Speaker 1: From Chicago to Provo, from dodging tackles on the rugby
pitch to covering tribes on the Marriott Center baseline, He's
traded in scrums for statuets, creeps for Courtside College, and
somehow he draws more contact than half the Big Twelve.
Speaker 2: He's runneled the three man meter.
Speaker 1: He'll break down the match story ones and give you
everything you need to know before jehaw This is the
Cougar Basketball three game Show on one of three nine
to ninety three ESPN Go Band, part of Utah's ESPN Radio.
Speaker 3: Yenni Lake.
Speaker 4: And walk the man to the Cougar Basketball pre game
Show on one O three nine and ninety eight three
ESPN de Fan your Utah ESPN Radio Network. That's right,
you're listening to a new addition. I'll get into momentarily,
but I'm Ronald the three Man Weaver. Guys who are
live from our Banderwelth Studios band or Wealth All. We
asked that you schedule a free Q and a no
obligation to invest with our tax Smart Wealth Advisors certify
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no obligation to invest just smart and expert at Vice.
This is a new show, This is a new opportunity,
something that got discussed, that was in the works for
a long time, and grateful for this opportunity to bring you.
We have a football one that we do and this
is a basketball one. I'll be able to do this
all season long. As well as the producer that's behind
the glass, who I'll welcome him in Momentarily, I just
want to, you know, thank a few people for this opportunity.
Opportunities in this in this business, in this job, they
don't come often, but when they do, you have to
take them and you have to work hard. So I first,
most importantly want to thank our general manager, Jackie Louis,
for this opportunity of being able to get this off
Squared away. But the next important person that's been advocating
for me for a very long time is Benjamin Criddle.
Ben has advocated me as his produce from when I
first started doing social media with them as a backup guy.
So Ben, I can't thank you enough for vouching for me,
for fighting for this. So I'm very grateful to be
able to do this, and I'll be doing this all
season long, guys, every game that doesn't conflict with other
events that we have on the station here on your
Utah ESPN Radio network. So I'll be doing it away games,
home games, you name it, I got it. Going to
be interviewing players, coaches, staff members, former players, bring you
all manner of content leading up to tip off for
by U men's basketball there underway having a great season.
So thank you, Ben, really humble is that. Also want
to thank the program directors that we have. Want to
thank Bryce Larson, our program director. I'm here on one
to three point nine on COVID, and then James Peterson
as well, both of them as well for this opportunity
as well and monetizing everything. And then obviously got to
thank my family. I'm grateful most importantly to my wife Emily,
very blessed. She sacrifices a lot for me to be
able to do this every single day. This job is
not easy to put stresses on the family sometimes, so
I'm grateful for my wife and everything that she's been
able to do. Our daughter, Drewsey, you do a wonderful
job of taking care and I wouldn't be first and
most importantly the man I am today the person I am,
the partner I am and to be able to keep
doing this.
Speaker 2: So you guys are my pride and joy.
Speaker 4: So I want to thank my wife and then obviously last,
you know, last, but not least, my mom, my sisters,
everybody in my family that supported me, my brother in
law's Octavius, Forrest and Ephraim, a Coom, a bunch of
people as well, Rachel, Rebecca, Rohanna, and even my dad
who's on the other side of the veil. Just very
grateful for everybody, and it's so very humble. I can't
thank everybody. If I could, we be here forever because
there's probably a long list of people, but just want
to do that. So guys, this will be just, you know,
like another show. If you're just tuning in, you can
download it on the podcast. All you have to do
is say, hey Smarts Speaker, listen to the Cougar basketball
pre game with Ron the three Man Weave, or hey
Smart Speaker, listen to the esp and the fan happen.
If you miss any of the pregame show, that's totally fine.
You can all get it on your podcast network. Where
are you tuning from? On iTunes, Speaker, Google Play, iHeartRadio,
Spotify and always be sure to subscribe, rate review. I
want the feedback, what can I improve and what do
you guys want to hear from as we lead up
to tip off this historic season, second year under Kevin Young.
You can follow me on x for all of my
takes as well at Ron the Three Man Weave as well.
Speaker 2: Without further ado, let's.
Speaker 4: Go ahead and fire up the esp and the fans
starting lineup so I can introduce the starting lineup that
we have as well as my co host producer that
I might be bringing in moments during the show as well.
You hear him on Thursday sometimes he also helps him
backing up as well.
Speaker 2: He is our running back here for the show and.
Speaker 4: For the Cougar basketball pre game show. I got Andrew
Peterson behind the glass.
Speaker 2: AP. How we doing today? Brother?
Speaker 5: But not be more excited this year.
Speaker 2: Every year. Yeah, it's gonna be glorious right the marri
At Center. It's gonna be a great season. As you
mentioned you being there. Appreciate h Andrew doing this and
taking time out of his day. It's not easy on
a Saturday when you got to cover games and other
things are going on to be here, but I think
at him showing up and showing out.
Speaker 4: So this first second gonna break down the win against Clinton.
I would know we discussed it earlier, but we'll delve
a little bit.
Speaker 2: More into that.
Speaker 4: How did that come about. We're gonna get it into
tip off. B YU guys hasn't been at the Marriott
Center in over a month. It's been thirty two days,
thirty two days since the Cougars have tipped off in
the Merrit Center. They've been to the Delta Center. They've
been to the East Coast h multiple times, three trips.
I caught up with information director earlier when I was
at the BYU women's basketball game. I know he's happy
to be back a lot looks lots of travel for
cougarnation going out there.
Speaker 2: But what game it was in the Mecca.
Speaker 4: So will preview that some of UC riverside in the
second segment, Gonna get it to Brandon Dunson. I caught
up with him that one of the BYU assistant coaches,
how has this BAU basketball team performed in his eyes?
You know in the first couple of games, the first
half of this non conference slate, second half is under
the way, you got four games left, so you're on
the end of it. What have they accomplished? What do
they need to finish out strong? Before they had in
a conference play? If you tip off the new year
twenty twenty six, January third, they'll be taking on Kansas State.
It's only four more games at the Marriott Center left
and what they played four games? I think it's in
eleven days and then you have ten days off before
you go out to Kansas State. I know people think
I might be a Debbie Donnerer. Remember when I said, Hey,
if BYU take some games off and it came out
a little bit flat against Kansas State, or if they
opened up conference play with the loss, don't be upset.
This team has chemistry that it needs to continue to build.
It's done a phenomenal job with the big three, Rob
Right and AJ averaging about fifty five points a game
at your big three. I think it's the second best
big three in college basketball right now. AJ debonsa coming
off of career high performance. There's nothing else you could
ask for from you know, this is for ESPN the
number two overall pick in the twenty twenty six and
be a draft.
Speaker 2: I think he's the number one overall pick.
Speaker 4: And I know that the Boozer kid is playing phenomenal
over there at Duke. He's right up there with AJ
because AJ and him are won a few freshmen that
are averaging I think twenty plus points, you know, over
forty percent shooting. But at the end of the day,
when you look at skill set, when you look at talent,
when you look at what fits the pro style, AJ
Debonsa brings more of that when he's going one on one.
And you saw that showcase in the mechan Now, obviously
the highlight was Rob Wright hitting the game winning three,
but AJ Debonca assisted or scored on thirty four Bo's
forty points that occurred in the second half of that game.
Speaker 2: He can't overlook that.
Speaker 4: And I said this on Twitter, and some might get math,
they might get upset, and I don't care quite frankly,
but you have to invest in players like this. Brian
Santiago says, hey, I just invested in the football program,
investing in Colone SATACKEI you weren't just investing in BA basketball.
You were investing in Kevin Young. You were investing in
players like AJ, players like Rob. You've never seen a
point guard like that. Players like this come as well
of the top King Richie Saunders, that complement each other
all very well. You know what happens when maybe Richie
doesn't have his best performance. You can have guys like
AJ and Rob step up and a lot of people
argue me and API want your dolls in this. I
don't know if maybe there might be one or two
other teams in bo basketball history, but I don't know
if there's any other team that can come back ap
and win a game like that, because it hadn't been
done in a while, right, I think it had been
over fifteen twenty years since the last time it happened.
So people can argue me all day, well, this team
could have, but it hadn't. It hadn't occurred. We have
to look at the facts, and this team was able
to do that. So to me, this was an all
time great performance in the second half, not the first
to be able to come back from that and then
to be able to really storm roll Clemson the way
you wanted to. Because the way BYU was looking in
the first half, it look like it was gonna get
out of hand early. They rebounded, they fought well, they
started making shots, they played tempo, they kept Clemson off
the glass, and they come out with the victory.
Speaker 6: Your thoughts, yeah, Ron, My thought is number one year, right,
it's been. I think two thousand and two was the
last time we came back from down twenty plus in
a basketball game in the second half. That was against Utah,
So I think it's been twenty three years.
Speaker 5: I think is what has been.
Speaker 6: And last year's basketball team had a game that was
similar to it when they were down to TCU if
you remember, or maybe it was two years ago.
Speaker 5: It was two years ago.
Speaker 6: They were down to TCU about fifteen in the at halftime.
They came back won that game by twelve. But it
just that kind of performance doesn't happen very often. And
the thing that makes me nervous is by is getting
used to having bad first halfs and that's just not
gonna cut it in the Big twelve. When you play
the Arizona's Houston, Iowa States, that's just they're not gonna
let you come back from that. I don't care how
good aj to bounce is, Rob Wright, Richie Saunders. They
have guys that are they have comparable guys which Clemson doesn't.
Clemson is a good team, but we've got to find
a way to stop having these bad first halfs.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you bring up a good point. I'm just sitting
here thinking about what you said. This has been a
second half team. Kemy Younger a dress that actually in
the post game, and you know to the media that
the second half they gotta start, they gotta start fast.
You can't have that against You're right, you do that
against Arizona, You're gonna be sol. You do it against
you know, Baylor, a bunch of other teams, Kansas, it's
not gonna work. You only go to you only play
Kansas once this year. You go on the fog Island
field House, right Kansas in the battle right now against
n C State, that game might be close to Ingram
might have already ended. We'll get a score board up
they we'll talk about other college basketball news later in
the show. Stick with us, and we appreciate all of
you if you're just tuning in. This is the Cougar
Basketball pre game show here on one to three, nine
and ninety three ESPN The Fan and I'm Ronald the
three Man Weaver Andrew Peterson, producer behind the Glasses we're
gonna be doing this all season long, home games, naway game,
taking you up until tip off. Excuse me a BYU
men's basketball. But you bring up a good point. Better teams,
more well coached teams that have just as many talented guys,
if not more, maybe more depth on the roster.
Speaker 2: He can't do that.
Speaker 4: And I think you bring up a good point about
there is an issue right now with bench dep You
don't know where you're gonna turn to coming off the bench,
and Rob Richie and aj Or taking all the load
pretty much, and they're putting upon themselves. And look, Kevin
Young will figure it out. He's got a great staff,
he's got an NBA staff, There's no doubt in my mind.
He mentioned earlier that when they played California Baptist at
the Delta Center that he had did over one hundred
of these games where he had to go to the
bench and figure it out. That was kind of his knees.
So I know he'll figure it out. But right now,
if you don't get it together in the last four games,
especially going in the conference, player you get on the
road in the Big twelve environment where it's tough to
win on the road in the Big twelve. Andrew, you
and I both know this well, not just football but
basketball particularly. We've seen this conference the last two years.
Wins on the road are hard. And if you want
to get a big time win at fall Gallen field House, look,
and everyone's talking gonna be talking about all year long.
AJ cam A and Darren are gonna be fluctuating. Well,
the game that everybody's gonna have their eye on, I
think is gonna be, you know, January twenty sixth. I
might be wrong about that when they play. It might
be a little bit later in that week, but you're
gonna play Kansas in fag Gallen field House. And if
you start slow on the road with the lack of
depth that you have on the bench right now, and
expect to come back if you're down by twenty, I
don't know.
Speaker 2: Now.
Speaker 4: Granted, this team has a lot of experience now. Everybody
on the team has been down twenty. Rob Wright took
over a game by himself when he was at Baylor
down to Kansas. By the way, it's funny that we
mentioned that and came back and led the team to
victory because VJ. Edgecomb if you remember one down, but
You don't want to be in that situation. You don't
want to be in those situations having to pull back,
having to give everything that you have, because I think
at some point rob Ridge and ag might get tired.
They very well could. And that's a lot to ask
of your three big guys and four and I know
they're in Cape as well. I think Cable is starting
to emerge and peak at the right part of the season.
But that's a lot to ask your starters to do
in their up for the challenge. Will no guy that's
playing college basketball right now is gonna say, yeah, take
more off my shoulder. They'd be like, no, give me
more of the load, give me more shots. I'll go
out there and do it. But at the end of
the day, you hit it on the NAILAP you start
slow on conference play, it's gonna build up. And the
reason why I keep prefacing this is I don't want
people to jump to just you know, BA fans do
this AP and you've seen it. It's like football. The
offense doesn't do well, it's ay Rod's fault to blame
BA football. Look, you very well might open the conference
play up with the loss. I would predict not but
if that were to happen, and that could, I don't
think it's a bad basketball team. Remember last year at
p where were they at when they started conference play.
No one thought that they would be in the sweet
sixteen and they ended up being there.
Speaker 6: Oh yeah, they started one in three last year. It
didn't look good. Here's the thing that I like about
where BYU's at. They've played the toughest part of their
non conference schedule. They've got they've got a few cupcakes
lined up, and so what the the tough games have
done is it's really solidified who are the guys when
it gets tough. And we we already knew it going
into the season, but it's Rob Bright, it's AJ, and
it's Richie and and Kiva in there too. But with
that said, the bench has not had very much time
to develop. Like last year in the non conference where
almost every game was a cupcake, the bench was really
well developed. You had eleven guys that you could play.
And so what's really important for a game like tonight
and the few games going forward before you get into
conference plays, you're gonna have a lot of time where
your starters can put the game away early and you
can get your bench out there. I want to see
guys like Dominique Diamande out there because I think he
could be the key to unlocking the bench. With Dawson
Baker and and Nate Pickens out, Dominique, he's my pick
to be the guy at least coming off the bench,
someone like that. Maybe if if we see a Brodie
Koslowski at some point during the season, I'm not sure
what's going on with him, but I think he's got
a three point shot that could unlock the offense from
the bench, because quite frankly, that's what we're struggling with.
Because you don't need the bench to go in there
and get you two's.
Speaker 5: You need the bench to.
Speaker 6: Come off give you a spark by getting some threes
to fall.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you definitely need threes to fall in because you
mentioned threes. This is why this is the guy for me,
the guy I think that needs to get off and
needs to figure out his elected coastage.
Speaker 2: I think he's the guy.
Speaker 4: I think you look, you never expected him to play
maybe more than ten minutes a game, depending on what
the matchup was.
Speaker 2: If guys got in foul trouble.
Speaker 4: Kevin Young said that Rob was gonna be the main guy,
and ag was gonna play point guard. But you still
were gonna have Dawson and Nate defend and play your
wing and be your scoring guys. That was a part
of the game plan that no longer is the question.
Both of those guys are out for the entire season. Nate,
it was announced before the season started, had a lower
extreminy injury.
Speaker 2: He's not playing.
Speaker 4: Dawson chears his acl mc oh, my goodness, you feel
bad for Dawson. Baker just had been leg by injuries
his whole career and he can't play. And then you know,
Kevin Young has said this earlier before the season started,
thinking the Blue White game, Brody's been banged up.
Speaker 2: So Brody's banged up too.
Speaker 4: It's like where's your death and other guys haven't been
able to do it, Like you're still waiting on Tyler Moruss,
who's a very good shooter. He's a three and D guy,
like he can play defense. But he's yet the I think,
if my numbers are correct, attempt a two point shot.
Ap So, Myhilo has been on this team and necessarily
hasn't stepped up the way he has now Granted, he
passed the ball to Rob in that situation because he's
a great passer and has a great IQ, and that
led to the BAU victory, but he hasn't shot the
ball necessarily well. So the guys that you've been relying
on were Dawson who's out now, Nate never got a
chance to see him, and then it's been Canard, Richie,
keba Aj and Rob.
Speaker 2: Those have been your guys and you need another guy
to step up.
Speaker 4: So to me, it's Aelexi Coastage, the six to four
freshman from Austria. You're bringing him. He's got a lot
of experience. Kevin Young told us in the Blue White Game.
He said that Sucker can shoot and if you lose him,
he's dangerous and they might need to figure out the
spacing and the chemistry more. But that's the guy that
needs to unlock. To me off the bench to relieve
Rob because my thing is, okay, what happens if Rob
Wright gets in the foul trouble? What happens if Rob
Wright gets injured? And no one wants to hear me
say that, like Ron, don't say that that's bad. That's bad, bad,
bad bad, But no no, no, no, no, I'm bringing up
a realistic thing. You don't want to do that. I'm
not trying to force shout. I'm knocking on the wood
right here, the table in our Vanderwolf Studios Banderwolf. But
ap if Rob goes down, Alexi's that next guy, because
you're gonna have to bring in the guard. And yes,
I think after Alexi Dominique is the next guy. Mihilo
Bolskevic me highlight bucketvich is what I call him. Haven't
seen a highlight just yet, still waiting on it and
Tyler Russ. So if those guys have to step up.
But you're putting a lot of pressure on Rob, which
is fine, he can handle it. But if anything were
to go wrong, it would go major south. If you're
going towards Vegas down the dark, there's a highway that
Brandon Gurney says, don't go down.
Speaker 2: And Alexi Kostitch has to step up. He hasn't. We
haven't seen it yet. We have not.
Speaker 4: He got four left in non conference and he's not
confident yet and he needs to find his shot.
Speaker 6: AP well, I do want to touch on this injury
concerns For me, it feels like if you can't develop
a bench, your starters are going to get injured because
you're gonna be playing them longer than you want to.
You can't throw out guys in a must win game
or in a huge game that can't play, or everyone
on BoA's roster can play but can't play together or
can't contribute at a high level. You can't take out
your stars in those type of games. You have to
play them more minutes, and more minutes leads to more injuries.
And so this is this is a real concern for me.
This is what the next four games are about. It's
developing your bench, getting them to play together. Because my
thing with Mihailo Boskovic, I think he could be a
tremendous player. The reason for me why his shots aren't
falling this year. It feels like he's playing like he's
playing like I did in an elementary school, where if
I got the ball, I shot it because I didn't
think I was gonna get it again. That's the kind
of player I was, because why, frankly, I didn't get
the ball that much, and not to you know, wax
poetic or anything. But if he can learn to just
play in the system with the bench guys. If they
can learn to trust each other, he's gonna find himself in.
Speaker 5: More open spots. He'll be able to shoot it.
Speaker 6: He'll be able to make some shots because he can
he can make those shots.
Speaker 5: And same with Costitch.
Speaker 6: I think it's really a thing where last year's team,
it took them a while to get to play together,
and once they did, their shooting percentages went up. The
offense unlocked. And that's where the bench is right now.
Because the starters can score. We've seen that the starters
can score, but the bench players need to get in there,
develop some chemistry together and be able to find themselves
in open spots. Once they do, I think that unlocks
the bench.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you got unlocked the bench and look at home.
No better place than under the lights of the MC
on your home court. As I mentioned thirty two days
that BAU basketball has been away from the Mayor out Center,
a little bit of breaking news. So I know this
is a basketball show. I gotta give my ties and
give a little bit, you know, love to football, just
for college football news in general. And he had a quarterback,
Fernando Mendoza has one to twenty twenty five Heisman Trophy.
Speaker 2: I don't think any of us are surprised. I'm not Mendoza.
Speaker 4: Some people say he's not a dog ron and he
let no, he's a dog, like the dude stands in
the pocket and slings the ball. And now we'll see
if he's a dog when the Jets draft him number
one overall and he's got a target on his back,
we'll see that. Necessarily, the Jets always just seem to
ruin quarterback. So you pray that Mendoza doesn't go to
the New York Jets. But little college football news, ap
your thoughts Mendoza winning the Heisman. Just want to take
a little bit of a break. But breaking news here.
Speaker 6: I mean it makes sense to me. You know who
my real Heisman pick was? It was it was that
linebacker at a Texas Tech's.
Speaker 2: He's a dog. That guy's different as he's he's.
Speaker 5: A good player. I think he's the best player in
college football.
Speaker 6: But Mendoza is a good player, like he's the he's
the best player on the best team.
Speaker 5: It makes sense.
Speaker 6: So out of the out of the finalists that were chosen,
that we're there in New York makes sense to me.
That would have been my go to. That would have
been my pick. But if I was being on as best,
the best college football player this year was Rodriguez out
of Texas Tech.
Speaker 4: Jake Arriguez had a phenomenal season. Not gonna go through
all the stats, but look there people locally that picked him.
I think he should have been one of the top four,
if not top three. He was up to so Diego
Pavia played well. Look, there's a bunch of guys that
are deserving the such award and you don't get participation trophies.
But Mendoza, like AP said, had the best record on
the best team. We'll see what they do, because I
believe it will be the Red Raiders matched up with
the Indiana Hoosiers. But you're gonna need the Red Raiders
to knock off Indiana and go to Well first after
knockoff Oregon to get to this semi final, and I
believe that they will. I believe they'll run Dante or
a Rock. But in order to do that, first got
to win your first game. Didn't play Indiana unless they're
upset by Alabama O Oklahoma, which I don't see happening,
and then to play in the National Championship game. It'd
be great for the Big twelve. Little other news and
notes surrounding as I mentioned at BAU Basketball. Finally back
to the Mayout centers. A lot of traffic starting. People
work that way on as I'll working my way back
from the women's game. Tip off schedule guys for seven
pm mounts the standard time, So once this show is over,
I'll be heading down to the Marriot to catch the
rest of the first half and second half actions. Today's
game is going to be broadcast on ESPN Plus BYU
right now two and oh all time against UC riverside,
including last's victory, the eighty six to eighty victory. It's
not going to be that way tonight, AP and I
will give you our scores predictions later, tell you what
the spread is. Last season is where Foreman Highlander and
current Cougar Nate Pickens. He had eighteen points, going six
to ten from the field in three of four from three.
Very sad that they can't play in this homecoming game.
Well not really, I guess homecoming game, but play against
his former team, especially because Darien Williams playing against Kansas.
Sad that that's not going to be the case. But
at the end of the day, you go out and
you get the win for your brother. That's how it's been, guys.
But great phenomenal season by you eight and one overall,
two to zero at home. They on neutral sides are
six to one and they have a win streak of five,
looking to improve it to six to night. Let's just
give you a bau's next ranking as we finish up
this segment, net ranking BoA's number nine with the eight
and one record. As I mentioned here are their quala
one wins there three and one. The only loss that
they have is to Yukon, and you have to wonder
if Rob Wright doesn't turn the ball over, would be
why you be undefeated. A lot of people were upset,
howse Bo your ranked number ten and eight people and
now other people are playing just as good of a
talent that's highering ranks, so you jump up.
Speaker 2: That's just the nature of how it works. Will you
beat a ranked team?
Speaker 4: But I agree with some BO fans, is BYU really
a top six top seven team? And if they beat Yukon,
who I believe was the number three at the time,
where what they had been ranked, what they've been top
five you have to wonder with the undefeated BOE team
be in the top five if they beat Yukon I
c A. But that's their loss in TD Guard and
AJ balled out in that game. AJ Everywhere's gone at
these NBA arenas. You see where AJ is going to
be playing at the high level in the NBA. Balling
out in the Delta Center, balling out in Madison Sture Garden,
balling out in TD Guarden. You see it, Rob Ritchie,
those three guys are going to be playing at the
next level. They also have been balling out against Villanova
and neutral side.
Speaker 2: That's a win.
Speaker 4: Miami down to Terry Chocolate Invitational, that was a win.
Beat Clemson that was another win. Here are your quad
two games, three and zero. You be Wisconsin at the
Delta Center. You spank them almost by thirty. You beat
Dating to bring home the championship. The top King was
the MVP. And then you beat cal Baptist by thirty
as well in the Delta Center. And then your quad
four games you beat Holy Cross and you beat Delaware
as well. We got to take a quick break though.
Let's come back on the flip. We'll get into more
of breaking down this matchup in our last segment. But
coming up next, we're gonna get into my interview with
Brandon Dunson. I caught up with him. He's gonna break
down a twenty twenty six recruiting class. He put out
a tweet earlier in the year number one Juco number
one euro number one high school. We discussed that Jogo
Dimmen playing in the league was top ten pick kJ
Perry number one Juco has signed with BAU agent De
Bonson the number one high school, part of the twenty
twenty five class at BYU right now playing already, So
we'll discuss that and more. We'll get his matchup. What
is this scout and report on UC riverside? What do
they need to do?
Speaker 2: How does he protict the last four games going? That
come more right.
Speaker 4: Here on your Utah ESPN radio network as we'll live
from our bandit Wealth studio.
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you're listening to the Cougar Basketball Pregame Show right here
on one O three nine in ninety eight three ESPN The.
Speaker 1: Three Peas Cougar Basketball Pregame Show on one oh three
nine that ninety eight three ESPN The Fan.
Speaker 4: Welcome back to the Cougar Basketball Pregame Show right here
on one O three nine and ninety eight three ESPN
The Fan, part of your Utah ESPN Radio Network. I'm
Ronald the Three Mail Weave our first ever show edition.
If you missed the first segment, don't worry, you can
go download it on the podcast where we get your
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It is getting uploaded the new show and everything will
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money on your taxes today. All right, without further ado,
let's get in to it my interview with Brandon Dunson.
Welcome back to the Cougar Basketball pregame show, Ronald the
three Man Weaver. Here on the second stop of our
journey of our first show. Gonna get caught up one
of the assistants that are on the team right now,
I have Brandon Dunson joining me. I don't know if
I've made this connection yell with coach, but Coach and
I both from Illinois as well, so when I first
found out that he was coming, I was super excited
to send him a message. Anytime I could find someone
from the state of Illinois near Chicago out in Provo. Look,
it's not too many of us, so coach. When I
found out you're joining staff, I was super excited.
Speaker 7: No doubt, no doubt. Always good to see another Illinois native.
Speaker 4: Of course, let's just get caught up. How was a
Thanksgiving down in Florida? Did the family travel? You guys
picked up some big time wins down there?
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it was great.
Speaker 7: My wife and my son traveled so that that was fun,
and she had some family.
Speaker 3: That I also traveled there, so it was definitely fun.
Speaker 7: Picked up some wins, got better and played some good competition,
So it was a great trip.
Speaker 2: Definitely a great trip. You guys right now, aid and
one on the season.
Speaker 3: Sorry you just I just lost you?
Speaker 2: Did you lose me? You still got me?
Speaker 3: Gotcha?
Speaker 2: Got me? Kay? They been disconnected there for a second.
Speaker 4: You guys are eight and one right now on the
season in non conference, played through nine games. Just recap
it for us a little bit, obviously the one lost
to Ukon, But you guys have battle back. It seems
like this season the BAU basketball team has been a
second half team.
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, for sure, and.
Speaker 7: That's definitely something we're working on and getting getting going.
Speaker 3: In the first half.
Speaker 7: But I think we've built and shown some great resiliency
to be able to handle adversity. Our guys are starting
to figure each other out. I think around the Wisconsin
game is when it started. Just figure out where guys
like the ball, what situations to put guys in. And
now I think really down in Orlando we did a
good job of figuring figuring each other out defensively and
and and uh being able to understand our schemes a
little bit more. So, I think things have been really good.
The chemistry is coming together, and yeah, just just looking
forward to continuing that.
Speaker 4: What's impressed you the most about how this team, especially
the starters, have been able to adapt to each other.
Last year, Richie, you know, the ball was mainly in
his hands. It's still in the hands at times, but
it's play more off ball with a J and Rob
coming in and still thriving in the system.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 7: No, I think every year it's a different team. You
got a new group, it's a new identity, and we
knew that heading into this year, so like it always
takes a little bit of time for that to happen.
Everybody's in different roles and they than they were, especially returners.
But I think everyone's adjusted well and I think, like
I said, that Wisconsin game was kind of the first
time we really saw it where guys were starting to understand, Okay,
I can get the ball in these positions, I can
I can get this guy the ball in these positions,
and I think they've all bought into it. It's We've
got a very, very unselfish team. I've coached a lot
of different teams, and it's rare that you have guys
who just really they're just excited for everybody else and
whatever they may get that game they get. And I
think that's been the mentality of our guys, and it's
been the mentality for for our top guys, which it
permeates throughout the rest of the team.
Speaker 3: So that's been good to see.
Speaker 4: Yeah, whenever, regardless of who's scoring or making a play,
the bench is always excited. They're always standing up for
their guys. And you can definitely tell that the culture
that you as well as Kevin Young hat Bill, you
can definitely see that. I want to go back to
the Terry's Chocolate Invitational, kind of get a little bit
of nerdy because I like to watch film and actually
know so I always tell people's media members.
Speaker 2: I don't want to look bad.
Speaker 4: In front of the coaches, who looks stupid, but just
talk about the development of AG. I'm gonna take you
through three plays. You probably know exactly what they are,
but the game's tied. He gets the ball, the double,
Cum swings at the rob, rob hits a three, double
comes again. The next play, swings at the rob, swings
at the richie and one three, and then again down
the stretch, double swings it out, gets it back, takes
it down. Ice is the game because Kaba seals the guy.
It just his his decision making, his playmaking. Because in
the Yukon game, remember maybe he was forcing a lot,
you know, trying to do too much. But in just
two or three games, AJ adapts and he just grows
so much, and like, to me, you know, to me,
that's why I think he's the project, projected future number
one pick in the NBA When I see plays like that.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, No.
Speaker 7: One of the big reasons we recruited AJ. Everyone always
talked about his scoring, but when we watched him, it
was his ability to make the right play every single time,
and that that was a huge thing for us. I
know he forced a little bit early in the Yukon game,
and at halftime with a couple of us talked to
him and it's like, look, just play your game like
you're good. And at that point he just started going
back to his decision making. Is his route, what's the
best decision, And that's when he's at his best.
Speaker 3: And I actually think he's a lead at it.
Speaker 7: And like I said, for someone to have the hype,
the pressure, everything that comes with it that he's had
for the last four or five years, I don't know
that there's many, if any guys that are unselfishes him
being in that situation.
Speaker 3: He truly does not care how many points he scores.
He assists all.
Speaker 7: He cares that if you guys have fifty six, we've
got fifty seven. And so he understands he's.
Speaker 3: Got such a high IQ.
Speaker 7: He understands that he's going to command a lot of attention,
and so his whole thing is, I'm going to get
the advantage.
Speaker 3: Once I get the advantage.
Speaker 7: Where's the help get it to the guy where I
can keep where we as a team can keep the advantage.
And I think he's done a great job of that,
and he understands where his teammates need the basketball. He
understands who's going to be cutting, who's going to be shooting,
where they're going to be spacing. And I think Coach
Young has said this quite a few times.
Speaker 3: He's able to.
Speaker 7: Process information so quickly and make adjustments.
Speaker 3: On the spot.
Speaker 7: And that's a rarity to see guys eighteen year olds
coming out of high school being able to do that.
Speaker 3: So that's what makes them special.
Speaker 4: Speaking of adjustments, what adjustments did you guys make in
that second half against Clemson?
Speaker 2: You were clicking on all cylinders.
Speaker 7: Well, I mean we turned the pressure up a little
bit defensively to try to get us going a little
bit more and turn them over and get our energy up.
And honestly, it wasn't we went into halftime. It wasn't
a long talk like we knew what to do and
it was just a matter of you guys got to
do it. And before we got into the as a
coaching staff, before we got into the locker room, the
guys all got together themselves and basically five or six
guys spoke up and said, Hey, this is not us.
We got to pick it up. We know we got
to do better, and that's the signs of a team
that has the ability to be great coaching themselves. And
that's pretty much what they did at halftime, and then
it allowed us to not worry about anything but schematic adjustments.
And so that's what we did and played to our
strengths and ended up coming out on top.
Speaker 4: So you definitely did. Now I got to ask you
from your vantage point, Billy. Social media does a good
job of getting reactions and everything I saw. You just
had a big smile your vantage point court side of
the buzzer beater of Rob.
Speaker 2: Right, you got to take me through your point.
Speaker 3: I mean, it wasdiculous. So that was the actually the
third option.
Speaker 7: We had just worked on that play in practice a
couple of days before, and.
Speaker 3: So it was it was amazing.
Speaker 7: Once they took Richie and Aj away, he knew he
was the next one. It's funny Coach Lenahan saw the
play developing before it happened, and before Rob even took off,
he was yelling step into it, Rob, step into it.
Speaker 3: And then yeah, it was it was an amazing shot.
Speaker 7: And then uh, Rob, Rob hit the shot, and I'm like,
why did you run over there after you hit the
shot and he said, I saw Common, so I had
to go down. He's one of my favorite actors. I'm like, well,
you know, he was a rapper before it was an actor, Right,
It's true. I don't carry all my favorite movie. So
he said he literally ran that way purposely to wap
up Common after he made it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's been going viral.
Speaker 4: I'm looking at him like, is that Common celebrated in
the circle man? The team chemistry. I love the vibe
two of the team, you know, the threes on the
face like this the Oklahoma City Thunder vibe where they're
doing an interview. You got you tell the students team
has love. But let's get some love to you. You
tweeted out something you know, obviously when everything you know
has to get official, we know, but you tweeted out
number one euro O, number one, Juco number one high school.
Speaker 2: I got to show you some love to just take
us through that.
Speaker 4: Yegor Aj and our kJ Perry love kJ Perry's games,
speak on kJ and then the rest of the twenty
twenty six class that has been signed so far.
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, for sure. I mean our staff.
Speaker 7: I think we do a great job of tapping into
every resource we have. We have guys who are tied
in Europe and Africa the high school level, different different
areas here, junior college levels. So I think we're very,
very pointed about the players that we recruit and the
more important the people that we recruit. It's a big
thing to recognize fit and once we recognize the fit,
we do everything we can to get them. And for us,
it's like, hey, if we fit you, great, if we
don't great, Like it's got.
Speaker 3: To be a two way thing. So as much as.
Speaker 7: We're trying to get them to come, we're also trying
to look at them and say are you really a fit?
With every moment, And I think that's unique to us.
We don't just want to get the best players, we
want to get the right fits, and I think with
all those guys, it was that kind of thing. Speaking
on twenty twenty sixth class, Obviously we've signed two local kids,
Dean Rutgerd and We'll Openshaw, which I'm gonna be big
pickups for us. Will Is gonna do his mission, Dean's
coming in next season. But we've obviously been following them
since we got the job, and Coach Burgess has known
both of those guys a lot longer than the rest
of us have, but definitely.
Speaker 3: Great fits for the program.
Speaker 7: kJ Perry, he'll actually get in here next week. Had
followed him since he was in high school at Gilbert
High School. Then he moved over to Palisades in California
and just kind of followed his trajectory and when he
got to junior college level and saw what he was
able to do at Citrus one of the best junior
college programs in California and frankly in the country. They've
got a coach that I used to coach against when
I was coaching in Nai.
Speaker 3: I was at Arizona Christian University.
Speaker 7: He was at Concordia University in Irvine and has always
done a great job. And I think his athleticism, his upside,
the way he approaches the game. I think he has
a chance to be really good, and he's very humble
and wants to get better. So we're really looking forward
to adding him. He'll sit out this year this semester
and then be ready to go next year, but I
think he'll add to our practices quite a bit. I
think one are the big things that really helped us
last year. I mean, we had twelve or thirteen guys
who were just they weren't too far off, and so
our practices were always so competitive. And it's been the
case this year as well. But with Dawson going out,
with Nate Pickens going out, with Brody not being in,
we we've struggled a little bit in practice just with
with with depth. So I think he's gonna he's definitely
gonna add to that and be able to to UH
show when he's on the scout team, show what some
of these other programs UH can do when we're when
we're preparing for guys.
Speaker 3: He gives us a quick athletic UH and explosive guard.
Speaker 7: And then obviously Abdullah Med huge pickup for us. He's
been here for about three or four weeks UH in
the in the Pro Bowl area. Now we haven't had
been able to work with him or do anything like that.
He's kind of been working out on his own. But
a big body, great experience, and again a guy who
will add a lot of depth and practice and very physical,
very skilled, and he'll be able to provide a great
look for our guys in preparation for games.
Speaker 4: Yeah, the great, great class. Love what I see from
all of the guys KG. It reminds me of like
John Moran, humble dude. I think he's definitely gonna be
a face excited to see him playing for you to
get those guys on the court for some depths, and
then another idea for a coaching staff not to have
to practice with fulled up. I know that they want that.
Let's get you out of here on this because I
know you're busier, Thomas, precious, Scott and report. What do
you see on tape from you see Riverside? You guys
take them on tomorrow.
Speaker 7: Yeah, you see Riversides that they're a very good team,
really athletic, big guards. Gus Arginal their head coach was
at San Bernardino the last two years and two years
ago actually was in a Division two final four. So
I coached with him at a number of stops at
Nevada at Fullerton. He's got some really really good guard player.
It all starts with their two guards, Worthy and Henderson.
Worthy was a super productive guard and a big time
league in the A ten at UMass the last couple
of years and a huge steal for them. And then
he also brought Henderson and with him from Sam Bernardino.
Henderson was seventeen points a game and one of the
best D two leagues in the country. And I've co
set that level and I know, like the guards at
that level or every bit is good as the guards
Division IE level, and it's proven by why what he's
able to do. So it's gonna start with slowing those
two guys down. I mean, they're both six four sixty
five and versatile. They're physical. He's got grown men on
the team. Grady from their team, a UVU transfer, is
very very talented. It's six' nine versatile. Forward so slowing
those three is going to be the biggest. Thing, defensively they're,
athletic they're, Physical he's got a lot of positional. Size
so being able to uh combat that with our ability
to run the floor and play in transition and and
try to create some mismatch, scenarios that's gonna be big for.
Speaker 4: Us, well, coach thank you for the scoutterpol would definitely
look out for those three. Guys you guys did a
phenomenal job of taking the team's best players. Away look
forward to the matchup you know later this. Evening, obviously
as you guys take ON uc. Riverside we wish you
the best of. Luck will be definitely be in, attendance
especially as you guys close out the non conference of
twenty twenty five and get into twenty twenty.
Speaker 2: Six.
Speaker 4: Close so crazy that we're this close to another, year
another great season TO bau. Basketball and just happy holidays,
coach you and your family as.
Speaker 3: Well no happy, holidays you as well appreciate.
Speaker 4: It of, course guys are gonna go to, break don't go.
Anywhere still one more. Segment i'll give you my score,
predictions keys of the, game and WHAT i think will
happen in THIS byu VERSUS uc riverside. Today if you're
not going down to The, marriat check the game out
ON Espn plus you don't want to miss.
Speaker 2: It we'll go to, break don't go.
Speaker 4: Anywhere it still a lot more to get to you
right here on one to three point nine and ninety
eight point three Esp and the, fans.
Speaker 1: You were listening to The Cooper basketball pregame show with
one of the three Man weaver on one of three
nine ninety.
Speaker 2: Eight THREE, Espn no, fan.
Speaker 4: Welcome back to The Cooper basketball pre game show right
here on ONE o three, nine ninety eighty three esp
and the Fan ronald the three male weaed for here
those Producer Andrew peterson behind the, glass gonna give you
our score predictions given the matchup AS bau takes ON
Uc riverside. Tonight excuse, me pardon me there trying to
make SURE i don't burp it to the. Mic ben
always tell me you don't burp it to the, mic
SO i had to push it away for a little.
Speaker 2: Bit this is a quad four. MATCHUP Uc riverside has.
Speaker 4: Ranked two hundred and five in the, net so you
got to take care of business against THE Uc riverside team. Tonight,
Look i've been waiting to SEE byu hit one. Hundred
they came, close come close twice, actually and it hasn't.
Happened scored ninety eight Twice Holy cross at home and
then at The Delta center Against wisconsin ninety eight as.
Well fans have been, won and they boot a little.
Bit Kevin young and how basketball is, guys mainly the
student section is. Booted let me be very declarat if
you cannot be disrespectful in sports when you have a
thirty point blowout and you're dribbing the, ball out to
close out the game and go score. You Kevin young
and coaches will not do. That so you're asking for
something that will not. Happen so don't boo if they
get to like ninety eight and that. HAPPENS i don't
know what will occur, tonight but CAN byu score one
hundred points? Tonight they should be able to take care of.
Business they should be able to take care of business
against this. Team you heard it in the last, Segment
Brandon duesn't just to give you a little bit of
a recap at that BECAUSE i know we don't have
too much.
Speaker 2: Time you gotta go watch the. Cut i'm gonna pitch
THE byu the.
Speaker 4: Cut the reason Why i'm pitching the cut Is Brendan,
Dustin AND i, said it was really the players that said,
Stuff Aj Richie rot like they were the ones, talking
gotta rebound. More we're good, world, okay like they were saying.
That so you gotta need to go watch the. Cut
b what he does a great job of. It go to,
YouTube go find it and they'll be able to do.
That so it's a lot of stuff that's trending right
now IN Byu athletics AND i just want to give
you guys this.
Speaker 2: Stat check this.
Speaker 4: Out Aj debonson ranks in the ninety percentile And division
one men's basketball with points in the paint at eleven
well two point, nine but just about eleven of his team,
high as he's averaging over twenty points per game and
is finishing around ram.
Speaker 2: Phenomenally the six nine to.
Speaker 4: Four also ranks ninety eight percentile in fast break points as,
well with three point. Two last time in the, game
buzzer beater happened three pointer Against. Clemson that was the
first SINCE. Tj haws hit the. One can you tell
me a P do you know who?
Speaker 2: WHO. Tj halls hit the buzz? There it is my.
Speaker 4: Guy you know your ball one hundred percent he was
gonna get in twenty. Nineteen you won't have any buzzer beaters.
TONIGHT i don't think that will. Happen and if you,
do that's another. Problem halftime buzzer it could be at.
Speaker 2: Halftime you would like to see.
Speaker 4: That Uh, so for, me from WHAT i need to
see IS i need to see the bench players. GET
i need to see Somebody dominique. NEEDS i need somebody
in double figures off the.
Speaker 2: Bench.
Speaker 4: TONIGHT i don't need to See. RICHIE i don't need
to See. ROB i don't need to Say, Ahja i've
seen enough of. THAT i know what they're gonna give.
ME i need to see what is going to occur
from those That aps sent off the. Bench per THE
espn Matchup, PREDICTOR byu is predicted to win this. Game
they have a ninety eight point seven percent. Chance you
see riverside that has a one point THREE byu is
a thirty four and a half point. Favorite that's what
it opened, down is dropped down to thirty three and a.
HALF i BELIEVE byu will. Covered this is not a
good basketball.
Speaker 2: TEAM. Nba you should take care of. IT.
Speaker 4: BYU i don't know if they crack one. HUNDRED i
don't know if one hundred will occur to. Night i'm
not gonna take, that BUT, Ap i'm Gonna i'm gonna.
Speaker 3: Go.
Speaker 4: Uh this is gonna be my score prediction of my
keys to the. Game gotta win the offensive rebounding. Battle
you need to shoot the three ball, better get out
to a faster, start get up early ON uc riverside
and put the game. Away you need to have the
guys come off the. Bench you Need Alexi kocher to
come in And dominique And kadeem and make an impact right,
away get early on the, glass defend pushing, transition AND
i think he'll be all right with. THAT i need
one of those guys to be in double, figure whether It's,
kadem whether It's Alexi, Koscher. Dominique somebody needs to have
a career high. Tonight somebody needs to have a career,
high AND i think it will. Occur so here's my score,
PREDICTION ap and Then i'll turn it over to.
Speaker 2: YOU i THINK.
Speaker 4: Byu wins this game eighty eight to fifty. FIVE i
think somewhere in, THERE i, think but eighty eight to
actually it take it back eighty eight to fifty, FOURISH i,
think be what you will go. There don't know if
they'll crack. NINETY i do think they'll cover the thirty
three and a half point, spread BUT.
Speaker 2: I got them by a.
Speaker 4: Few SO i go eighty eight fifty fifty four right
in that, march and they cover it. Barely AND i
believe that you'll have someone off the bench finally have
a career. NIGHT i believe they'll have The Marriott center
action the fans behind them after the thirty two day
road trip that they've been.
Speaker 6: On, Yeah i'm gonna agree with you on, rebounding But
i'm gonna Say i'm actually gonna change it a little.
Speaker 5: Bit my key is they need to get their defensive.
Speaker 6: Rebounds they've let way too many offensive rebounds happen on,
them especially off of free.
Speaker 5: Throws that to me is.
Speaker 6: Wild that's your most basic rebound box out grab a.
REBOUND i want them to focus on getting the defensive.
Rebounds And i'm with. YOU i need bench scoring in
specifically bench. Threes so those are my two k's two,
keys defensive rebounds and bench three. Pointers and my score
prediction is it's gonna be. SIMILAR i don't think we
break one. HUNDRED i do think we get in the.
Nineties it's gonna be ninety one to sixty. Three but
it's gonna feel like a bigger victory than. THAT i
think when we put IN i want the bench players
in for the rest of the. Game with five minutes
left in the, game five minutes, left it should be
in the, bag AND i want five minutes of just
the bench. Players AND i think they're gonna let a
few buckets in make it a little bit. Closer twenty
eight points is not, close BUT i that's my. Prediction
ninety one sixty.
Speaker 4: Three ninety one sixty three is WHAT ap is. Going
so he's governed not covering the. Spread spread open up
at thirty four and a, half and now it's thirty
three and a. Half it's dropped. Down over under for
this game is one hundred fifty. Five LIKE i, Said
i'm gonna go eighty eight fifty. FOUR i THINK ba
covers just. BARELY i, think especially at, home it's give
you a little bit of more. Update you See riverside
coming in averaging just under seventy five. Points it is
seventy four point EIGHT byu average in eighty three, points
SO i definitely think that you See riverside coming off
of a. Win they just beat Cal polly, Reminder i'll
probably Beat. Utah so to the school up north is not.
Good and anytime a team beats the school up north
and then that team beats that, team to beat the
school up, north, No i'm getting maybe a little tongue.
Speaker 2: Tied you need to go beat that. Team SO ba
needs to go BEAT Uc.
Speaker 4: Riverside BUT ba has won his last, five AS i
previously already. Mentioned SO i guess that's a good question
to ask us how much will The big three?
Speaker 2: Half to? Know how many minutes will they?
Speaker 4: Play we know That Kevin young likes to play their
starters as much as, possible as long as, possible but
how long WILL byu play their starters to That i'm
with AP i think around that six to five minute mark.
Left in a, SECOND i need to see all the
starters on the. BENCH i would like to See Xavion,
Staton Kadema, boot a bunch of. Dudes AND i just
want to remind people remember in the Calp baptist game
When alexi coaches fouled, Out Rob wright had to come
back into the. Game can't, Happen so don't get in foul,
TROUBLE i think is another key to the. Game bau
ranked tenth and Ap pole has already mentioned tenth in the.
Coaches they're eleventh In Kim. Palm now excuse, ME i
said ninethe and my apologies eighth in the net as.
Well In Kevin young having a record of three thirty
four and, Eleven age De bonds is the top, Scorer
kvaketa is the top rebounder with. Seven Rob wright auditioning
out about six assists a game At billie's, defense which
is gonna be key holding opponents to sixty four point six.
Tonight but, guys that's our score. Prediction Andrew peterson, says
ninety one sixty. THREE i am gonna go with eighty
eight to fifty. FOUR i think that will be that predictions.
Tonight by you, finishes excuse. Me billy closed out the
week nine to, one gets two big, victories one Against
clemson and NOW u See. Riverside they'll headed to next
week as they close out the last three. Games, guys
that will do it for the first edition of The
Cougar Pregame. Show remember if you missed any of our show,
today please go download it on the. Podcast you can
go To Cougar sports A Big crudal you'll find it
from all of us that have been listening to the
first edition of The Cougar Basketball Pregame show will be
here all season, long right here on ONE o three
nine in ninety eight THREE.
Speaker 2: Espn the