Speaker 1: He is Cougar Sports with Ben Krittle at its time
for the.
Speaker 2: Cougar Beat, getting the dish from the local reporters that
Coppery Cougar Athletics and.
Speaker 1: Welcome back to Cougar Sports here on one O three
nine ninety eight three ESP and the fan Ronald the
three man Weaver here holding it down for Ben Crittle
as he is out. He will be back on Monday
be able to recap the bau men's basketball game against Kansas,
But up until that point, I will be take you
guys through all the news and notes today. I've done
that so far. Gonna have the Cougar Basketball pre game
Show tomorrow. If you don't know about the Cougar Basketball
pre Game Show, it's a show that I'm able to
do all season long basketball home or away hour before tipball.
I take you right up in today, get you usually
an interview with the player or a coach, everything that's
going around Cougar Country, as well as all of the
college basketball analysts and minds as well. We'll have our
guests tomorrow. We'll talk about that on the program, but
you're gonna want to hear tomorrow and tune into the
guest that I have. It's a could be a former
BAYU greater orm my Tz. You could be someone down
at BAU TV. You never know, or is it someone
on the roster? Ronald the three man Weaver always has
a trick up his sleeve. But I'm not a magician.
Speaker 2: I'm not.
Speaker 1: Now you see me, now you don't. But this BU
basketball team could be now you see me, now you don't.
Tomorrow they could get back in the win column. They're
looking to get back in the win column. They've dropped
the last couple against formidable opponents. But we're gonna break
it all down here with the Cougar Sports Insider. This
segment gonna be brought to you by Dental prosoutah dot com.
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let's get out to the ESPN the Fan hotline and
welcome in. He does it all as well. He's a
man of many hats to coast the wise guys and
BYU TV. He also writes in the Desert News you
can follow all of them. Does play by play for
BYU basketball as well. We got Dave mccannonline, Dave, how
we doing, Hey, Happy Friday.
Speaker 2: It's nice to hear you holding it down over there today.
Good job.
Speaker 1: Hey, try my best too. It's better to be trusted
to hold it down. And you know, you have to
work hard to be in these positions. They're not given,
they're earned. So I always tell myself, so we'll keep
doing things right so I can continue to hold it down.
And I appreciate it always being trusted and then getting
wonderful guests like you on the station.
Speaker 2: Listen. I'll do whatever I can, whatever you ask, I'll
do so I appreciate you well.
Speaker 1: Speaking of ask, I know Cougar Nation's asking for a
win tomorrow, Dave. The last couple of games where they've
played a formidable opponent hasn't gone their way. They've competed,
they're right there. That first half hasn't been what they wanted.
Texas Tech, they had them on the ropes, failed down
to stretch. Arizona looks like they have the game than
Braiden Burry's makes a great play. Now you get another
opportunity against Kansas. What do you make of these? I
hate to say like good, there's no good loss because
you lost, but these chances BYU's had to put away
these teams, but they've come up short.
Speaker 2: Under standable losses Number one Arizona, number two Connecticut, and
number eleven Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock, Houston win
there either Yukon and no one's won there except Arizona
and they and they're the other team. So at seventeen
and three, it's certainly not a time to panic and
think that this is a group of underachievers. Just the opposite.
They've had opportunities in those three games which might say
more about this team then we're giving them credit for
because they lost those games and it's time for them
to win a top fifteen game, and that's tomorrow. I
feel really good about their chanceas tomorrow that b YU
is a really good team and Kansas is too, but
I think by US better and we'll see and coming
off the loss with a few days in between, they'll
be rested and eager to go. And this game's got
all the makings must see TV. It's not it must
win for BYU, but it's must see if you're a
BYU fan and you know you have Houston a week
from tomorrow and then Arizona on the road and Iowa
State in I mean, hey, this is this is nuts
and you've got to you got to pick off a
couple of these. Tomorrow is a really good opportunity because
it's the one in front of them, and I like
their shot. I think those three losses are Yeah, they're disappointing,
but you're not gonna win all your games. And they
they've lost three really good teams, and they've beaten some
good teams. They just haven't beaten the top fourteen team.
And they can do that tomorrow.
Speaker 1: Definitely could do that tomorrow. You bring up a good point.
I mean, these three losses are all the top teams.
I mean, you know, again you can't say bad loss,
but I mean as expected do you feel like though
that maybe Arizona had a really good, really good scout
on BYU the quick turnaround for both teams, but it
just seems like BYU is just a half a step
behind it. Everything that they did, Richie getting blitzed there
for aj on doubles, not letting rob you to the
basket and making him finish tough. It just seems like
Arizona was well connected in every aspect of the game.
Speaker 2: Weather number one and they're undefeated. There's a reason for
all that. And they played a tough schedule. It's not
like Arizona is playing the WCC and they beat Yukon
and they were healthy, and they don't have the big three.
They got five solid starters and some help off the bench.
So they're a different team from from BYU. The Cougars
in Utah on Saturday and and what aj did and
then having Sunday off and then you play Monday night.
I would have loved that game to be on Tuesday,
but it wasn't. It's on Monday, and by you didn't
practice on Sunday. It's not an excuse, it's just the reality.
And the Cougars weren't as sharp, especially in that first half,
and Arizona was and when they needed a basket, they
just got one. That's what the best team in the
country does, and the teams at wont be the best
team in the country. You've got to figure out how
to do that. And maybe by you saw some of
that in the second half when Canard Davis started hitting
shots which he hadn't done in weeks. I like to
say Coastage comes off the bench and hits a couple
of shots which he hadn't done in weeks. If the
discovery of the outside shot for those two guys joined
the big three, and then whatever Kabas got to offer,
you're a different team when you play Arizona again on
February eighteenth, you might be a different team tomorrow. There's
a lot of pressure on Canard Davis to knock down
two or three shots early so that the rest of
the team can go all right, he's back now we
can count on him. And then the defense has got
to freak out because now they can't just put two
guys on aj Or on Ritchie or on rob Or.
And that's been the missing If there's a missing piece,
that's the piece the fourth score. And if they found
that against Arizona. In the long run, the goal is
to win the Big Dance. Right in the long run,
BYU is going to come out way ahead. It didn't
matter that they got beat by Arizona on Monday, and
it might not matter if Arizona beats him in Tucson
on the eighteenth. What matters is if they play Arizona
again in March, that they win that game, because that's
the game that ends the season. So they've got some
time to pull it together. But they're build around three pieces,
the best trio of starters in the country. But there's
five guys out there, and all five got to contribute
to beat the number one team in the country or
the number two team. They lost by two points to
one and by what three points to the other, and
then down in Lubbock, you know you're up by nine
with nine twenty six to go, and Texas Tech reminds
everybody they too have a shot to win the national title.
Speaker 1: Yeah, has a lot of good teams as Big twelve
as not. Joke hasn't been from the beginning of time
is not has not changed one bit with BYU in
and now we got Dave McCann Coast of Wise Guys
and bau TV and a part of the Desert News
on the line with us and then the Cougar Beat
here on this Friday, January thirtieth edition of Cougar Sports
on one to three nine in your Utah ESPN Radio network.
You said Kapa Caada, I want to go back to him.
He was named the twenty twenty six and Nate Smid
Defensive Player of the Week is on the watch list
for how impactful does he need to be tomorrow around
the rim. This is a Kansas team that you got
to keep out of. They give up a lot of
offensive rebounds. And if you remember CABA's performances on the
road last year, Dave think he had a career high.
It was at Iowa State. It's not Kansas, but that's
still a pretty good performance to bring sixteen offensive rebounds down.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and BYU is a pretty good rebounding team. They're
a better rebounding team than Kansas. They get more defensive
boards than offensive boards when matched up with the Jayhawks.
But the key for Kaba is to stay out of
foul trouble early so that he can stay in the
game and get into his rhythm. And especially on offense,
those lob dunks and things like that, they only work
when he's in the game. And you know this last
really since he rolled his ankle coming back, it's been
one thing or another, but it's typically been fouls that
have kept him out of the game. And so he's
got to stay in it, and he's got to play tough,
and he's the recipient of everything good that the Big
three and let's say the four. Let's say the Big
four bring. Keba's the recipient because then the lobs are there,
he's not getting double team down low and he kind
of roam and be free, and we know what he
can do on defense. It's a key for him on
the road in a hostile environment to stay in the game.
Now I'm Mad is getting better and a great addition
brings in size and strength, and that can give Caba
a spell. But I think it works best when when
I'm Mad gives Caba a break as opposed to Ahmed
is in because Keba is out with fouls and he's
going to stay out for a while. So I'll be
watching that early. What's Caba going to do? Can he
can he get through to the first time out without
picking up a foul. Maybe then you get to the
second time out, it's gonna be a physical game. You
got five fouls, so you can use four of them,
but you just can't use them early because then it
impedes his ability to be free and run. And when
he's when he's improvised a little bit, you know, he
can block any shot and throw down some miraculous dunks
and just cause enough trouble where the center for Kansas knows.
I have to stay on him no matter what AJ's doing.
I've got to stay on this guy, and that gives
AJ more options. So a lot of it is about
foul trouble tomorrow, and if Kaba can avoid it, I
think he can have a real influence on the outcome.
Speaker 1: Got to stay out of foul trouble and get Kansas
into foul trouble. That's the name of the game. But
I want to talk about a guy. He's had some
foul troubles themselves up and down, but excuse me, he's
also you know, he's been hit or miss Myhilo. I
feel like it's the one guy outside of AJ and
in Rob, because Rob had had a day at Kansas
against them he's the only guy on this roster that's
played in like more hostile environments that's been able to
do this. He's been up and down. What does he
need to provide or what do you expect out of
my high low? Because that's a guy I mean when
he's feeling that he's on, but I also feel like
when he's off.
Speaker 2: He's off. Yeah, it's been a tough one with his consistency.
But you know, if there's foul trouble, he plays more,
and if Eyu stays out of foul trouble, he doesn't.
And so it's really hard to gauge. You know, the
how the game flows will determine how much of Votskovich
that we see. He's knocked down a couple of big
shots and and he's six' ten and he can. Guard you,
know you get things and you lose some things when
he's in the, Game BUT i you, know when he
does go in and who knows how long he's gonna play,
tomorrow it's it's to play defense and to get some,
rebounds and he loves to, shoot and he's going to
if he's, open it's going up and he's got to
knock him. Down think about these guys coming off the.
Bench if they come in and miss their first, two
they're out because you can't you can't Beat kansas three
on five or four on. Five it's got to be.
Five your five guys on the floor have to all
be contributors to win on the road in The big.
Twelve and so you, know when they come, in you
hope they make their first shot because it relaxes, Them
it Relaxes Kevin young and his, staff and might even
relax the rotation a little bit because because you're, Producing
like when When boot comes in and gets, rebounds he stays.
In but if he comes in and kind of gets
lost in between the other six six nine guys and
it is still working on this outside, shot then he
can come back out of the game because he's not
making a. Difference but we've Seen boop get in there
and really dig in and, fight and you, know, again
his minutes are all determined on. Situations the starting, five you,
know are in, there and they're in there for a,
reason but the rhyme or reason coming off the bench
is so situational it's hard to. Know, well you, Know
boskovich might play five minutes, tomorrow he might play Twenty
kostitch has hardly played it. All But ritchie fouled out
at the end of The arizona game and he comes
in and hits one or two big. Shots, well he
can hit those big shots when he comes in in
the first. Half we might see more of him before
he has to be in because of foul. Trouble so
all those guys have a chance to earn their. Minutes
but they got a knocked down shots Then mars. Too
they brought into knockdown shots in this environment in these,
games and if you can't do, it you got to
put someone else, in you. Know AND i Know Kevin
young is hoping they all do it because that's what
he brought him in here. For he.
Speaker 1: Did he, says this game is about hitting, shots making.
Shots that's how he's stay in the. Game and he
even mentioned to your point About, alexi he, said he
put his hand up and you, know earned himself an. Opportunity,
now like you, said you're only going to get two
or three, shots says the other guys are going to
take majority of. It roberts and, ah you hit, those
you stay, in you miss he will go. Elsewhere AND
i believe that's while you're not seeing guys like you,
know Maybe Tyler russ And Dominique. Diamande do you expect
the rotation tomorrow OF i don't want to see everybody
get an, opportunity But kansas is bigger there. Longer do
you expect the guy Like dominique maybe to make its
way if If hadim is not giving it what you
need and it sounds Like alexi might see an opportunity,
tomorrow maybe in that first.
Speaker 2: Half it's really hard to. Say on the road in
The big, twelve that rotation can tighten up real. Fast
it loosens up when there's. Fouls if those first five
stay out of foul, trouble outside of a, break you
want to have them on the. Floor why would you
ever Take Cannard davis out if he's hitting his? Threes
never take two. Fouls you know a j And, rob
you know you got to take him out to give
him a. Break but if you're taking them out to,
protecting to protect them from, fouls then they're staying out
for a little while and then all of a sudden
there's pressure on who replaced. Them the big five will call.
It the starting five have got to play like one
unit and they got to be connected and then they'll
the starting five will win this game tomorrow and with
some enhancements from the. Bench But rob AND aj can't
go nine for, forty not in the big. Twelve and
you go nine for, forty you're gonna lose by three.
Points so so go go ten for thirty, nine or you,
know go ten for. Forty you just you're that. Close
but yet felt so far because they both had off.
Nights but you can't Beat kansas going nine of, forty
and they're probably not gonna go nine of forty because
they're really. Good they just were up against the number
one team with a lot of pressure at, home and
they had off. NIGHTS aj said it best after the,
Game hey what did they do to defend? You or
you know? What and he, SAID i just missed. Shots that's.
IT i miss SHOTS i normally make And i'm going
to make those shots, again which is true when it
doesn't matter how he's being. Defended when he's in the
in the lane and does his turnaround jump shot where
he jumps up to like eight, feet that's a wide
open shot no matter who's garden. Him you just have
to make that shot easier said than done for you and,
me but not for. Him it's what he. Does SO
i think that the nine of forty, nine and you,
know And, Richie richie really needs to have a good,
game but needs to have a good first. Half and
talk about a guy who's been hampered by fouls as of,
late it seems like it's been and that keeps him
from getting into a. Rhythm and he's a, shooter and
a shooter needs, rhythm you. Know and he's gone one for,
seven they'll come back and go three for, six or
he just needs from the three point. Line he needs
to hit early and get into it and get into
the flow and really cause a disruption because then when
they run out to him because he's hit a couple of,
threes he'll blow right past. Him AND i don't know
anyone better at the rim Than Richie. Saunders whether it's
going from behind the basket or in, front it doesn't.
Matter he's got a knack for converting at the. Rim
but his three point shot opens up lanes to the.
Basket and if they're going to let him shoot the,
three as we've seen the last three, years he'll bury
you from out. There so long as he's not for
four or for, five and he's good enough to not
be oh for, four he needs to be that good.
Tomorrow and he's you, know historically played well Against. Kansas
but these are the biggest games and these are by
the biggest. Players they've all got a, FIRE, Aj ritchie And.
Rob neither one can have an off. Night if you
want to beat a big what number fourteen team on
the road in the one thousandth game in the history
Of Vallen Field, house those guys have got to be
firing and then they need some. Support SO i look
For richie's that there's some pressure on him to be
one of the big three tomorrow in this.
Speaker 1: Game, yeah it'd be one of the big free stat
of foul. Trouble can't have The Top king fifteen found
out of. Games it just hurts. You you have to
wonder if he's in the game And rob takes that
Drives bradenbury's. Blitz maybe he still, does BUT i don't
know if you leave the Top king open for a
wide open three in the house To jim Or build
it might have Been ba's, way but that should have
Could we'll get you out of here on this, One,
DAVE i do want a transition. Football god always mentioned
some football in the. Program Micah beckstead is added to
THE byu roster in the running back, room enrolled the
Former Utah state just got off of. Mission what do
you like about this addition to the running Back they
had some health issues last.
Speaker 2: Year, yeah the stowmonum looks. Great you get L. J martin,
back the offensive player of the year in The big.
Twelve moa should be. HEALTHY i thought De mooney showed
some good stuff in the bowl. Game and the kid From,
lehigh he could actually get in there and be a
difference maker with his speed even though he'll be a.
Freshman and then you Add beckstead and and that's. Good
the more the merrier in. There ideally you just have.
Two but they just had to really last year and
they both got, hurt and so you had running backs
in the bowl game and you're, like who's? That what numbers?
That what numbers? That, so, yeah you got to get
your guys, healthy which they're in the process of. Doing
but but adding some support to to the running back
room and and we'll we'll kind of see what they're
going to do at the receiver. Spot everywhere else they're
they're in pretty good shape and in areas where they
needed to, bolster they added that in the, portals so
eager to see. That a lot of the young guys
getting workouts and spring, drills AND i was it was
nice to See bear not limping throwing footballs out at
The Delta center the other. Night so that's a good.
Sign definitely a good. Sign.
Speaker 1: Dave we got to let you, go but before you,
DO i always need to ask you where can we
and all of our listeners have viewers support what you
do and how you do?
Speaker 2: It, well thank. You tomorrow at two O'CLOCK byu And
utah playing women's, basketball And Kristen koslawski AND i will
be on the call ON Espn plus and so the
rivalry games going up almost head to head WITH Byu,
kansas but that is what it, is so we'll be
we'll be working that game in the afternoon At Trent
pratt bya baseball coach to join Us monday on wise,
guys AND i got a piece in The Deseret news
On Delaney gibb and her road back from an injury
that really changed the first three months really two through
two and a half three months of her sophomore, season
and she's a she's a superstar in This big twelve
and still just now kind of getting her groove. Back
she need a big game tomorrow Against. Utah but that's
at death threat Dot. Com and outside of that was
just we're just eager to see what happens. Next and
tomorrow we get to see thirteenth RANK dyu and fourteenth
Rank kansas ON espn and in one of the biggest
games that by you could dream of being, in especially
when to go back just a few years ago when
we're prepping For. Pacific so here we, are, here.
Speaker 1: We, are, Indeed dave, McCann everybody like you, said you
can Catch Trient pratt on the. Wise, guys you can
listen in tomorrow ON espn plus him And chris And
koslowski will be on the call FOR bou women's. BASKETBALL
i know the men's game starts thirty minutes, after but
tune into the women's.
Speaker 2: Game don't do.
Speaker 1: That you want to see Lead kamar six and two
is a player against The. You by the, way if
you don't, know do your, homework read the game. Notes
they help. YOU i promise you they Will dave's already
done that and then check that piece out in The
Desert news With delaney GiB, dave appreciate your. Time we'll
catch up with you.
Speaker 2: Shortly my pleasure to have a great weekend you.
Speaker 1: Too That's dave. Mccannon he does a multitude of, things
AS i, said does it at BAU Tv Desert News. Coast,
wise guys would blame FOL i gotta get Blame. FOULER
i gotta get this counterpart on the show as. Well
we already had him and Be low gotta get. Him two,
guys we gotta go to, break don't go. Anywhere we
still got a lot more to get. To one more
interview before we call it a. Show Sean kellerman gonna
join me next the radio coast of the pregame. Show excuse,
Me Radio coast of the pre and postgame show For
Kansas hoops On Jayhawks. Radio he does a multitude of,
things just as a guy you're gonna want to hear.
From we'll see how long we could push it up
until we need to get out of. Here But sean
is gonna give us all things related To Darren peterson,
preview this matchup that coming up next but but, first
let's listen to A Cougar sports press release from myself
before we get. There you're listening To Cougar sports right.
Here ONE o three nine ninety eight three