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Speaker 2: You were listening to one oh three, nine and ninety
eight three, the band part of Utah's ESPN Radio Network.
Welcome back to this So March's right around the corner
and the Cougars.
Speaker 3: Are in the middle of it.
Speaker 2: It's time to talk to some college basketball on Cougar
Sports with Ben Crittles.
Speaker 1: Welcome back to Cougar Sports here on one O three
nine ninety eight three esp and the fan Ronald the
three and man wea we here rtt always bringing the
hammer by my side. So all, we've had a great
show this far. We're gonna close it out because you
gotta get down a spring ball spring practice. But it
doesn't matter because I'm still gonna talk. BYU basketball is
March Madness season. BYU is going to the tournament once again.
They got an opportunity to make a good run with
that player named AJD Box. The guy on the line
said that he was very unselfish, and you're seeing that.
I think a lots of times people think these players
they got these egos, these personalities, But you know, I
trust those who are former coaches, current coaches, all of
those connected with the program. And before we welcome to
byu grat In, I just wanted to remind people that
he said this way back earlier, before the season even started.
And you see how Aj is distributing. You see the
porn forwardability that he's willing to give up a good
shot for a better shot and let his teammates thrive.
And I mean the connection between him a Dominie Diamanda.
Speaker 4: You're seeing that.
Speaker 1: So all of that, This segment going to be brought
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of the suits that they have at Odon menswear dot
Com without further doo. Let's get out to the ESPN
the fan hoghline and welcome in our last guest of
the program. We got former Bye men's basketball head coach
Steve Cleveland on the line. Coach, thanks for joining me today.
Speaker 3: Good to be with you. Exciting time to be involved
with college sports and with the n C two A
tournament and all the things going on. So yeah, great,
great to be here.
Speaker 1: What's your favorite time about March when you were a
coach and now is you know someone that you just
observe the game as a fan, what do you like
the most about the tournament?
Speaker 3: You know, I think that when you've played in an
entire season and you've gone to your conference play, you've
gone to conference tournaments, and then you've qualified to play
in the n C two ways, they're just an energy.
There's an excitement from players, coaches, fans, everyone. I mean,
I think sometimes people think this is just a fan deal,
but I can't tell you the experiences that we had
and we continue to watch and what we're about to
watch here with with with U I U and the
n C two A Tournament. It's just a special of
the year. And I think I think there's a there's
a certain intensity that comes with the season and getting
to a position and getting to a place where you
can get a seed and give me get the best
seed that you gan. The thing that I love about
this team, and you mentioned a couple of things, is
that there's just really a selfless team. That this team
is cohesive there together, And obviously kudos to the coaching
staff and everybody involved and helping develop and build that chemistry.
But I've watched most of the games and had opportunities
to kind of get an inside look to what's happening,
and I'm really excited about by U and where they're going.
And obviously we know they're going to be playing the
winner of Texas and North Carolina State, and we'll talk
a little bit about that. But I think that two
formidable folks and you know, names that have had a
lot of success but not great years this year. But
I think when you start looking at Texas and you know,
the first thing that jumps out at me when I
look at these games is that Sean Miller is the
coach at Texas. It's in his first season. Sean Miller
coached at Arizona and he coached at Xavier. He just
had his five hundred twin his first season in the SEC.
Sean is a great coach and he's been in the
collegiate business for a long long time. When you can
win five hundred, five hundred games, and we'll maybe talk
a little bit about their players. But then I went
out to North Carolina State and a lot of people
may not know coach Will Wade. I happened to know
Will through another a couple of my coaching friends. He
was at McNee State LSU VCU and has had just
great success. And I think that you got two great
coaches that are going to just fight it out to
you know, to give it with a chance to go
to BYU. But I don't think you can sleep on
either one of these teams. Whoever wins, they're going to
be really prepared. And of course the next you know,
if you win that ball game, we're on the Goazaga
and kind of what happens there. So those are kind
of some of my initial thoughts. But just knowing the
coaches and knowing the success that they've had, these will
whether it's Texas or North Carolina State, these two teams
will be prepared.
Speaker 1: Yeah, they definitely will. How tough is it to have
two scouts not ideal. Obviously want to know who you're playing,
but you just mentioned they could play either one of
these teams. They've both have lost five of their last six.
Do you have to mention that which you brought up
to struggling, But it doesn't matter.
Speaker 4: This is March. Anybody can be anybody on any given night.
Speaker 3: Absolutely, Absolutely, it's kind of a new life. And you know,
sometimes it's injuries, sometimes it's just a long season. And
but you know, I think where we're at right now
is that everybody gets kind of a renewal. You know,
you're renewed about where we're going to go and what
the next step is going to be. And I don't
think anybody, I don't think b what you run now
is thinking about Gonzaga. They need to be thinking about
Texas and North Carolina State because you know, these are
two schools, very successful schools who didn't have great years
considering who they are and what they are. Not that
they don't have a good teams, they do, but they both,
like you said, lost five out of the last six.
That's you know, that's kind of not how you want
to finish the season out. But there's enough on their
resumes and the leagues that they play in that anytime
you tell me that Sean Miller and Will Wade are
going to be you're gonna have to coach against those guys.
That these are very, very experienced, successful coaches who have
good teams. They just didn't haven't had kind of the
teams that they've had in the past. Hence that's why
they're in the eleven seed playing game. But I expect
and I don't think anybody can sleep on either one
of these teams or coaches. I think it's going to
be a heck of a game. I do. I do
feel like BYU is playing better than they've ever played defensively,
which I think is a big part of preceding and
going forth in the tournament. So I think defensively they're
rarely there. They you know, they they've got the best
player in the country playing aj debatsa who just continues
to improve and get better, so selfless, great teammate, and
they have this team really has great chemistry. And you know,
we often talk about Richie and now being there, but
I think A J and Rob Wright have stepped in
there and helped out with that chemistry. And the things
that Richie Saunders used to always bring to the table.
But I'm like, I'm liking this, this this matchup for
by U. But again, you can't sleep on two hall
of fame kite coaches who are going to be prepared.
Speaker 1: Well, we currently, I think, in my opinion, you know
we we we have a great Hall of fame coach
in the line of self one hundred and thirty eight
wins Doug Deny that he's been to the Big Dance
four times. It's hard to get to the Big Dance.
So when you look at that, you got to give
your yourself a lot of credit to coach you know,
you did a lot of good things career. Look, I
always tell people my mom, you know, I came from
military parents and you know, a little bit of a
tougher community in Chicago. She says, Remember your roots, boy,
I remember the people that got and sacrificed and paved
the way for you to be here.
Speaker 4: I was like, you're right, yes, ma'am. And b what
you basketball is.
Speaker 1: In this position because of everything that you accomplished. Coach Rose,
who was under you, you know, even coach Mark Polpe,
like b Yu gets a player like agent de Boxon
because of you flag staffing, you know, and starting this
whole thing.
Speaker 4: You know, I just I never want to overlook those times.
Speaker 3: Well you know what I think anytime you can be involved.
And obviously we're talking about BO. But I when I
was coaching at Fresno State with Paul George, it was
a very similar situation with an Aj and of Paul George,
very similar type players, and it just came into my
mind that he was a young man that uh, you know,
I loved him coaching for four years and maybe my
life will lease you. But at the end of the day, Uh,
he's another young man that I that I love and
appreciate and and and it's what AJ and Rob and
all of the all the great players that have come
to be YU and uh, it's just between players and coaches,
the success of the those that have gone before us
and those that are playing now. Uh, there's a pride here,
proud heridage here with b YU basketball, and UH, I
love where they are today. And I wish Dawson Baker
had been healthy, you know, I wish right Richie Saunders
would have been healthy. But you know, kudos to the
guys that stepped up and have you know, kind of
found a way. Whether it's a demande or my boot
or Boskovitch caustic, you know, whatever, the circumstances were, the
guys who were on the sidelines and not playing a
lot and now being asked to really make a contribution
and and be where they need to be.
Speaker 1: We'll get to Dawson Baker in a second. I'm going
to ask you a question about Dawson Baker in just
a second. But you bring up Boot, you bring up Diamande,
two guys that have now entered the rotation. If you
get to know their ministry, amazing. What do you like
about both of those those skill sets? They both add
something different to the table. But they got so much
lenked in athleticism.
Speaker 3: Oh that was gonna be the first thing out of
my mouth. It's just the length and the athleticism and
the desire and the intensity which stay play. They don't
take possessions off, you know. I mean, you're they're around
the rim, they're diving on the floor for loose balls,
they're contesting shots, they're finishing around the rim, they're making
free throws, things that they you know, literally, you know,
you go back for three or four months, I'm not
sure that any of those guys are playing. You know,
when you consider who's hurt and who's out and what's
going on, you know, they would just be role players
and have their chance next year. Now they're being called
upon to take big time minutes and play where you know,
the theater is amazing here with the tournament. I mean,
so you've got to give great deal. And and I
really applaud the coaching staff, that entire coaching staff that
are working with these guys and spending time, you know,
working out in the practice facility and getting better, knowing
that maybe they weren't ever going to play. And now
all of a sudden we see that caustic Boskovich, Mabu
Dimande mad Now they are part of this rotation and
it's not anything I don't think anybody expected that, but
they've prepared themselves for that. And a lot of that
has goes to assistant coaches. I think a lot of
times assistant coaches don't get you know, the credit, maybe
do credit publicly, not not the saying that the head
coaches don't do they do that, but I think for
the public, a lot of the public don't know some
of these assistant coaches, but the fact is they're kind
of the foundation to this thing as well in terms
of preparing and getting making players better.
Speaker 1: Definitely does any does uh Diamande thees you know, Hadeem
reminds you of a you know, a certain player on
your roster during that time that was just gritty. I mean,
I can't bring up Travis Hands because we know he
was just he was just a bucket like you know,
but anytime, like I get the chance to highlight th
h I will. But no, anybody when you were coaching
that reminded you of of their skill set and just
brought that defensive intissiti and and energy.
Speaker 3: You know, I think that. Yeah, So when I when
I think back to b y U and I and
I think about the intensity and when we first got there,
you know, it was a total rebuild and uh, but
I do think of a young man by the name
of Tarrell to Day and uh who just got stuff
done and it was just an intense competitor. And I'm
and m Kelly Wesley was the same way that Mi
Kelly doesn't have the skills, the athleticism, but I would
take those two guys, I'd pick those two guys first
any year I was coaching. I mean, they they knew
how to win. And when there weren't the resources back
then that they are there are today, there just weren't
a lot of things that didn't exist. And yes, kudos
to the coaches that you know, we got them there
and it happened. But honestly, if it's this whole foundation
of this program around now is centered around Mkelly Wesley
and his start there and then everybody else that we
just talked about, you know, I mean mcklly was a
foundation of something that was going to be better. And
it was hard, you know, coming in there with one
win and then the next year seven or eight, the
next year twelve. I mean, it is exhausting going through
that gauntlet. But it certainly was a couple of those
young men that really made a difference and laying a
foundation for what we're seeing today.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Mkelly West of the ap All American Honible mentioned
in two thousand and twenty one the Provo product.
Speaker 4: Gotta love Provo High School.
Speaker 1: I mean, the great Chris Collinsworth just captured the state
title as a coach as a player, so you got
to always highlight the local product. The local product is nice.
And I know Dean and Will are going to be
joining Will. I think he's going on a mission. I
think that's coming right away. What do you like about
what they're adding to b YU from the recruiting front,
I always love the local product. The ajs are nice,
but the local you can't over You can't overlook what
you got in your back door.
Speaker 3: No, And I you know, I had a grandson that
played at tim f You, so I saw every game
and uh, the most gut wrenching I've ever experienced as
a coach or a player. Well, because I mean, I
love this tim Few team and Dean obviously was a
big part of that and and just played at a
very high level. He'll be at b YU next year
and the big fellow, I think is going on a
mission and he'll come back. But when when I when
I look at those teams, uh, and they are local
young men and local coaches. It was just one of
the best experiences of my life to watch his team.
It was heartbreaking to see them lose and a play
off game when I think everybody felt like they were
probably the best team on paper, but that that stuff happens,
but I do, I do love that group. It was
just such good chemistry, good coaching, and it took us.
I know it took my family and my grandson and
his family. It took us about a week or two
to just get our breath and go, my gosh, what
just happened. But that's part of sport, and sometimes it
doesn't go like you'd like it to go. But I
think Dean is a young man. And I remember sitting
with coach watching a game, and you know, he talked
to me a little bit about, say, he wasn't sure
that he was going to be willing to defend and
guard that like he needed to because they know he's
coming in immediately. And you know, I saw Coach he said,
you know a few weeks later and he said, you know,
I'm he's guarding and he's defending, and I feel really
good about where he's at. And he'll get stronger in
the light room, will get make him better and all
those kinds of things. But he's a very talented player.
He's got deep range. Hell, you know, again, there's a
it's a big jump from Tempu High School to jumping
into a Division one situation where the competition and the
coaching everything's a little bit different. But Dean has natural abilities.
He's really really athletic, and Bouncy got a great stroke
and seems to love the game, and so he's going
to be there. The big fellow will come back and
I think, to be honest with you, in two years.
Speaker 1: Uh.
Speaker 3: You know a lot of these young men go through
these mission, go to missions, and come back and it
takes a little bit to get back into it. But
I think both of these players from timp you highroll,
go play out and be very successful.
Speaker 1: If you like you, I'm excited to watch him, you know,
Dean come in next year and contribute right away. I
think you will think he'll be in the rotation and
excited for Will after he's don't his church service mission
to come back, come back and play as well.
Speaker 4: I said, I was gonna ask about it here. It
is Dawson Baker.
Speaker 1: They said on Bayu TV earlier in the season that
if Dawson Baker wants to come back for another year,
he can, that is eligible for him to do.
Speaker 4: How crucial do you feel that is?
Speaker 1: Look, Richie's leaving right you know, we don't know what's
going to happen in the offseason if people are going
to stay. But I feel a guy like Dawson who
they liked and was playing so well, and I hate
the injury bug. You feel like you need that guy
Steven a way to be honestly a little bit of
the heartbeat, like Richie is for next season.
Speaker 3: Oh that was a huge loss, you know. And he's
so crafty. He just he gets into scenes, he makes
the extra pass, he does things that really there's no
one like Dawson Baker on this roster right now. You know,
he just has the creativity and when he got hurt,
and you know, he's kind of a Irvine guy. I
always have kind of a connection because I played down
there and he lived down there and played down there,
and so I watched Dawson and I thought, oh my gosh,
this young man has something that doesn't exist on the team.
You know. He's one of those guys that can just
slither through things and get to the rim and knock
down deep threes and uh, you know, and not not
necessarily the most athletic person in the world, but a really,
really high IQ. And if they can get him back
next year, I will be shocked if they don't take him.
I mean, honestly, if he the same thing with Richie Richie,
both of those players have been you know, healthy and
able to play, they would have been playing. But I
think to be able to get Dawson Banker back, Wow,
that's that's an immediate yes for me. Sixty four, you know,
fifth year senior. And if he's healthy and ready, I
mean he just what he does, he makes you have
to respect him, and it opens the floor for everybody.
When you've got a guy out there at twenty two
twenty three feet knocking down threes and then really crafty
in and around the rim when guys close out to him,
that would be a great recruit. Even though it's just
a one year get. I got to believe that he's
gonna make by you better if in fact he's healthy
and can do it.
Speaker 4: Yeah, if he's healthy, con do it, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1: Anytime a guy is give you seven points a game
off the bench, shoots forty six percent from the field,
almost thirty forty percent from the three, and you think
about guys shooting at a high clip like mean lan
My Chiliwrich at Iowa State and he's not that. But
when you're shooting forty percent from three and that's good
and eighty percent from the charity stride, A coach is
never going to tell you no. You're always going to
get a yes in my in my opinion, here with
former BYU head coach Steve Cleveland on the line, coach,
a couple last things and then we'll let you go.
We appreciate your time today. Texas n C State. How
do you see that one plan out? I think the
six to eleven match will be tough regardless of who
they face. I am picking BYU to get through the
first game. But what do you have in stort tonight?
Who do you think their opponent will be on Thursday?
Speaker 3: You know, I kind of feel like Sean Miller in Texas.
I mean, the every nine in nine, eighteen and fourteen,
that's not a great year of I mean he's only
been there. I mean, here's the guy that won five
hundred games, but you know, he's just recently has gotten there.
And it is kind of a tough pick. But I
like Texas and I like Sean Miller, and I like
that that they've they've got some size. You know, they
swayed six eight junior average at eighteen. Rocrides is the
seventh foot sophomore averaging sixty. They've got four guys iverage eighteen, sixteen,
fourteen and fourteen. You know, the one thing in NC
State does have is they've got seven seniors and three juniors.
And coach will Wade. Coach Will Wade is I've washed him.
I've gotten that. I got to know him through another friend.
And they they've got they've got size too. And you're
looking at Copeland at sixty six fourteen seven assists, McNeil
sixty five fourteen and four van Lubin sixty nine fourteen
and seven Darren, So you've got consistent scoring here. And
but you know you say that, you mentioned it, and
I'll mention it again. They have lost five out of
the last six. Now. The one thing that the Braydon
Huff who did get hurt, really hurts them. But I
I see them playing. I see them when he missed
and playing his aggs and uh and then that would
be a great match up in Portland. A very tough
team to play, but it is fun to cee by
you playing them. And where it goes, I tell you
it's kind of some local things here. You're a Kansas
playing in Utah Valley, you know. Uh and in my
alma mater. You see I playing at Nebraska number three
Nebraska and Utah State. I like Utah State there, you know,
eight and nine matchup there. It just seems like every
year in Utah State's really good. So with you, I'll
share one thing with you. I was I was just
reading some things this morning, and they're talking about the
East region of the n C two as. Here are
these John I'm shire Rick Patino, Saint John's Bill Soelth Kansas,
Tom is On, Michigan State, Nick Cron and U C
l A. Dan Herd, the Yukon. They're all in one reach.
That is, any one of those teams. Any one of
those teams can win a national championship.
Speaker 1: Oh man, you mentioned all those great and look that's
why I'm glad b Yu can't play one. See see
what happens when you're blessed, when you play pay eleven
percent tithing and you and your honor the Sabbath day,
you see what happens. Look, I know i'd be a
tongue in cheap, but no, that's the blessing of not
having to play you know, and uh, you know the
Friday Sunday because they by could only have gone to
the west of the South and they did not have
those regions.
Speaker 3: I'll ask you, did you remember when b YU when
they put us in a bracket that we had to play.
Speaker 4: Friday said, I do remember that.
Speaker 3: I do remember that. That was crazy and that was crazy.
Speaker 4: Hey, and I think they've learned their lesson ever since.
They never gave they have.
Speaker 3: It should because b YU is really good and it
has been really good for a long time, so they
can't make those kind of mistakes.
Speaker 4: No, you can't, coach. We'll get you out of here
on this.
Speaker 1: Do you do you have this team getting to the
sweet sixteen second Zaga old w CCFO. That would be
grateful for BYU fans to beat them on what is
going to be a home game for them. It's an
hour away from the Motor Center. But to advance to
the second Wini do you see that happening?
Speaker 3: That's all I'm thinking about. Man, you know what, we
can overanalyze this thing, but I love BYU playing the
Zags having an opportunity to move forward and they've they've
had some health issues as well and some injuries. But
we know what Gonzaga is and the traditions they've had
for years and just great coaching and great players. But
I think this is a different BYU team than it
was ten years, ten ten games ago. I think it's
a team that comes prepared, is ready, and defends from
the get go and plays with the passion. And like
you know, we both mentioned, you're you're now talking about
getting your contributions from Boskovich, Bum damn d that Thoth
players really didn't have much of a role in this
in you know, the first half of the season, they
just didn't They weren't ready. And then with injuries, guys
got you know, all of a sudden, Baker's gone and
and you're you're you're looking at this thing and saying, honey,
who were going to replace? She can't replace Richie Saunders. Nope.
But I think what's happened now over time, uh, is
the team's gotten better. Yeah, And so I can't wait
to watch. You know, they got to take care of
business first, yep, But I like, b why you're beating Gonzaga.
Speaker 1: I really do got to take care of business. Thursday,
Texas That's why I have him played as well. Doesn't matter.
Two great coaches, two great programs, length size, athleticism, one
game at a time. But you get Thursday, then you
move on to Saturday. Maybe that And for Kevin Young
to go back to back years and the Sweet sixteen
as a second year head coach, I don't know what
else you can ask one.
Speaker 4: Look it's Martin.
Speaker 3: I'll just say this, kuduz to Kevin Young and his
staff and you know, obviously they're are outstanding coaches, but man,
they're even better people and they're good for student athletes.
And she's I just love everything that they've done. That's
the two years they've been here, and uh, it's just
everybody together in United and I just love the way
he approaches his players and his coaches and how everything's
dealt with. It's just I'm proud to to, you know,
to be a big fan of Kevin and his staff
and by U and so can't wait to see the
games get started and we'll see hopefully it's a good
couple of weeks when we find ourselves in another Sweet sixteen.
Speaker 4: A coach, appreciate your tom today.
Speaker 1: Hopefully you can make it out to Portland if not
San Jose, California, if they make it.
Speaker 3: Sarahse I mean Santase, I'm there.
Speaker 4: Okay, Okay, well there you go.
Speaker 3: There we go. Okay.
Speaker 4: Coach, we appreciate you. You have a good day. We'll
catch up with you soon.
Speaker 3: Thanks a lot, Bye bye.
Speaker 1: That was coach Steve Cleveland, a former BIYA men's basketball
head coach. A lot of great tidbits. Hope you guys
joined that interview as much as I did. I wish
Steve and I have more time. We could probably go
for another ten to fifteen minutes. Always appreciate him joining
the program. Guys, that's our show. We got to get
the spring practice. We got to end the show. But
appreciate everybody to join this. Jared Bletsoe Utah Protective Films,
Sean Walker of kisl dot com and The Cougar Beat
by Central Garage, Utah. That was Steve Cleveland in a
Basketball PA Basketball second with Odion Men's where appreciate Brett
always bringing the hammer, showing up and showing out.
Speaker 4: Vic Cramlin Day Aggregation.
Speaker 1: Ben Kurt will be back tomorrow recap springball, what we saw,
who we caught up with all of our interviews, Ben
Crittle is having an interview with Pockey