1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Dental Pros of Utah is located in American Fork at 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,759 one ninety eight South eleven hundred East. Dental Pros is 3 00:00:05,759 --> 00:00:09,199 a proud sponsor of Cougar Sports with Ben Crittle. Go Cougars. 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,439 Speaker 2: This is Cougar Sports with Ben Krittle, and it's time 5 00:00:12,519 --> 00:00:15,080 for the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:20,719 reporters that cover Cougar athletics. Welcome back Cougar Sports. One 7 00:00:20,719 --> 00:00:22,519 of three nine ninety eight point three ISBN the Fan. 8 00:00:22,519 --> 00:00:25,600 I've been crital broadcasting from our Banterwealth Studios banderwealth dot com. 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,879 Please get on that free Q and A no obligation 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,079 to invest Q and A get a few jams about 11 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,520 how to invest with the best savior money so you 12 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,439 can invest that money at batterwealthbatterwealth dot com. But he's 13 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,439 time for little Cougar Beat. That's right, getting into the minds, 14 00:00:39,679 --> 00:00:42,920 hearing from the voices of covering the teams that you love. 15 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,640 The segment's brought to you by Dental Pros off Utah 16 00:00:45,799 --> 00:00:48,039 Dental Prosofutah dot com. 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Let's get 28 00:01:18,799 --> 00:01:21,879 out to the hot light. Welcome in action. Jackson Pain, 29 00:01:22,239 --> 00:01:24,280 beat writer for the desertt News. What's up, Jackson? 30 00:01:25,879 --> 00:01:28,239 Speaker 1: Then? How we doing? It's gonna be on living. 31 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 2: The dream man, just talking ball, talking basketball, talking football. 32 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,319 It's it's a great day. It's a beautiful day. We 33 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,359 got plenty of moisture. We've been praying, we've been fast, 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,079 and we've got the moisture. And we got some ball 35 00:01:40,159 --> 00:01:42,680 to talk about as well. Let's start off with some basketball, 36 00:01:42,719 --> 00:01:45,120 shall we. Where are you at with these basketball team? 37 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,079 Jackson Pain? What's the ceiling and floor of this Cougar, 38 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,799 Cajor squad man. 39 00:01:51,879 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: It's all how times have changed, right, Just the expectations 40 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,560 were so lofty and Yu was playing some great basketball 41 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,439 just a few weeks ago, and you know, they hit 42 00:02:01,439 --> 00:02:04,359 a rough patch. Richie Saunders is out and I don't 43 00:02:04,359 --> 00:02:06,519 want to say this guy is falling, but things definitely 44 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,159 feel a bit less bright than they once did. You know, 45 00:02:09,719 --> 00:02:13,120 the ceiling of this team. It's tough to say, because 46 00:02:13,159 --> 00:02:16,000 when you have Aja Debonsa in a must win game, 47 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,520 anything can happen. You know, He's just he's always going 48 00:02:18,599 --> 00:02:21,319 to be the best player on the floor, no matter 49 00:02:21,319 --> 00:02:24,199 who b WHYU is playing, and so By is always 50 00:02:24,199 --> 00:02:25,719 gonna have a chance in that regard. But at the 51 00:02:25,719 --> 00:02:28,039 same time, like, I don't think this is a Final 52 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,680 four team right now. The Elite eight even seems way 53 00:02:30,719 --> 00:02:32,879 too far away. It's just I think if they make 54 00:02:32,879 --> 00:02:35,280 the Sweet sixteen in their current form, I think that's 55 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,479 a huge success. And so yeah, Sweet sixteen feels like 56 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,240 the current ceiling. Obviously, things can change if if they 57 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,520 can get some help to maybe step up from the 58 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,840 bench in the absence of Richie Saunders, but Sweet sixteen 59 00:02:47,879 --> 00:02:50,599 feels like the ceiling right now. I think, you know, 60 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,599 it's hard to think that they they'll lose in the 61 00:02:53,599 --> 00:02:56,840 first round. All of their losses this year are really 62 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,400 quality losses, aside from probably the Oklahoma State. I know 63 00:03:00,439 --> 00:03:03,319 that's still a Quad one loss, but b why you 64 00:03:03,319 --> 00:03:04,319 should not have lost that game? 65 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 2: You know. 66 00:03:05,039 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: So I don't think if they're six seed or a 67 00:03:07,599 --> 00:03:09,080 seven seed, I don't think they're going to lose to 68 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,479 a ten or eleven. So I think the floor is 69 00:03:11,479 --> 00:03:13,639 a round of thirty two. Ceiling is probably Sweet sixteen. 70 00:03:13,719 --> 00:03:15,800 But maybe a week from now, maybe they knock off 71 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,840 Iowa State and we feel a bit different. Maybe Tyler 72 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,520 Maruss or Alexei Kostich or Heilo Boskovich or somebody steps 73 00:03:21,599 --> 00:03:23,639 up and turns into a flame thrower down the stretch 74 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,039 and gives you why you another scoring threat. But yeah, 75 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:27,479 if I were to answer right now, it feels like 76 00:03:27,479 --> 00:03:29,680 Sweet sixteen is the ceiling, thirty two is the floor. 77 00:03:30,039 --> 00:03:33,319 Speaker 2: It's fun. I was chatting with JT about like two philosophies, 78 00:03:33,439 --> 00:03:37,800 two ways to approach you know, this BAU basketball team, 79 00:03:37,919 --> 00:03:39,599 and he said, look, one thing you can do is 80 00:03:39,639 --> 00:03:42,759 you can go all offensive, right, you know, start Tyler 81 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,159 Maruss and get as many minutes at election costick, give 82 00:03:46,199 --> 00:03:50,000 them green lights, Hilo Boskovic and just get buckets as 83 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,280 many bucks as you can. Try to instill confidence in 84 00:03:52,319 --> 00:03:54,319 those guys. You may have a dearth of you may 85 00:03:54,319 --> 00:03:57,800 have some issues defensively. You already have issues defensively. He said, 86 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,840 that's one round. Or you can insert hidem Boop a 87 00:04:01,919 --> 00:04:05,800 little bit more, give him more minutes, expand his role. Yeah, 88 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,520 he's not an offensive threat, but he rebounds and he 89 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,719 plays great defense, and he has great intensity while he's 90 00:04:11,759 --> 00:04:15,520 on the floor, which will provide the best fruits, the 91 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,120 best return on investment. In your opinion, which way do 92 00:04:19,199 --> 00:04:24,839 you lean going? Maybe more defensive minded, more rebounding minded, 93 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,120 and like just let you know your your your your 94 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:33,720 key offensive players AJ and Rob Wright do do their 95 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,040 work offensively in Canard. I think Cannard could take a 96 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:39,959 big step forward too. He's gonna have to play forty 97 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,120 minutes a game in order for Melia to win. Where 98 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:42,600 do you lean? 99 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:48,319 Speaker 1: I lean whichever way? Gets Adean Boop four minutes and 100 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,959 touched on it earlier. I'm a I'm a boot believer. 101 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,519 I broke down you know. I was in Tucson earlier 102 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,600 this week for the loss. B you what, you trotted 103 00:04:57,639 --> 00:05:00,879 out seventeen unique lineups in the game. I mean they 104 00:05:00,879 --> 00:05:03,560 were really just throwing everything at the wall. And the 105 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,560 lineup that stuck the longest they played nine minutes together 106 00:05:06,879 --> 00:05:09,639 and had the most success was the starting five with 107 00:05:09,639 --> 00:05:11,720 with Boop in instead of Boskovic, so it was rob 108 00:05:11,759 --> 00:05:16,040 aj Kba Canard and then Boop. They were plus eleven 109 00:05:16,079 --> 00:05:18,240 and nine minutes. They were the ones who had that 110 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,600 great stretch down the end that almost you know, got 111 00:05:20,639 --> 00:05:22,240 Blu back into the game when they cut the lead 112 00:05:22,319 --> 00:05:24,959 to five. Boop is just you know, he's he's like 113 00:05:24,959 --> 00:05:28,800 a solar battery. He gets he makes things happen. Is hustle, 114 00:05:28,879 --> 00:05:31,759 the non box score stuff that Richie was so great at, 115 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:36,079 the defense, the rebounding, getting transition stuff on offense. You 116 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:37,639 know you saw it at Arizona where you got the 117 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,439 steal and then got the bucket from it. I'm just 118 00:05:40,199 --> 00:05:41,959 I just think he's a winning player and good things 119 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,600 happen when he's on the floor. I understand why Boskovic started. 120 00:05:46,519 --> 00:05:49,079 It made sense just giving the matchup with Arizona size 121 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,439 and maybe trying to get something going from the perimeter early. 122 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,120 You know, he took those two early threes that I 123 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,839 wish maybe Rob had taken. I thought it was strange 124 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,399 that it took Rob twelve minutes to attempt to three. 125 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,279 Just you feel like if Aj is going to run 126 00:06:02,319 --> 00:06:04,800 the offense, you would think Rob would play being playing 127 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:06,800 off the ball more would be spotting up for threes. 128 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,680 But that's a whole other discussion. But that's the thing. 129 00:06:09,759 --> 00:06:11,879 Like I just when when Bosvitch took those two threes, 130 00:06:11,959 --> 00:06:13,639 I was like, you know, maybe Boom should be in 131 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,639 set the tone defensively early, be trying to compete on 132 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,480 the glass, give Rob an Aj and Canard more of 133 00:06:20,519 --> 00:06:23,680 those valuable touches from the outside, and then rely on 134 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:25,560 them for the shot making and then have Kaba and 135 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,600 even playing around the rim. So I'm all about Boop. 136 00:06:28,639 --> 00:06:31,319 I think that he's I don't think they've unlocked a 137 00:06:31,439 --> 00:06:34,800 death lineup because Byu, like like you said earlier, they 138 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,040 have defensive issues. It's just it's gonna be tough for 139 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:38,720 them to put anyone away down the stretch. But I 140 00:06:38,759 --> 00:06:41,000 really think putting Boop in that starting five and giving 141 00:06:41,079 --> 00:06:43,800 him more run going forward is By's best chance forward 142 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:44,360 at success. 143 00:06:45,439 --> 00:06:48,399 Speaker 2: What's your theory on why b YU basketball has had 144 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,680 so many season ending injuries this year. 145 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:57,319 Speaker 1: I don't know, just you know, as that question Jackson. 146 00:06:57,319 --> 00:07:00,519 Speaker 2: Have we asked that question to Ky, you know, being 147 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,560 like I'm never on the zooms, I'm never in front 148 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,759 of them, you know, So I don't know if it's 149 00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:08,800 been asked. I don't know if it's been answered. 150 00:07:11,199 --> 00:07:13,519 Speaker 1: Yeah, I haven't heard that question. I mean, I think 151 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,079 it's just one of those fluky things, right, Like you 152 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:20,439 know some teams, like it feels like I always bring 153 00:07:20,519 --> 00:07:22,000 up the Commanders when I'm on your show, but I'm 154 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,160 gonna do it again. Jade and Daniel's rookie season, they 155 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,800 had like the best injury luck in the NFL. Last 156 00:07:28,839 --> 00:07:30,639 year they had the worst injury luck. I think just 157 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,120 sometimes it comes in waves and sometimes it doesn't. You know, 158 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,600 It's just it's a weird thing. I think it's interesting 159 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,279 that the two return missionaries on the team and the 160 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,600 rotation in Dawson Baker and Richie Saunders both to ACLS. 161 00:07:43,199 --> 00:07:45,079 I don't think missions have anything to do with that. 162 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,560 It's just, you know, your oldest two players toward their 163 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,920 ACL Like on paper, that probably does seem suspicious, but 164 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,439 at the same time, you know, having witnessed both injuries live, 165 00:07:54,959 --> 00:07:58,199 I just they were both kind of fluky things, non contact. 166 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,439 It's just, you know, why are so many's tearing in 167 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,160 the in the NBA right now? You know why are 168 00:08:04,199 --> 00:08:07,959 so many baseball pitchers having Tommy John Like, it's just injuries. 169 00:08:08,079 --> 00:08:09,759 Just it's just a part of the game, right Like, 170 00:08:09,839 --> 00:08:12,439 it's it's unfortunate that it's come to BYU because we'll 171 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,279 never get to see what this BYU team was at 172 00:08:14,279 --> 00:08:17,360 full strength, it feels like and that that's a real shame. 173 00:08:17,399 --> 00:08:19,720 And I think, you know, if if you're looking for 174 00:08:19,759 --> 00:08:23,560 a silver lining, you can it's kind of it's it's 175 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,879 just a great what if with BYU basketball, right Like, 176 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:29,240 what if Brandon Davies doesn't get suspended? What if BYU 177 00:08:29,279 --> 00:08:32,559 beats UCLA in that first round in twenty one? What 178 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,799 if the COVID Tournament doesn't get canceled? Uh? What if 179 00:08:36,039 --> 00:08:38,720 you know, what if Alabama doesn't shoot the greatest three 180 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,200 point shooting night in the history of college basketball last year? 181 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 2: What if? 182 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: What if this team didn't have injuries? 183 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:43,399 Speaker 2: You know? 184 00:08:44,039 --> 00:08:45,879 Speaker 1: Uh, So, you know, it's just it's it's a it's 185 00:08:45,879 --> 00:08:48,519 a disappointment, but I don't think there's a nuclear facility 186 00:08:49,039 --> 00:08:51,000 next to the Merritt Center, the way there is with 187 00:08:51,039 --> 00:08:54,559 the Niners facility in San Francisco. But it's it's just 188 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,919 a bummer, man. I don't think there's any one specific reason. 189 00:08:56,919 --> 00:08:59,600 It's just it's just fluky, fluky, weird sadness. 190 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 2: Yes, it is. It is fluky, It is weirdness. It 191 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,480 is sadness. Uh and uh, I'm here for all the 192 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:10,039 conspiracy theories. Anyone want to bring them to my uh, 193 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,720 to my attention, DM me at crital Benjamin Jackson. This uh, 194 00:09:13,759 --> 00:09:15,799 this BA basketball team has to find a way to 195 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,000 win uh this uh towards the end of the season 196 00:09:19,039 --> 00:09:22,039 and into the Big Twell tournament in the NCAA tournament. 197 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:27,559 Is there a certain level of like, how do you 198 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,519 think Cougar Nation's feeling about it right now? Like, uh, 199 00:09:31,039 --> 00:09:33,799 how the donors are feeling about it right now? Did 200 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:38,639 they get their return on investment this season? Right are they? 201 00:09:38,759 --> 00:09:42,120 Do you feel like it will deter these corporate sponsors, 202 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:48,039 these these big time donors from extending their hand out 203 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:53,679 uh with their their dollar dollar bills, y'all to Cougar Athletics, 204 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:57,039 Cougar basketball in particular, Do they feel like they got 205 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,519 what they were looking for with the allocation of resources 206 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:01,960 this year. 207 00:10:03,759 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: I don't know how they're feeling, but I don't think 208 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,080 they should feel bad or regret any of the money spent, 209 00:10:08,159 --> 00:10:10,840 because the money spent went a long way. Like AJ 210 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,159 is the best player in college basketball. He should be 211 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,159 the number one pick because they'll actually play basketball. And 212 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,919 like Darren Peterson, you know, it's a point in television 213 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,120 for everyone across the country when AJ plays, because he's 214 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,159 gonna score thirty five every night. Rob Wright has been fantastic. 215 00:10:24,279 --> 00:10:27,399 Richie Saunders was fantastic until he got hurt. And I 216 00:10:27,639 --> 00:10:33,879 think too like I think too often we collectively expect 217 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:39,080 immediate everything understanding. Just we expect immediate greatness from Kevin Young. 218 00:10:39,159 --> 00:10:40,440 And you know, he took you all here to the Fund, 219 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:42,120 he took you out to the Sweet sixteen last year. 220 00:10:42,159 --> 00:10:45,639 He's had some great recruiting success, but he's he's been 221 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,120 in the NBA for a while, Like this is year 222 00:10:47,159 --> 00:10:49,639 two running a college program for him, Like we got 223 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,120 to give him a little bit of a learning curve, 224 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,000 Like he's gonna have some swings and misses in the 225 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,960 recruiting scene. You know, there's gonna be things that he 226 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,360 gets wrong, and that's fine, Like this is just if 227 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,320 you want to build a really strong program, you have 228 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,919 to go through growing pains. And I think they made 229 00:11:02,919 --> 00:11:04,519 the Sweet sixteen last year and that was great, and 230 00:11:04,519 --> 00:11:06,720 there were Final four aspirations this year, but it's really 231 00:11:06,799 --> 00:11:09,120 hard to win in the tournament. Like there's a reason 232 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,399 why bu BYUS had two extremely long stretches without tournament wins. 233 00:11:13,399 --> 00:11:15,759 I think from ninety it was either ninety two or 234 00:11:15,799 --> 00:11:18,600 ninety three to twenty ten they went winless, and then 235 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,679 from twenty eleven to or twenty twelve to twenty twenty five, 236 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,399 Like that's two really long stretches without getting a single 237 00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:26,960 tournament win. It is really hard to win in March. 238 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,480 And so I think you know, BYU, if they get 239 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,799 to the Sweet seat teen again, that's two Sweet sixteens 240 00:11:31,799 --> 00:11:35,679 in two years. That's doubling BYU Sweet sixteen appearances in 241 00:11:35,759 --> 00:11:38,200 the modern era. Like that's a great start to build 242 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,759 a great program. And so the injuries with this team 243 00:11:40,759 --> 00:11:43,279 have been really unfortunate. It's something that I don't think 244 00:11:43,279 --> 00:11:45,799 you can prevent. That's just the way it goes. Like 245 00:11:45,879 --> 00:11:50,240 your injuries are gonna happen, and BYU right now doesn't 246 00:11:50,279 --> 00:11:52,960 have the depth to compete. And you know they were built, 247 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,240 they were deep going into the season, But when Pickens 248 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:57,120 goes down and Baker goes down, and Richie goes down, 249 00:11:57,399 --> 00:11:59,720 and you don't really get to see Kazlowski all this year, 250 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,120 and some of the other pieces aren't clicking so far, 251 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:04,960 Like that's just that's just how many sometimes like you're 252 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,039 not gonna make You're not gonna make all your shots. 253 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:12,200 And so I think, you know, BUYU can still salvage 254 00:12:12,519 --> 00:12:14,360 the season and still go out on a high note 255 00:12:14,399 --> 00:12:17,080 with a sweet sixteen or even further. But at the 256 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,639 same time, like we just it was never gonna be 257 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:24,200 a two year program juggernaut six right, Like if it 258 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,480 happened this year, great, But at the same time, it 259 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,440 was gonna take time to build what BYU really wants 260 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,679 to accomplish with Kevin Yong. And so I don't think 261 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,919 this should dissuade any donors or any pockets from being 262 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,080 opened for BYU in the future, because Kevin Young's proven 263 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,440 he can bring top talent to provo. Guys like AJ, 264 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,679 guys like Rob Wright, guys like Yegor I've done incredible things. 265 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,159 And look at Yegor right now, I mean walking into 266 00:12:45,159 --> 00:12:47,320 the arena with a Book of Mormon talking about how 267 00:12:47,399 --> 00:12:50,080 much he loved BYU and just such a great ambassador 268 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,440 for BYU. And you got someone like Aja taking mission 269 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,279 prep and Book of Mormon and talking to the broadcasters, 270 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:56,919 but how much he loves a Book of Mormon class 271 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:01,000 and he'll go forth to serve when he he's finished at BYU, 272 00:13:01,039 --> 00:13:02,679 and he'll be an ambassador for the school. And so 273 00:13:03,919 --> 00:13:06,320 it goes beyond dollars and cents and wins and losses, 274 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,039 the just the idea that these these these players who 275 00:13:10,039 --> 00:13:13,240 have such a great influence worldwide, Yegor and Russia. Aj, 276 00:13:13,399 --> 00:13:15,679 if he becomes the next big thing in the NBA, 277 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,360 these guys can can go and be ambassadors for BYU. 278 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:19,919 Like you can't put a dollar amount on that. And 279 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:24,080 so I mean, look, it's the I've gone on for 280 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,399 a while, but it's a bummer that BYU's injuries have 281 00:13:26,519 --> 00:13:28,559 kind of derailed what should have been a Final four 282 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,360 team on paper. But at the same time, just the 283 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,559 talent that they brought in, Like it's not on ky, 284 00:13:33,639 --> 00:13:35,679 It's not like no one should be dissuaded to spend 285 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:36,480 money and going forward. 286 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 2: Can by fans uh critique and criticize maybe the roster construction. 287 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,159 Do you think it was it too top heavy in 288 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,759 your opinion? Or did by you just have bad luck 289 00:13:51,799 --> 00:13:56,679 with season ending injuries. You look at guys like a Gallon, Hall, Tanner, Toolson, 290 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,919 Jake Wallen, your traditional like BYU. Remember they were all 291 00:14:00,919 --> 00:14:04,039 at b YU at one point in their careers or 292 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,960 they were committed to BYU at one point in their careers. 293 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,360 And you can't always just hoard all the LDS talent, 294 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,240 right A. Colin Chandler's at Kentucky's doing nice things with 295 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,159 coach Mark Pope, et cetera. But you wonder it's like, Okay, 296 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,720 well how you allocating resources? Did we did? Did b 297 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,559 what you go too top heavy? Or or did they 298 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,639 did they? Did they roster construct the right way? Is 299 00:14:28,679 --> 00:14:30,799 what I'm getting at here? Can you critique that? 300 00:14:32,759 --> 00:14:35,039 Speaker 1: I mean, maybe they could have used another guard before 301 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,120 the season, But at the same time, Nate picking the 302 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:38,919 man like that's that was supposed to be your seventh man, 303 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,960 Dawson Baker supposed to be your sixth man. B YU 304 00:14:42,039 --> 00:14:44,360 last year had some pretty good injury luck aside from 305 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,200 Jago or missing a stretch and kind of being off 306 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,480 for a little bit of the season. But it's just, 307 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:51,720 I mean, you can always expect maybe one or two 308 00:14:51,759 --> 00:14:55,000 season ending injuries, but four is just an absurd amount, right, 309 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,679 Like you lose your your your veteran leader and your 310 00:14:59,159 --> 00:15:02,600 your first team all big twelve talent. You lose your 311 00:15:02,639 --> 00:15:05,600 sixth man who's another great veterans shot maker, you miss 312 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,559 a three and D guy off the bench, and like, 313 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,320 I don't know, man, it's just maybe Maruss and co 314 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:15,559 Stitch are maybe maybe that's maybe maybe those there was 315 00:15:15,679 --> 00:15:17,480 better money to be spent elsewhere. But at the same time, 316 00:15:17,559 --> 00:15:19,200 you know they could also go in a heater and 317 00:15:19,559 --> 00:15:26,080 totally totally redeem themselves, right, I think too, Like you know, 318 00:15:26,519 --> 00:15:30,279 at this, like I said, last year when the season ended, 319 00:15:30,279 --> 00:15:33,120 obviously the cannon catchings thing, he was a super highly 320 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,159 sauttered recruit. He came in, he had moments, but by 321 00:15:36,159 --> 00:15:38,200 the end of the year the shine was off and 322 00:15:38,279 --> 00:15:41,480 he was kind of disengaged. Just it was pretty clear 323 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:43,919 he was going to move on, and when mag and 324 00:15:43,919 --> 00:15:46,840 Stewart kind of stepped in his place. BYU season turned around, 325 00:15:46,919 --> 00:15:49,240 and you know, it didn't work out for catchings at BUYU, 326 00:15:49,279 --> 00:15:51,519 And I think my my perspective at that point was, 327 00:15:51,559 --> 00:15:55,039 you know, that's a that was a learning experience for Ky, right, 328 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,120 like he had to he had to have a miss 329 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,080 of that degree recruiting in order to better figure out 330 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,759 his recruiting going forward. You know, Like I think I 331 00:16:04,799 --> 00:16:07,240 thought that could be a positive experience for him. Maybe 332 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,120 I'm too optimistic, but I just thought, you know, he's 333 00:16:09,559 --> 00:16:12,360 recruiting at the college level for the first time. Maybe 334 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,799 there were things that he overlooked with cannon catchings that 335 00:16:14,799 --> 00:16:16,879 he can correct going forward. I don't know. And so 336 00:16:16,919 --> 00:16:18,480 I think maybe this year, with the way that they 337 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:20,919 constructed the roster and the way that injuries took over, 338 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,360 maybe he goes, Okay, maybe we do need a change 339 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,120 of pace back to the basket type big every year. 340 00:16:26,159 --> 00:16:28,759 We can't just go with two rib rollers in Kaba 341 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:33,159 and Ahmed. Maybe we need more guards because guard play 342 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,519 wins in March, and if you lose your two best 343 00:16:35,519 --> 00:16:38,799 guards off the bench, that spells disaster. Right Like, so 344 00:16:38,919 --> 00:16:42,440 I just think, yeah, maybe there are roster critiques to 345 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:47,440 be made. Injuries happened and BYU so far hasn't been 346 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,679 able to respond to the injuries. But at the same time, like, 347 00:16:50,039 --> 00:16:52,000 I'm not trying to carry Kevin Young's water, but at 348 00:16:52,039 --> 00:16:54,960 the same time, like these are learning experiences, and I 349 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,080 think if you want him to be the long term 350 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,600 solution and stick around approval for a while, he got 351 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,919 to give him some space to learn these things and 352 00:17:01,919 --> 00:17:03,639 figure it out for himself, because the college game is 353 00:17:03,679 --> 00:17:05,839 so different from the NBA game, and also just the 354 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,319 landscape of college supports is changing so rapidly and so drastically. 355 00:17:09,799 --> 00:17:11,640 I mean just the fact I sound like an old 356 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:13,720 man right now, but like just the fact that we're 357 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:17,599 getting these running it back graphics from from true freshman. 358 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,640 It's like, yeah, you should be running it back right, 359 00:17:19,759 --> 00:17:22,319 Like It's just it's such a bizarre world and having 360 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,480 to learn that on the fly is pretty pretty challenging, 361 00:17:25,519 --> 00:17:28,000 I imagine. And so I think these are lessons to 362 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,000 be learned going forward for Kevin Young, and I think 363 00:17:31,079 --> 00:17:32,240 he'll be all the better for it. 364 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, you just wonder if, like I know, they had 365 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,359 like Tanner Twison come take a visit, right, and maybe 366 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:46,599 the role that they were pitching wasn't as robust the 367 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:50,559 minutes allocations, et cetera, that he was probably looking for. 368 00:17:50,599 --> 00:17:53,240 I want to say, I want to say, Tanner Toolson 369 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,480 is getting maybe twenty minutes a game for TCU, if 370 00:17:56,519 --> 00:17:59,880 I'm not mistaken, I think, you know, maybe he wouldn't 371 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:01,880 get twenty minutes a game, right he you know, I 372 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:06,200 think it's eighteen point just under twenty minutes, eighteen point six. 373 00:18:07,559 --> 00:18:12,440 Dallan hall has although he's been a starter, but I 374 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,200 don't think he's necessarily been a star for the the 375 00:18:16,519 --> 00:18:21,000 Who's right he has he's averaging twenty five point I 376 00:18:21,079 --> 00:18:24,200 want to say, no, yeah, twenty five twenty eight minutes, 377 00:18:24,599 --> 00:18:27,759 twenty eight minutes, almost thirty minutes a game. So I 378 00:18:27,759 --> 00:18:29,640 mean he's getting minutes, that's for certain there for the 379 00:18:29,759 --> 00:18:32,640 for the Cattalis, the who's rising out there for four 380 00:18:32,759 --> 00:18:35,519 hundred ninety seven pounder out of the great state of 381 00:18:35,519 --> 00:18:38,960 you tough one review a you Cougar. But you just wonder, 382 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,480 it's like, hey, did did we miss the mark on 383 00:18:41,599 --> 00:18:47,480 our retention and our acquisitions? Did these guys, you know, Tanner, Dallen, 384 00:18:48,039 --> 00:18:51,440 Jake Quaaleen, were they you know, was there a strong 385 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,880 pitch made to them to stay at BYU, to be 386 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,680 at BYU or did they like they're like, you know what, 387 00:18:58,759 --> 00:19:00,319 it's just not going to work out and they just 388 00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:03,160 had to part their separate ways. Any thoughts there about 389 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:07,119 some of the players that went elsewhere, transferred elsewhere and 390 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,440 the impact that they could have made on this team. 391 00:19:10,839 --> 00:19:13,759 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think about Dollen Hall a lot. I was 392 00:19:13,799 --> 00:19:15,839 a big Dallen Hall fan. I just I thought he 393 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,920 was a really great just kind of facilitator and he 394 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,240 could shoot the ball a little, and I just it's 395 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:23,160 a bummer that he left because I thought maybe that 396 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,160 core going into Like I remember after the Sweet sixteen thinking, okay, 397 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:31,119 by you had a great core of Richie Saunders, Kavacida, 398 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,599 Dollen Hall, Dawson Baker, and then you add aj to 399 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:36,279 Bonson whoever else did they get in the portal, Like 400 00:19:36,279 --> 00:19:38,720 that's a really good team next year, And when Dallen leaves, 401 00:19:38,759 --> 00:19:40,799 it's like, Okay, well that's kind of a bummer. But 402 00:19:40,839 --> 00:19:43,920 then you get Rob Right and it's like, okay, maybe 403 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:45,799 they upgrade, they have a more explosive option to the 404 00:19:45,799 --> 00:19:48,640 point guard. But you know, Dollan his kind the kind 405 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,599 of change of pace he brought last year when when 406 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,200 he would come in off the bench with foos and 407 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,680 they would they would do they would kind of slow 408 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:56,319 the game down and go down low, and it was 409 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,039 just it was really refreshing and it put it gave 410 00:19:59,079 --> 00:20:02,640 Bay you another a layer, another wrinkle that was really 411 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,279 helpful for them. I think Dallen Hall and this team 412 00:20:05,319 --> 00:20:08,240 right now would be a really important player. I remember 413 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,680 a buddy of mine does radio in Virginia and he 414 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:12,559 interviewed Dallen and was just saying he knew He's like, 415 00:20:12,559 --> 00:20:14,519 it's my senior year, I want to pick my own coach. 416 00:20:15,559 --> 00:20:17,680 And that was kind of the rationale. And you know, 417 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,920 obviously Odom recruited him out of high school at Utah 418 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,079 State and then he goes to UVA and he needs 419 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:25,960 a veteran point guard to kind of jump start that program. 420 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,319 And it just it made sense, right, Like it made 421 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:29,920 sense for Yu to move on. It made sense for 422 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,240 down Hall to leave. But at the same time, it's 423 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,119 a bummer for him because it's a bummer for Yu 424 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,440 because another guard would really help this team right now. 425 00:20:36,599 --> 00:20:38,559 But at the same time, I just think too, like 426 00:20:40,279 --> 00:20:42,519 you know, maybe by you have to strike this right 427 00:20:42,599 --> 00:20:48,000 balance between kind of your four year program, foundation players, 428 00:20:48,079 --> 00:20:50,079 the LDS talent, the other guys who can come in 429 00:20:50,079 --> 00:20:52,160 here and be kind of the way that Gonzaga does it, 430 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,839 where like they'll have Drew Timmy for four or five years, 431 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,079 but then they'll have a Chet Holmgren on one and done. 432 00:20:57,079 --> 00:20:58,920 Like you have your one and done, your NBA type 433 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,160 guys who come and go, but you have your kind 434 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,400 of solid foundation of a four year LDS or local talent, 435 00:21:05,759 --> 00:21:08,880 the Trevin Nell, the Richie Saunders, anybody else. It doesn't 436 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,680 have to be LDS kids too, but like you know, 437 00:21:10,759 --> 00:21:12,400 you would think like, oh, a team with Dallen Hall 438 00:21:12,519 --> 00:21:16,480 or Jake Qualeen Oranna Toolson like that, that would be 439 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,720 a great foundation to have. And so yeah, maybe this 440 00:21:18,839 --> 00:21:21,000 is just like I said, like, maybe this is lessons 441 00:21:21,079 --> 00:21:23,920 learned moving forward for roster construction. And you know, if 442 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:27,640 you're two for Ky, don't figure it out. These are 443 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:29,680 lessons to learn. And it's just a bummer that the 444 00:21:29,759 --> 00:21:30,599 interviews happen. 445 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 2: This year, no doubt about it, Jackson. Best way to 446 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,039 support you what you do, how you do it for 447 00:21:36,079 --> 00:21:36,839 all of our listeners. 448 00:21:38,599 --> 00:21:42,079 Speaker 1: Yeah, des ret news writing stuff there every day. Jackson 449 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:44,200 five pain on on Twitter and Instagram. Give me a 450 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:45,920 follow there and always the pleasure to hop on. 451 00:21:46,279 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 2: Always a pleasure man. Thanks so much for hopping on. 452 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,200 Follow Jackson on Twitter, on the X and read all 453 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,240 the stuff at the Desert Red News. That segment was 454 00:21:53,279 --> 00:21:55,680 brought to you by Dental pros of You Tom. Any 455 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,440 of you guys are looking for maybe a new dentist. 456 00:21:57,960 --> 00:21:59,960 If you're looking for a new dentists, just give Depth 457 00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:03,480 pros of Utah shot. 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John Kurtz, Little World of 467 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,480 BA Sports and Big twelve news and notes coming up next. 468 00:22:33,599 --> 00:22:34,720 Open for business