do have some other numbers for people, though.
This is kind of the question of the today that
will answer now, Ben, and I want your thoughts as well.
What do you need to see tonight from BOU basketball
against Pacific. It's the same thing I saw on the
UC riverside game. The defense needs to stay elite. Here
are the stats BYU Currently right now is number fourteenth
in defensive efficiency and that's after the Q one and
Q two games. That's the first ten games. And think
about the non conference Q one schedule. They played the
likes of Clemson, they played Villanova, they played Yukon. That's
what you need if you want to compete for a
final four. Berthdon opportunity to win the national championship last season,
this was the problem. Ben, You and I both knew
this BYU was eighty second last season and has been
top fifty. You know, has been top fifty once since
twenty twelve, and that was twenty twenty one. That doesn't
happen often, Ben, And that's because of the high level
talent of aj Debons, to the pressure Rob Wright puts
on the rim, Richie Saunders, they have this to Ki
Bakata being a rim protector. This roster been well constructed
in the offseason. Was constructed to be better defensively from
the perimeter Kanard Davis Junior, and I think that's the
big time stat bend of why this team is, you know,
nine to one going into the last three games in conference,
because before that, I'm not going to say that they
were bad, but they they struggle from the three point line.
And if you want to win a game in March madness,
you have to guard the three point line and take
those shots away.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 6: Look, I look at this season and I see just
so many great wins and even the exhibition games, right,
just a great competitive effort. Like, I love the team.
I love the team's identity. And you bring up defense
to start a lot of people talk about defense. Not
everybody's about that defense facts, you know that, Like, not
everyone's about that. Not everyone buys in. And I love
the fact that this team is bought in defensively and
they don't have chemistry issues. We've always talked about this.
Whenever you're going portaling, you're going the nil transferportal era,
you're bringing high level players, divas, entitlement, poison, all those
things can seep into your basketball program. We're not seeing
any of those symptoms right now. We're not seeing any
of those issues. The only criticism that I can have
for this team is every once in a while in
the first half, the ball gets a little bit sticky
and we get into a little bit io ball, and
as a secondary ansel everything, sometimes the defense isn't as
good as it needs to be, not due to lack
of effort, I think it's more due to execution. So
love this team and I love what they're doing. They've
had great wins. You know, what is the best win
of the season. Would you say, what is the best win.
Speaker 5: Of the season thus far this season? And why? What
would you say to that? Ronnie?
Speaker 3: Yeah, this is a tough one, right, you think about this,
and we have to go to the tape, right, go
to the non conference Quad one and Quad two. Just
to remind the fans started off the season on a
neutral site. They beat Villanova, they lost to Yukon, they
beat in Miami, they beat Clemson in the garden, they
beat Wisconsin on a neutral site, they beat Dayton, they
beat California Baptists. This has tough, Ben, But if I
really had to think about it, the best one, I
think on paper comes down to two games.
Speaker 4: That it comes down to Clemson.
Speaker 3: Being number thirtieth then in the net or number of
sixty nine Wisconsin in the net. Because when you blow
out a top twenty five team like Wisconsin on a
neutral site by almost thirty, Ben almost turted. And know
it was like a home game because it was in
the Delta Center. But a team that you just played
four months ago. Remember they had John Toms, who's playing
in the G League for the Jazz Is. To give
you a little fun fact, it's the Clemson one, though, Ben,
I think Wisconsin's right there.
Speaker 4: If you want to say one, B, I want to
argue you.
Speaker 3: But the Clemson one to be down twenty, to be dead,
left to rights, and again I remind people you got
to go into the depths of it.
Speaker 4: The cut. I talked to Brandon Dunston and I said,
how did they come back?
Speaker 2: Happen?
Speaker 3: Ask Chris birds are the same thing player led. They
didn't have to say a lot. AJ was talking at halftime,
Richie was talking a halftime, Rob Wright, and you mentioned it.
A couple of you mentioned it yesterday.
Speaker 4: I love how AJ.
Speaker 3: Has taken over like this is my is the leader
and what I mean my team of not in a
private way of I have to help my team come along.
I have to help the bench guys. It falls on
my shoulders. And he's not shying away from it when
he's vocal the locker room of we just need to
rebound better, Hey, make the extra pass. Keep like when
he's taken that at eighteen a reminder he reclassified Ben
so he's young.
Speaker 4: He's a young kid like I don't. I wasn't doing
it at eight team and I played sports not as
good as AJ. You played football.
Speaker 3: Take yourself back to when you were eighteen. Were you
that vocal and were you that calm? You know, I'm
poised in those big moments, and AJ has stepped up.
So to me, Ben, the biggest win of the season
has to be Clemson because they had all the momentum
and then dead the rights and held them to twenty
one points. Fun fact, two last two games, Baus held
their opponent to twenty one points in the second half.
So the defense is starting to heat up. And that's
why I think, Ben, you need to keep this against Pacific.
And I'm gonna ask you a question.
Speaker 4: You remember the days of the Pacific, they keep you
out of the.
Speaker 3: Tournament, Ben, And I asked this to Chris Burgess, and
we'll hear that momentarily in the next segment. You would
maybe split between the Saint Mary's game. You lose against
Zaga and you'd have to beat everybody else in Pacific.
You lose on the road, and that would keep you
from going to the tournament. Well, that's not the case anymore,
but deja vubin can DejaVu enter into the marrit Could
another slow start happen? Because you've played this team before this,
you're very well familiar with the wcc FO they played
in this building.
Speaker 4: Could you see by you have a slow start tonight
against Pacific?
Speaker 6: Well, I think that this Bway basketball team is just that.
I don't I don't think they really start fast.
Speaker 4: I mean no, they don't.
Speaker 6: Look look at every single of these games like like,
I don't know if you can necessarily consistently say that
this is a first half team.
Speaker 5: It's not.
Speaker 6: It's a second half team. It's an adjustment. Uh, it's
an adjustment type of team. It's a uh, it's a
team that It's not that they don't come in and
motivate it. I just you wonder about the game plan,
you wonder about what it is. They just they got
to warm up first. I don't know, man, it's just
they're not a first half team. So uh, yeah, they're
going they very well could start slow. Pacific can keep
it competitive and and make it interesting. I think they've
beaten the Cougs three times, and they've they've they've beaten
them fifteen. I mean it's been a dominant, like one
sided matchup in their eighteen matchups since I think they
started playing back in I want to say the first
first game was in two thousand and fourteen, if I'm.
Speaker 4: Not mistaken anywa.
Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, and so yeah.
Speaker 6: I think in twenty twenty two in January they got
you in Stockton. It's never happened in Provo though. No,
It's always been on the road, always on the road.
So even when they do have talent, even when they
do have productivity, they win at home. They're not winning
in Provo. No one, No one wins. No one comes
into the Marriott Center and wins. They're oh to eight,
I believe, all time against the Cougars at the Marriott Center.
So even if BYU starts slow, I don't see this
being an interesting one. I think BAYU covers. It's minus
twenty three and a half. I believe it is why
you covers. And by the way, I'm putting out the
tweet right now. Score prediction time BAU basketball versus Pacific
Tonight closest prediction wins. Free swag from Royal Army BYU
Swag Crew to by fans for fans, stay loyal to
the Royal rep the wide the right way, purchase all
your BA license apparel at Royal Army Brand dot com.
But second half they pull away strong and they cover.
Speaker 3: Jonathan Tabinari say he needs, you know, for his ego
for BA to be pacific by fifty. Don't think you
need to see fifty, but I do think you need
to see a thirty point blowout. You need to show
that there is no longer a problem to sparity. You
can't play a close bug and you can't play you
can't let Pacific cover. That's the biggest thing that I'm saying.
Because you wanted to get out of the WCC. We
don't belong there. We can play with other big time
programs sec ACC. If you let Pacific cover, that's gonna
start to push against that narrative a little bit. But
I don't think Kevin Young will let it happen, as
always has been said. Just want to remind you, guys,
all of our pregame shows are sponsible World Army Brand
dot Com.
Speaker 6: Guys.
Speaker 3: If you if you want to look good, feel good
and feel good and play good and pay good, then
pay good and live good and you will eat good
as well. You gotta do it with official BOI license apparel.
That's a roll on Me brand. I got the shirt
of Who's Got Keys to the Church? Look, it's the
best shirt that I've worn. I was wearing it around.
Some of the youth in my ward said how can
I get that shirt? I said, this is where you
can go get it. It's roll Armi Brand DoD Colm.
Let's give you an update. Tonight's game against Pacific will
be a Quad three game. It's a Quad three game
that bo will be playing in. They haven't played a
Quad three game yet this season. Well, this will be
the first one. Could get moved up to Quad three
depending on how Pacific finishes the rest of the season.
But six Q one and Q two wins are tied
with Michigan for the most nationally. So, like Kevin Young
and Chris Burgers talked about in the offseason, they wanted
to test themselves in the non conference play, and they've
done that so far, and they have a Q three
game tonight.
Speaker 4: It's the first Q three game.
Speaker 3: Both games versus Utah are currently the only other Q
three games projected. Now that's because right now it's still
early in the season. Once he tall maybe gets some
wins in Big Twelve play, that will change. And just
to give you guys a little bit more of a breakdown,
depending where you play the game at determines it. If
you're playing on the road, it may move a game
up in the net rankings. If you're playing it at
on the road or at home, that changes just how
you foresee those things going forward. I want to move
to my next question, which non starter will have the
biggest impact tonight in the BAU basketball matchup. I think
I'm gonna go back to what I said the first
time on Saturday.
Speaker 4: I think Alexi.
Speaker 3: Coaches continues to shoot the ball well at a high level.
Last game career high fifteen points. Look, you know you're
having a good night when the guys smiling. He shot
I think his third or fourth winning He was just smiling,
And that's what you want. Alexi needs a bunch of
confidence right now. And look, I know the talent is
not good. I know it's Q three Q four opponents.
That's true. You can't take that away. But you need
to build confidence now because when you play Kansas State
in your first Big twelve game on the road, January third.
Speaker 4: You need him to be locked and loaded.
Speaker 3: You need that combo, as Kevin Young mentioned in the
post game of a de Bonsa and Alexi to work.
You need him to be confident because if he doesn't
show up on the road, that's tough. And look, Ben,
I think, like you said, the first half struggles playing,
maybe the basketball, the game plan not working. I think
at some point in conference play when it gets more physical.
We saw what happened in an Iowa State game where
they were up big and an Iowa State storm back
with the lack of bench production and how they struggle.
Speaker 4: I think AJ, Robb and Richie could get tired.
Speaker 3: I could be wrong, Ben, but I think you very
well can find yourself in your first Big twelve row game.
And I know this is a few weeks down the line,
you can find yourself in some trouble, just like you
did in the Clemson game, in a true road environment
when it's tough to win in the Big twelve, Ben,
if the bench players aren't producing. So I'll start there
with you and then give me your answer to which
non starter will have the biggest impact in tonight's game.
Speaker 6: Yeah, I like to take like after the UC riverside game.
I mean you begin to just start to see. I
mean the Clemson game is one thing, right, You're not
necessarily relying as much on your bench.
Speaker 5: We need to develop the bench, to develop it now
in these next three games.
Speaker 6: And so my my automatic thought after the the the
horn sound and you got the win over UC Rivers
and I'm like, who do I trust on the bench?
Speaker 5: Right now? Who do I trust?
Speaker 6: Coming off the bench? I feel so bad for Dawson
Baker and I didn't get we haven't gotten to know
Nate Pickens will, but I feel bad for him. You
know that this is why you go out and get
you get depth because we've had our fair share of
bad luck, be it off.
Speaker 5: The court issues or injuries over the years.
Speaker 6: When you have a good team, you have like a
Big three type of deal, you have good depth, and
just attrition rears its ugly head. So I'm going to
pick Mahilo in this game, okay, right? Like, and the
reason being is because Heilo has been seeing more minutes.
You can tell that they're bringing him along. They want
to give him time, they want to give him more opportunities.
Speaker 5: There's no doubt about it. They saw right what his
potential was when they brought him from Serbia.
Speaker 6: Okay, and late last season as I look at you know,
game logs and how he was increasingly involved. Okay, it
was in November when he started to see and maybe
even to a certain extent, you know, January December, like
he logged I think twenty minutes versus Universus FAMU. But
that was a it was an easy game, right, He
got early minutes last year, early in the teams, and
then it dropped off, right, it dropped off. And then
he got into March, and he saw twenty versus Iowa State,
seventeen versus Utah, twenty one versus Iowa State again in
the Big twelve championship game. He only saw five minutes
in that Houston game, and then Wisconsin was six, and
then Alabama was ten minutes. But we saw an increase
in productivity and impact in these games. He I think
he had eleven points and ten points respectively in the
Utah and Iowa State games in in March. So I'm
gonna lean on Mahilo here and say, hey, he's coming along,
not at an accelerated pace, but they have to bring
him along. They have to force him along. He did
get eighteen minutes. Early in the season. He had seven
points versus cal Baptist. Looked pretty good there, looked solid there,
going three to three, one for one from the three
point line. He only had three minutes in the Clemson game.
It was a close one, so they didn't go to
the bench. You see riverside he had ten minutes. So
Yukon he actually had. He had sixteen minutes.
Speaker 5: You can see the staff trying to force feed Mahilo
and saying you got to step up. He was two
of eight in that Yukon game. You know what I mean.
Speaker 6: He got five semi contested to open looks and he
didn't hit.
Speaker 5: He's got to hit. So they need Mahilo. They they
need a.
Speaker 6: Stretch four, Stretch five type of player. He's the guy
that needs to step up. I want to continue to
force feed him and try to get him into a groove,
try to build more confidence. Uh and hopefully that showcase tonight.
Speaker 4: I agree with you. I think they are gonna continue
to force feed him. You have to. Will you think
of who's coming off the bench.
Speaker 3: Diamande can shoot threes, but it's not really his biggest
strength and Kadeem is the guy that's gonna get on
the boards when you want us up kPa out maybe
and go a little bit small if you bring in
Xavion so Mahilo is a guy that stretches the floor
and against this specific team, how they match up roster wise.
We'll get into that in our last segment. That's gonna
play a big factor. We guys, we need to take
a quick break, but don't go anywhere. Coming back on
the flip, we're gonna hear my interview with Chris Burgess.
He's gonna give us a scout on report of what
you need to look out for tonight, who this specific
men's basketball team is. We'll also talk a little bit
of bring a recruiting bringing Dean Ruker and we'll openshaw
as well. That coming up next. You're listening to the
Cougar Basketball pregame show right here on one O three
nine in ninety eight three esp He's.
Speaker 1: Not Cougar Basketball Pregame Show one nine, ninety eight three
ESPN the Fan Welcome back to the.
Speaker 3: Cooper Basketball pre games on Marijuana Brees There Ronald three
Man weave here at Bank Credle also by my side
without further.
Speaker 4: Ado, don't want to take too much time.
Speaker 3: Let's get to my interview that I caught up this
morning with Chris Burgess breaking down the.
Speaker 4: Specific team.
Speaker 3: All right on the second stop here on the Cougar
Basketball pre game Sean, I'm joined today. One of the
by U assistant coaches knows this team very well, pretty
sure he scouted them before this morning. I got Chris Burgess, coach,
thanks for joining me this morning. Early start for you guys.
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 7: Excited to get going against it against a very well
known former conference.
Speaker 6: Fun.
Speaker 3: Yeah, let's just take that back. Wcc DA's bully basketball
now in the Big twelve.
Speaker 4: You're here before.
Speaker 3: I remember the days I was talking to coach Dunson,
you know about this and others. I remember the days
where basketball playing against Saint Mary's, playing against you know, Gonzaga,
and it just seems like back in the day, you
would really have to get those teams and win, and
then it'd be the Pacifics the Pepperdines, and those games
not necessarily would cost b YU, but would hold them
out of the tournament.
Speaker 4: I know fans are disappointed, but now we've moved, we've
moved on from that.
Speaker 3: Now in the Big twelve, of you know, the competition
is different and it doesn't matter necessarily if a loss
and non conference or conference play happens, you still have
an opportunity to get to the tournament, just from your
vantage point of how the program has evolved.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a great point.
Speaker 7: You know, when you played in the w c C,
you know, it's all it's like the net, the instant net,
and the rankings how they do tournament seeds. You know,
you had b YU and you had you know, Saint
Mary's twice and and Gonzaga that were essentially plot one
or quad two wins or good wins, good opportunities that
could only help you. And as good as like as
tough as it was to like go to go to
a Pacific and and and win, you know, it was
like a must win situation. It could have really hurts you, right,
it could really hurt you on on the you know,
the tournament you know bid and so you know when
you're involved to go to the Big twelve.
Speaker 2: Now now it's like everyone's a quad.
Speaker 7: Every road game for sure is a quad one, and
every every every game you play is a quad one
or Quad two opportunities. So just in terms of NCAA
tournament brackets, that's a great thing to be in the
Big twelve.
Speaker 2: Just in terms of like obviously the coaching is an
elite in the Big Twelve.
Speaker 7: It's it's it's good everywhere, but it's it's like you're
going against you know, Bill soph was one of US
championship right like Samson tj Ausenberger, I mean, I mean,
Tommy Lloyd. You're going against these elite coaches, and you're
going against you know, a team that has one or
two guys you know that are going to probably playing
in the league right or play professionally for a long time.
And so it's so it's it's it's great to be
a part of the Big twelve and to be challenged
and to be pushed, and to play in these environments
right like Ames Iowa or Lubbock, Texas that love and
appreciate their team and college basketball there and their university.
It's it's just it's a very unique That's that's the
one thing I think is so great as our fan
base as are phenomenal, and so it's it's amazing to
be a part.
Speaker 4: Of you see a challenge. Let's start there and continue.
Speaker 3: You had mentioned I think it was an offseason when
we caught up with you that you sawid Arizona did
last year, and if you're able to replicate that in
your own way, it will set you guys up for
the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 4: How do you feel like the non conference has done
that with the schedule, You guys have performed amazing so far.
Speaker 7: Yeah, you know what, how it's going is exactly how
we envisioned. Probably a little better. Of course, you'd love
to be undefeated, but our whole point was to put
together a top twenty five non conference schedule, depending on
what metric system you look at. So far, we've been
doing that, and you know, we're sitting nine and one
with you know, I think we're I think we're five
and one or something, six and one in quat one
quad two quadric games, and you know, I think if
the our goal was to, you know, go into this
year when the team we had coming in and agent,
you know, Richie.
Speaker 2: Coming back cave but come back.
Speaker 7: Our whole point was like, we don't wanted to make
the tournament, right think in the past is like, let's
just get to the tournament and make a run. We
want to see, right, we want a good seed, we
want a one, two or three seed. And so the
only way you can do that is, of course win
the Big twelve, but like you have to put together.
Speaker 2: A non conference game and you have to win games.
And so you know, we felt like we've done that.
Speaker 7: If the tournament and sorry, if the tournament started right now,
you know, we'd be sitting in a two or three seed. Right,
We're feeling really good now. There's so much more basketball
to play, right, There's so many more opportunities to continue
to improve that. And so we level how we set
the schedule up couldn't have worked out better. And then
on the on the on the other side of it
is like, man, we've got to play in events and
marquee venues that like these are lifelong experiences. To play
in the Boston Garden, right, to play the Madison Square
Garden and not just get a buzzer beater. But we've
we've been able to do some things as a team
that I think are gonna go way past you know,
the wins losses record not gonna not gonna be long
time memories, but also help us come big twelve play like,
I feel like we've we've put ourselves in so many
good situations and you know, late game situations, having to
scheme defensively, scheme offensively, be pushed.
Speaker 2: Where last year, right, I think our non conference was
ranked threugher then the three fifties, right, three forties, and
it just just didn't.
Speaker 7: Prepare us for the big the gauntlet of the Big twelve,
And all of a sudden, we're sitting two and four
trying to figure things out where I feel like we've
we've done that so far, and look, we're gonna have
a lot of things we have to figure out as
the Big twelve goes.
Speaker 2: But I feel like we're with We're we're better prepared,
come come.
Speaker 3: You know, in the new year, you definitely are better prepared.
I feel like the new year compared to last year.
Definitely the opponents even you know, the talent with the team.
You look at who's on the roster, What do you
think this group is accomplishable? What you said is the
number one thing that they've done, you know, through ten
eleven games so far.
Speaker 7: You know what I think, First, we've shown some resiliency.
You know, obviously we would like we start off games better.
Speaker 2: It's just the truth.
Speaker 7: I thought we took a step against riverside of imposing
our will a little bit more from the start of
the game. But I think you're resiliency to you know,
make adjustments in the second half, communicate simple things what
we need to do better. I think one thing with commences, man,
I think we've been really good defensively, mixing it up,
imposing our will pressure wise on the ball, off the ball,
doubling the ball, and trying to like you know, turn
up our aggression a little bit to get things going.
But I think, like everyone always talks about, you know,
coach Kevin Young, an offensive line in the NBA, But
I think, like what we've done defensively this year, and
it helps to have players that can guard. But I
think what we've done defensive this year, no team, no
BYU team, has ever been able to guard this way
in my opinion, with the length, the athleticism, the rim
protection and just the on ball pressure that we've been on,
Like we get so many deflections so defense, so I
think we've taken a huge step. We got ways to
go offensive, and we'll get there. We're kind of figuring
out but that was a huge focus. And I've said
this a number of times.
Speaker 2: As soon as we lost Alabama and I think we
gave up twenty five May threes. We're just like, if
we want to get to where we got to get to,
we got to be able to guard.
Speaker 7: And I think that's the I think our resiliency in
the defensive side of the basketball is where we've taken
the biggest step, because the end of the day, there's
a reason why Houston wins a lot of games.
Speaker 2: It's because, yes, they guard, but they go on the
road and they can score sixty points and they can
still win.
Speaker 7: So when your defense travels right, you can win tough,
tough games, road environments.
Speaker 2: And we have to be able to do that and
that and that has been our emphasis.
Speaker 4: Yeah, the defense has definitely picked up the priority of defense.
Speaker 3: You see it, even though the offense maybe you guys
haven't got off to the starts that you are, you
can see the defense of improvements and I feel like,
you know, you the coaching staff has made those adjustments.
And speaking of adjustments, what makes you and the rest
of this staff, just so you know, phenomenal at that
I feel like whenever you guys go on a halftime there.
Obviously there's no worry from you guys, but even fans,
I think have started to realize some of you calling
the second half team. I'm gonna push away from that,
but I just think, you know, this staff always has
pieces to the puzzle and is able to pass the test.
You know, when you guys get back out to finish
that final twenty.
Speaker 7: Yeah, you know what we're trying to see it like,
we got to do a little bit of better job
right start the games just and it's a little things
right imposing our will and that might be like turning
it up defence me in terms of just you know,
doubling or trapping or you know, pressing just a tiny
bit right just to get your just to get the
vibes and the energy going, as opposed to kind of
sitting on your heels and waiting to take the first punch.
And I think that we are getting we are getting
everybody's best shot, which is great. We got to respond
a little bit better, But I think just in terms
of we're going into the locker room and be like, okay,
what is the idea of the game, what's hurting us?
And we're able to keep it simple, address that and
honestly challenge our guys. It's just like, oh, you guys
are playing great in the second half, Like yeah, like
like you know what I mean. And then we turn
it up like all of a sudden, you know, we're
setting our two to one press up, We're trapping a
half court you know, the throwing into the post, We're
trapping a pick and roll. And so just for us
to be able to kind of start that from the
beginning of the game and kind of throw the first
punch then right, it's hurting us back off as opposed
to like taking the first punch and then figuring it
out right. And so I think, and look, our guys
gotta our guys gotta, we got to prepare them a
little bit better. But our guys gotta I'm out biting, right.
Sometimes we're kind of serving how they're pit guarding us
and you know how they're doing this, and then we honestly,
we get a little we get a little sticky with
the basketball on offense, where guys are you know, getting
to the paint and not making the best paint decisions.
It's like, good, we have such a dynamic trio guys
who can get Delane and Rob Wright, AJ and Ritchie,
and so it's like, hey, they're collapsing, we have to
make the extra pass.
Speaker 2: And then we start doing that in the second half.
Speaker 7: And now the paint open ups when we start punching
them from outside, and so I think it's it's a
number of things.
Speaker 2: But again that's why you play this non conference.
Speaker 7: You're not going to learn those things with the dur
and fortieth schedule because you can have bad starts right
and still be up ten twelve, or if you do
that against Miami, or you do that against Clemson or
of course Yukon, like you're gonna be down twenty.
Speaker 2: Right, And so I think that's why we do this.
We figured this out.
Speaker 7: That's one of an area to address, and we've done
that and you know, we're going to continue to take
steps so we get better at that area.
Speaker 3: Yeah, the team has definitely gotten better at the area.
And speaking to someone who's also gotten better at an area,
I mean the guy that you work with, you know,
the follow you because loves to be coaching about you.
Ka Kata just speak to everything that he's just accomplished
in the offseason.
Speaker 4: You see the growth in cave. I feel like he's
improved from the free throw line, grab a rebounds. He
had a career high on blocks against my I think
of the invitation. He's been phenomenal.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 7: Look, first of all, he's a beautiful kid. He's the
most unselfish kid maybe in college basketball. He loves screening
for people. He loves screening for his guards. He loves,
you know, whether it's pick and roll, whether it's off
the ball, whether it's screening his own.
Speaker 2: Man and the paint so his man can't block a shot.
The Kata is so unselfish.
Speaker 7: And those kids are easy to coach, right when all
they care about is making the right play and winning
and and and look, he's got some guy given talent
with his athletic ability and his his shot blocking timing.
You know, he's a volleyball player, right, and so he
has the timing of when the when the senter is
gonna the shooter is the center, and he knows when
that shooter is gonna set the ball so we can
go spike into a spike out of bounds. But look, honestly,
last year around February, you know, we want him to
be more comfortable with the basketball, and Kevin and I
and Jordan Brady, who kind of heads up player development
on our staff, was like, let's work on his perimeter skills.
So he's nothing he's ever going to shoot a bunch
of threes or come up a handoff or come up
with pick and roll. Wanted to be comfortable with the
basketball in his hands in this offseasons to make plays.
And so honestly, we're doing a lot of guard work right,
and and I think you see it translating with him
being comfortable out there. He's worked his tail up the
free thow line, right, he's worked his tail up and
getting extra shots. But honestly, he's worked his tail off
with you know, our performance mental performance coach and and
and and just the proactive mindset of what you're telling
yourself miss or make. And so that's a credit to
Kaba and Hit the mental performance staff that's put the
time in. And he's a senior, right, there's a swagger
and there's a confidence that comes with seniors that have
been doing this for three plus years and they walk
on the My thing with Kate was like, hey, well
when you walk on the court like you're the biggest
you're the baddest and most athletic and.
Speaker 2: Your oldest dude out here, right, and you got to
believe that.
Speaker 7: And so you know, and and he's a very unique
kid where it's like he's pretty easy to motivate, like
you can make stuff up, you know. I think Shaq
was this way right where he's like, man, Cable, I'm
just telling you, this is what I read in the press.
This kid said he's coming at you like you just said,
he's not worried about you, right, And Cable will kind
of look at you like okay, right, and.
Speaker 2: Then they'll start he'll start taping.
Speaker 7: His hands up like he's a boxer. So there's certain things.
There's certain things right there that you know, having coach
the kid and understanding the way he what makes him tick, right,
that as part of the you know, as part of
the relationship building process that I've had with that with Kiba, and.
Speaker 2: I know how to get him going, right. I know
the film to.
Speaker 7: Watch with them to get him going and to kind
of tick him off a little bit. And I'm gonna
keep going back to it double down, Like he's such
a phenomenal teammate where it's like ca bit man like
these guys need you right, These guys need you to
roll hard, these guys need you to block that shot,
these guys and and like he does.
Speaker 2: It for his teammates first and foremost.
Speaker 7: He's he's the most unselfish kid I probably ever coached
in terms of just like how can I how can
I like get my guys open right?
Speaker 2: And always asking for is a couple of lobs every game.
Just throw him a couple. He's good.
Speaker 4: Hey, he's definitely been good.
Speaker 1: Uh.
Speaker 3: You know, he dumps the ball so hard, caught a
couple of bodies to on some uh some uh what
is it? You got Utah ties as well, So I
know he'll be able to take that back when they
all meet up in the offseason. He'll be had to
take a couple of those. Of all his funny games,
you know how it goes the competition. Speaking of guys,
you know, unselfish opportunity when you get your thoughts just
on little open Shaw coming in sounds like he's gonna
serve a mission.
Speaker 4: And then Dean will come in right away next year.
Speaker 7: Yeah, we're excited about those young men. They've been friends
and teammates for a long time. Uh, local kids been what. Look,
I've known Dean since he was a little kid. His
oldest sister and my oldest daughter were club volleyball teammates,
and so I've known them and their family since.
Speaker 2: Honestly, Dean was like ten years old. It just happened,
You just I did.
Speaker 7: Not realize he was gonna be a six foot eight,
you know, wet ball, you know what I mean, like
four star recruit. It just kind of worked out that way.
He's got a wonderful family. We are super excited about.
First of all, talk Dean like he fits what we're
trying to do. He's gonna come in right away. But
you know, he lights out from three. He's he wants,
he wants to be good, and he's grown up.
Speaker 2: Loving b y U.
Speaker 7: And when you get those kids, you know this, right
when you get those kids that that name on the
front of the jersey means so much to him. It's
like Richie like they do. They do extraordinary things in
the Marit Center. So we can't wait to get him
on campus. You know, Will is one of these kind
of late developers, right, you know, two or three years
ago in the AU circuit, he was you know, he
was on like the B the B team for you know,
one of the one of the main prospect teams out here.
Speaker 2: And he continue to grow. He cantinue to work to develop,
and you can see.
Speaker 7: It right, you can see his confidence grow and all
of a sudden, he's a six nine kind of stretch
four you know, can play some five kid that's like man.
That kid comes back from his mission, puts some weight on.
He's got the right mentality, and he's gonna have come
out and every freaking work like Dean. But we love
the way he looks at the game, We love the
way his improvements come over last through four years. And
we just felt he's a kid that come, you know,
a couple of years mission. Things like that he can
come and help us and put on and another kid
who grew up love on.
Speaker 2: The hy as well. So we're excited about those two
young men.
Speaker 7: Great kids fit what we're trying to do, will represent
b YU and the mission of b y U as
good as any any student student and student athlete here.
And they've just been a joy to recruit, to get
to know them and their families. So we're excited about them.
And and you know, we've told them how hard. This
is and and they want it right and and that's important.
Speaker 3: Well, coach, I appreciate you you sharing that always have
told people, you know, ever since you know the changes
have happened. Look, you know the AJ's, the robs, they matter,
but you know, your own backyard is really where it starts.
And Dean and Will and I love that they're coming
in and how to be able to grow the program
and the local products is so important.
Speaker 4: You need those the richies they really do matter.
Speaker 3: You know, the fuses that come into this program there
they're you know, one in a million, so you can
miss I don't know, so grateful that we'll be able
to see those guys in the next coming years.
Speaker 4: For sure.
Speaker 3: I do want to ask, this is the plan for
Abdullah to maybe to get him to play this season?
I know kJ is gonna red shirt or is that
you know that's still a work in progress.
Speaker 2: It's kind of a work in progress.
Speaker 7: We're just kind of figuring things out kind of where
you know, obviously we'll get here and kind of see
where he's at mentally and physically and and kind of
see where the roster shakes up.
Speaker 2: And we want to make sure every we think everything through.
Speaker 7: You know, you think about obviously the pros and the
and the potential unintended consequences at the same time, Right,
we want to do the right thing for a the
kid Abdullah, and of course we want to do the
right thing for b y U basketball and the team.
So it's kind of work in progress where we're you know,
we'll see when he arise and kind of talk to that.
Speaker 3: Okay, last thing, we'll get you out on this. I
know your time is pressure just to scout and report
on the old w c c FO Pacific. Yeah, and
now what do you see on film?
Speaker 7: You know what, look a team that you know they
went in, a team that plays really really hard.
Speaker 2: They're very well coached. This coach Coach Coach is one.
Speaker 7: Of the most famous coaches, one of the all time
winning his coaches in Canada basketball, Canada college basketball. And
he played a very unique defensive style where they're influencing
everything to the left hand. So whether you're garden the post,
where the garden perimeter, where your garden ball screen, they
send everything to the left side of the floor.
Speaker 2: And your weekend something we haven't faced before.
Speaker 7: You know, they took a lot of transfers Florida transfer
a DAT and transfer right a main transfer. They're just
filled with a bunch of transfers, and so a lot
of pick and roll, a lot of isolation basketball. And
then what this coach is really good at offensively, he
he lives in this environment of what's working. Right, A
lot of coaches you'll see is like, run this play,
and then run that play and run this. Now this
coach is like, all right, that's working. I'm going back
to it. And there's multiple options and outcomes out of it,
and so we have to be dialed in on on that.
You look, they went into cal Berkeley, you know, and
COL is coming off a win against Utah. Col was
coming up a win against UCLA, and they went into
cal Berkeley and is a one possession game with three minutes,
and so you know, I can't I'd have to look
at the net this morning, but I think this is
a potential plot to type game for us and and
and you know they're coming in here to take you know,
to take the Kings down, and this game has been
circled for them, right. This is their opportunity to come
in against you know, a top ten team and in
an amazing environment that you know they've been in before
in terms of the w c C.
Speaker 2: But our guys will be locked in.
Speaker 7: Our guys are so excited to get to be home
right on our home stretch of games. But they got
they got a team that two dynamic scores and Elias
Ralph and t J. Wayne Wright, and they got a
dynamic playmaker pass first guard and Jade and Clayton, and
so this is a team that we were gonna be
locked in. We only had we had short prep, but
we'll be we'll be ready to go and you know,
protect protect our home court.
Speaker 3: I'll be excited to see tonight how you guys have
gone Ralph and and Wayne Wright for for sure.
Speaker 4: And you mentioned Cal.
Speaker 3: Everybody knows who's the coach at caw So yeah, right,
one possession game there there, we know what type of
coaches at Cal.
Speaker 1: So.
Speaker 4: Hey, this distract. It seems like you guys are locked in.
Speaker 3: Coach, thank you for your time today and we will
definitely catch up with you later in the season.
Speaker 4: Appreciate today, of course, man, I appreciate you as well. Okay, guys,
we will go to break, don't go anywhere. Still a
lot more to get to.
Speaker 3: But that was Chris Burgess, the BYU men's and basketball
assistant coach from the second stop here of the Cougar
pregame show right here on one of three, nine and
ninety eight three ESPN The Fan.
Speaker 1: Basketball three Game Show with one of the three Man
week on one of three nine ninety eight three ESPN
The Pad.
Speaker 2: Welcome back to the basketball pre game.
Speaker 4: ESPN as H and I Mama three Man.
Speaker 3: We've been credited by my side guys as a reminder
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to rolla me brand dot com. All right, Ben, This
news was announced while we were playing the interview with
Chris Burgess earlier from this morning made my tickes in
the first segment, ALEXI Coastage will not be available tonight,
per Gargabella in the pregame show with Kevin Young, the
guard is unavailable tonight been due to illness against Pacific,
So ben big deal or not a big deal?
Speaker 6: I think this is a big deal. I think it's
a bigger deal than everybody wants to let on.
Speaker 7: Now.
Speaker 6: Granted we're in December. What matters is March. What matters
is February. Okay, but you have to win in Big
twelve Play, and you need to get prepared right now
for Big twelve Play. You need these three games for
Alexi Mahilo. I'd even say Dominique Diamida. I know JT's
completely sold on him. I'm not completely sold on him
just yet. I know he's gonna come along. You need
them to get refined, and Pacific is one of those
refining games prior to Big twelve play that I think.
Even though it's a quad three opportunities you mentioned, it's
the only quad three game that we have thus far.
We have we have four quad ones I think, two
quad twos and then uh maybe an additional I think
four quad fours, four fours. Yes, guys, this is this
is a good team. You look at who they've who
they've competed against.
Speaker 5: On the road. They almost took down Cal on the road.
Speaker 4: And Mark math is a good coach.
Speaker 6: That that's a one lost Cal team. Very good and
well coached is this specific team. So this is one
of those games. I know BWA is a heavy favorite,
and they should be there at home, and they're they're
they're very talented, and they're well coached and well resourced
and all those things. But we need a Lexi in
this game. He like, there's a lot of sicknesses going around.
There's there's corona, there's neuroviruses, there's flu bug. We've seen it, man,
there's a lot of bugs going around. Make sure you're
taking your vitamins. Make sure you're taking your zinc, man,
so you don't get that viral replication.
Speaker 4: I don't like it.
Speaker 5: I don't like it.
Speaker 6: I wanted to see the accelerated learning and productivity and
cohesion with Alexi, with that second unit led by Ajdabonsa.
Speaker 5: To me, this's a big deal. I don't like it
one bit.
Speaker 4: That's a big deal.
Speaker 3: I think this is a bigger deal than people need
to I'm not gonna say the sky is falling, but.
Speaker 4: Look, we just heard from Chris Burgess. We talked about
it in the first segment.
Speaker 3: Look, if guys are getting sick, you already had Richie sick,
Diamande was sick and didn't participated in the game against
California Baptist, and now Alexi coach is just sick against this.
If this happens in conference play, remember they've had guys
sick the last two or three season, excuse me, seasons
on the road when they've made those East Coast trips. Look,
if you don't have guys healthy and you're lacking in
portant garb depth. I just said it earlier, Ben, you
might kJ Perry and Abdullah could play this season if
they they have another injury or illnesses. Look, and that's
not hygh perblely.
Speaker 4: Now you can't.
Speaker 3: Luckily, this is non conference and like you said December,
you want to be peaking in February towards the end
of March.
Speaker 4: But you can't have this lack of depth.
Speaker 3: You already down Dawson Baker, you already down in Ny
Picketts and Alexi, who is playing by obligation now with
aj and you like that combination of what it was
last game not gonna be available against.
Speaker 4: Like you mentioned a good Pacific team.
Speaker 3: The coach Dave Smart, one of the best coaches in
Canada leading the Pacific Tigers. Now the record, don't get
confused by the record. Everybody likes to look at numbers,
and numbers are great.
Speaker 4: They do say a lot about it.
Speaker 3: And I know that BYU's favorite in this matchup per
ESPN Matchup Predictor ninety six to nine, Pacific has a
three point one percent. But that's a good three point
one percent, like you already mentioned. Man, Now I know
that they haven't won, you know, in provo like that.
BA is one of the last six straight at the Marriotte.
Last time they won was an eighty one to sixty
sixth victory in their final meeting as a member of
the West Coast Conference foes. But Jaden Clayton, I went
back and I watched tape. The dribble handoff is nice.
And he also averages one point three steals a game.
And don't get me wrong, Elias Ralph and you know TJ.
Wainwright are gonna do a lot of the scoring. But
Clayton is a good passer. You know who else is
a good passer? Rob Right, So they don't turn the
ball over that much unless you put pressure. So Ben,
I think what you're gonna see tonight is full court
pressure from Kevin Young squad to slow Pacific down. Because
if Jaden Clayton is starting to get off, and then
you add when Ralph is hitting shots, Wayne Right and
then you let Isaac Jack get in the mix is
another contributor BYU can be in trouble.
Speaker 4: Like don't be surprised the Pacific kept is close.
Speaker 3: In the beginning, and the reason I bring it up
is Delaware gave BYU issues right away when they hit shots.
This team has already proven they've been on the road.
They have confidence. They're gonna come in and shoot the
basketball when you know you're already down talent wise and
they have a player out and they're lacking depth. If
you're the coaching staff, you're saying, go in there, find
your shot early, take shots.
Speaker 4: So I would not be surprised if Pacific came out teaching.
Speaker 3: But hopefully BYU's defense, which I think has started to
be the clay of this team, Ben will shut them down.
I'll give my score prediction really quickly and my keys
to the game before you give yours before we get
out of here, and I had down a pro to cover.
Speaker 4: Look, it's very simple.
Speaker 3: Full court press now, especially even with the Alexi out,
slow them down in transition, Gartha Permeter, well, make them
take extremely tough contested threes. Do not let them operate
in the pick and roll and throw lobs and let
Jayden start to get comfortable. When that happens, this team
is very, very dangerous. They like to run that picch
and action. They run everything to the left, so you
know what that means. Force them right, don't let them
go off that way. Get them uncomfortable, and let Aj
get people in foul trouble. Here's the where it's stat.
AJ's drawn what I think five fouls the last five games.
Let him put someone in foul trouble and then of
course rebound the basketball. Ben I think Bau covers this game.
I think they pull away. Like you said in the
second half late, give me BYU to win this game.
I'm gonna go ninety one to fifty eight. I think
Boa wants this game ninety one to fifty eighth. They cover,
they get out unscathed, everybody's healthy, and hopefully they'll.
Speaker 4: Get Alexi back. Next game. What's your score prediction for
this game?
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'll give you my breakdown.
Speaker 6: This ninety one Cougar team, top ten ap pole, number
six and net rating most talented team ever to come
through Brigham Young University. And I lean on guys like
Kyle Collinsworth, Kyle former by great. I call him the
triple double King.
Speaker 5: He's been.
Speaker 6: He was down at practice earlier this week and just
getting his eyes on this squad, right and how just
truly remarkable, how special this team.
Speaker 5: Is and is going to be as long as they
stay healthy.
Speaker 6: Right knock on wood, he said, Biloy basketball look good
and practical, A khy has an elite culture and vibe.
Would be fun coach to play for. That's what's different.
That's what makes this team so great is the culture
is tremendous as well.
Speaker 5: So love this team.
Speaker 6: And right now the Cougars are on what like a
twenty three home win streak, right and so I expect
to win, expect BYU to cover. But we got to
start the first half just a little bit more efficient,
more effective from the three point line, right, Like somebody
outside of aj I feel like, is Rob a good
distributor in the first half. Is he a good creator
in the first half. I feel like second half becomes
the AJ show. So do you want the AJ show
to occur the first half? You may have to give
him the ball and say you're the point guard. And
I hate to relegate Rob to a secondary role here,
but I think some of the issue right now in
the first half is that we want to go traditional.
Speaker 5: With Rob at the point.
Speaker 6: So I'm asking that AJ get a little bit more
involved in the first half as a distributor, as a playmaker,
because every time he does he takes over the second half.
Let's have him take over the first half to start
it off. You don't want to mess around and find
out with specific BYU covers BYU covers tonight ninety five
sixty five coups get.
Speaker 3: The win like a thirty point dub. Like you mentioned,
I agree. I think AJ with the Lexi out, will
take the ball more in his hand. Look, I'm just
gonna shoot one of the stars for the moon. AJ
could have double digit assistant at a career high because
of the illness, not due necessarily to opponent. Because of
the illness. Guys that will do it from us. That's
all the time We have for today. You can catch
a game on ESPN Plus. The call will be with
Dave McCain and Blame Fowler and Spencer Linsen on the sideline.
If you're going down to the game, please travel safe
from all of us here for the Cougar basketball pre game.
Speaker 4: Have a good night, have a safe night.
Speaker 3: You will listen to the Cougar basketball pre game on
one O three nine in ninety eight three ESPN