Speaker 1: Is Cougar Sports with Ben Kretel At its time for
the Cougar Be getting the dish from the local reporters
that cover Cougar athletics.
Speaker 2: Welcome back with the Marks one of three nine ninety
eight point three ESPN the Fan. I've been ferto broadcasting
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Speaker 3: Let's get out to the hotline. Welcome at Jay Drew
of the Desert News. Jay, how you living doing?
Speaker 4: Fantastic, good day to be alive.
Speaker 3: It's a great day to be alive.
Speaker 2: Attitude of gratitude, love and appreciate that that that mentality
here on our show. Jay, what's been keeping you busy
for the last forty eight hours?
Speaker 3: What have you been writing about?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I've just been writing about the Pop Tarts Bowl
and got an interview with the guy from the Pop
Tarts Bowl, and just so I've been writing a little
bit about that, and and then of course, uh, you
know the kind of the aftermath of the Big twelve
championship game. So uh, those and then I did write
a little preview article of BYU basketball playing in Madison
Square Garden tonight. I'm not there obviously, Jackson Paynes there
for the Desert News. But so those are the main
topics for the last couple of days.
Speaker 3: Let's talk Pop Tart's Bowl.
Speaker 2: First, b YU gets the maybe the consolation prize of
college football head now to Orlando, and BYU fans not
happy that they're on the outside looking in, but it's
a nice consolation prize, and BYU seems pretty excited about it.
Speaker 3: Coli seems excited about it.
Speaker 2: Do you feel like the football team and players are
excited about it collectively? Do you think there could be
some opt outs within the BAU football program.
Speaker 4: Yeah, those are all good questions. We don't know a
lot other than what we heard, you know, Chase Roberts
and Parker Kingston Tanner Wall talk about immediately in the
aftermath of the game Saturday, and they all seem to
think that the locker room was still really well intact,
the culture was still there, and and of course things
could change over course of the next couple of weeks,
but and there may be some opt outs. Don't know,
you know, every every situation is different, every young man
is different. So I really don't know that, and I
don't expect any from listening to Georgia Tech coach Brint
Key kind of what he said as far as commitment
being a pillar of one of their one of the
pillars of their programs. So I hope there's no opt outs.
I think it'll be a really close competitive game if
both teams are intact from what they finished the season with.
So yeah, as far as HOLBA, you've players are treating it.
You know. The sense I get is that, you know,
if you talk to maybe an old guy like me,
I wouldn't want to be spending Christmas away from home
for the holidays. But I think these young guys, you know,
their family really a lot of their family is the
football team, so maybe that's a cool thing. It was
last year in San Antonio for a lot of them.
So I don't think there's a lot of heartburn from
the players about when this game is being played two
days after Christmas. And so from all I know, and
like I said, we haven't sat down with any players
since after the game. I think everybody's all in and
really excited to be playing in Orlando, a really good
weather place on you know.
Speaker 2: On the twenty seventh, Trevor Maddage I think, hopped on
the BA Sports Nation and said that this BA football
team and season is one of the best in BAA
football history and it's the best maybe even since the
nineteen eighty four National Championship season.
Speaker 3: Would you agree or disagree with that?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'd wholeheartedly agree. I you know, they you just
can't discount the fact they're in a power for a
conference right now, even back then in two in nineteen
eighty four, even in the Cotton Bowl year when they
only lost one game, this strength of schedule is more difficult.
That they've just gone through being in a power for
a conference, playing the number four team in the country twice.
So yeah, I would. I would tend to agree with
with Trevor. I think it's it's been very special. It's
even better than last year based on you know, the
quality of their losses and that they went to the
championship game. So yeah, I would buy into that as well.
I think it probably could be the most special season
since eighty four.
Speaker 3: Yeah. I can't wait to see what happens.
Speaker 2: It's a good matchup Georgia Tech, not the matchup BAYU
fans were hoping for. Notre Dame ends up saying we
are the not so fighting We're the quitting Irish when
it comes down to it. The ad has stated look,
and it was the process that we had a problem with.
It was the fact that we were in until we
weren't at the end of it all. And if we
had started off you know, fifteen, sixteen, seventy to eighteenth
or what have you, and we were on the outside
looking in, we would have probably taken a different path.
Speaker 3: But we were fooled.
Speaker 2: We were bamboozled issue, if you will, your thoughts, your
commentary on the Notre Dame situation.
Speaker 4: Yeah, they really did have the rug pulled out from
under them. I mean, what's the point of all these
ranking shows a weekly I know, I like to watch them.
I like to hear all the scuttle butter, the debate
and going back and forth, listening to what the chair
has to say and mocking what he has to say.
I think it's all good entertainment. So I know why
they do all the I'm sure they get good ratings
for ESPN, but I think there that's kind of a
copra is they lead everybody on. In fact, in a
way they basically told BYU, you know, hey, you're not in.
It doesn't matter, you know, if you're competitive in that
Big twelve championship game or not. You got to win
the game basically, or you're not in. I mean, I
think that was the sentiment going in based on everything
we got from those ranking shows. So I think that
process is Notre Dame probably has a beef with as
much as anything else is. They got their hopes up
too high. It's like a kid on Christmas morning who
thinks he's going to get a red wagon. What a
red flyer wagon? You know, I know I wanted one
and never got one, but you know, and then you
get up that day and you get a Hot Wheels
or something, so you know, you just they just got
like you said, bamboozle. They just got their their hopes.
And when you have your hopes crushed, when your dreams
are crushed, that's that's hard to deal with. So I
can I don't agree with them not playing in the
in the Bowl game, but I can understand it. Let's
put it that way.
Speaker 2: Jay Drew Desiret News here on ESPN, The Fan and
a little Cougar Beat brought to you by Bresa Cleaning Services.
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Eight to one three eight zero eight zero eight seven
seventy dollars off your first cleaning Jay. This BYU basketball
team in a good spot heading out to Madison Square.
Got you do a little preview of this game. I'm
sure you were on the zoom call with Ky thoughts commentary.
How do you see this game playing out tonight?
Speaker 4: Yeah? You know, I you know, you look at it
on paper. B Why you should win this game? They're
a more talented team than then Clemson. Clemson is has
a lot of balance, but no real superstars like BYU's
got arguably three superstars rob Rye, Aj Debontsa and Richie Saunders. Obviously,
Cannard Davis is also a very very good player, and
kebatatas we saw the other nights against col Baptist, is
an outstanding player. So by you should win this game.
You know, you just wonder if the bright lights of
Madison Square Garden will get to them. I don't think
they will. I think they when they played in Vegas
last month they kind of got that maybe out of
their system, and so I expect them to play well.
They've been playing well lately. There's a nagging a little
question about the backup point guard and who will play that,
And you know there are some issues. Let's not kid
you kid ourselves and say this is a perfect team yet.
But they're on the right trajectory and and you know,
I think everything's on course. You know, of course, maybe
three point shots don't fall or other things. I mean,
upsets do happen, but on paper, I think by you
should be able to take care of Clemson tonight.
Speaker 2: Yeah, let's hope. So they're on a nice run right now.
And their only losses to Yukon, and they were a
little bit they were a little bit shorthanded right in that.
Speaker 3: In that Yukon game.
Speaker 2: So BYU basketball is in a good spot. BYU football
in a good spot. They're donors, right, the corporate sponsors.
They're booing up BYU athletics in a way that's never
been seen before. And so the outlook of BA athletics
seems to be very optimistic. You have Elder Holland, Elder Oaks,
ras Ben, Elder benn Or, they're showing up to the games,
they're showing up to the events. Well, give me your
perspective on everything that's occurring down there in Provo and
the investment that is being made by the.
Speaker 3: The the I mean, it's not from the church.
Speaker 2: It's not from b YU as an institution, but they're
supporting the donors as they they go through this process.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I kind of touched on this a lot last
week when Klanney had the news conference to announce the extension.
Is that everybody's all in, you know, from the boosters
to the administration, you're assuming the Board of trustees, although
you know they they kind of have to rubber stamp
all this stuff. I know, I know they're not spending
tithing dollars. I'm not suggesting that, but everybody seems to
be all in on on boosting BYU athletics too, and
you know, to as high as it can go. And
and basically that's the resources are going to be there now.
I guess you know, you just don't want anybody to
get complacent. Colonie said he certainly won't h that he'll
redouble his efforts and so you know, moving forward, they
can't take anything for granted. Just because you get you know,
top dollar you're getting, maybe you have the money to
spend on guys like Texas Tech did, that doesn't still
guarantee success. You still have to put the chemistry together
and do all those other things. But yeah, right now,
you know, it's been said many times, it's a great
time to be a BYU fan because the major sports,
the marquee sports, the sports that pay the bills are
certainly in top ten, top fifteen in the nation. You
can't really ask for much more.
Speaker 2: Jay is the active nature of and the aggressive nature
of BYU Athletics and its donors. The reason why UTAH
is aggressively pursuing private equity through OTRO, the private equity
firm and receiving a sizable sum to stay competitive, stay
relevant here in the modern era. Give me your thoughts
on the recent news coming out of Salt Lake City.
Speaker 4: Yeah, my first blush would have thought, yeah, that's kind
of a reaction. You know, maybe not. I haven't read
up a lot on this. How much How long was
it in the works? How long has these a discussion
has been taking place? But obviously, you know, by you
would do the same thing. You can't expect your chief
rival to sit back and just you know, take the
body blows what's going on down south and not react
to it. Is this a direct reaction to that? Is
it a reaction to what's going on at Texas Tech?
I mean, we may never know, but it certainly they
certainly seem to be related. And like I just said,
if you know the University of Utah was doing some
innovative and creative fundraising, booster getting boosters, more involved, whatever,
you know, you would as a BYU fan, you would
expect them to do the same thing. So, uh, you know,
right now, I would say, all good, And uh you know,
it's certainly throughout college sports it's an arms race, and
and everybody wants a piece of it, including you know,
teams that have tasted that success in the past that
you know they're boss and their alumni are going to
want more of that in the future.
Speaker 2: Doesn't the state legislature have to approve something like this?
I know we're kind of in the initial foray into this,
but I thought the state legislator has to approve any
sort of action like this is as University of Utah
is a state run institution.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I don't know how it all works together. Obviously,
Universy of Utah has a board of trustees and they
said today that they have approved it. I don't know
if they ran that by the state legislature first or not.
From a couple of tweets I've seen out there, maybe not.
There have been some legislators Dan. I think Dan McKay
was one of them. Not sure what area he represents,
but he said something about that on social media. So
I don't know. I'm just not an expert in that field,
but it would seem like they would have some people
in the know that would have greenlighted this or at
least gave, you know, preliminary approval for it to get
this far.
Speaker 3: Jay Drew des Red News A little Cougar Beat brought
to you by Bresa Cleaning Services.
Speaker 2: Bresa makes it a breeze to keep your house clean, Jay,
this modern era of athletics, I've always said that BYU
has one more per dollar spent than any athletics apartment,
any football program in the country. From nineteen seventy two
to present day, I was chatting with Val Hell and
Val told me in two thousand Lavelle was making only
two hundred thousand dollars a year, which, you know, hey,
that's a decent sub but respective comparatively to the market,
it was well below market value. Would you agree with
that assessment that bya football is one more with less
dollars spent up to this point in its college football
college athletics foray here.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I can't think of another institution off the top
of my head. Of course, we're close here, you know,
we've got that proximity bias, but so yeah, I mean
it is commendable what they've done. They've touched a butt
punched above their weight class for a long time. You know,
you look at the measurables. I guess you would look
at the Director's Cuplirfield Sports Director's Cup. I think it's
what they call it, where Byus finished in relation to
other power for schools, and even when they weren't power
for how high they would finish. There are other measurables
as well. But yeah, I can't think of another one.
In basketball, I would. I always think of Saint Mary's.
I always kind of wonder if you've ever been to
Maraga and just seen their facility and that's developed into
a national basketball program. I'm in the top twenty five
often and contending for conference championships, and what they've done
has certainly been commendable too. But on a whole scale,
total athletics department, I would say BYU's probably better than
most and maybe right near the top. It's not the
top as far as getting the most bang out of
their buck.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with you there. It's kind of been
my feeling and assessment. So with that being said, Look,
I had a conversation with my dad about this, Like
the perception is, and I don't know if you have
to deal with this, the perception is that BYU and
the Church are funding the Boa Athletic Department. Like, and
I'm like, you know, when they see the new deal, right,
the new deal of Kilani and the REV share from
TV money and nil, you know, ten to fifty million,
nil then REV share and Kilanie's making nine and a
half million, they all think that the Church of the
Descritional Letter Saints are funding this. Do you have those
questions still to this day, even though you've probably tried
to clear them up in articles?
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, for sure. It's just it's just always out there.
You know, the LDS Church is wealthy and all that,
and they don't People just don't understand that the athletic
department is is self you know, what's the word, yeah,
self sustaining exactly. So yeah, I get that once in
a while, probably from out of other beat writers that
I rubbed shoulders with as I'm out on the road
traveling and talking to them or about BYU, or when
I do the behind behind the enemy lines type stuff
with with people. Uh yeah, that's a common misconception that
I always try to clear up. But it does spring
up now and then quite often. It's pretty amazing. And uh,
you know, I know that b YU has made a
push publicly Kevin Shane Reeves and and Keith FOURTEENK and
others of trying to dispel that, and even Clark Gilbert
a lot on social media, but that that certainly that
perception still does exist. That's there's no question about it.
Speaker 3: Jay Drew des red News, Jay, what else you got
cooking for? What else you're gonna be publishing here?
Speaker 2: Surely at the Dezerdnews dot com.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm kind of working on a regular season wrap
up piece of football, just kind of naming my you know,
MVP offensive defense of just kind of a what we
call a water cooler story where you know, just throw
out my ideas from who I think had great seasons,
who overperformed all that, and then let people kind of
weigh in on who they think we're the you know,
like Offensive Player of the Year for BYU and stuff
like that. Just kind of a regular season wrap up
as we kind of have this low between now and
the Bowl game.
Speaker 2: J Drew, Ladies and gentlemen, make your funnel on x
and reading all his content at the des Red News
Dezradnews dot com. Thanks so much, Jay, appreciate your time today.
Speaker 4: Okay, thank you for having me on.
Speaker 2: I'm always appreciated, yep, always appreciate our time together.
Speaker 3: Jdrew of the des Red News.
Speaker 2: Guys, the season to be giving, Jay expressed his gratitude,
uh as he hopped onto our show. We gotta express
our gratitude to those that are in most need, an
attitude of gratitude during the holiday season. That's what it's
all about. Uh tis the season to be given. So
let's give back to those that are in most need.
At the Road Home the road home dot Org. They
are combining forces with the Rocky Mountain Chevy dealers and
we're inviting you this holiday season to donate much needed blankets,
coach shoes, hats, gloves, nonperishable food items, hygiene items to
any one of your Rocky Mountain Chevy dealerships.
Speaker 3: Visit Espnfan dot com.
Speaker 2: To see all the dealership locations, spread the warmth, spread
the year, help others find their way home at the
road home dot org.
Speaker 3: Let's take a brief time out. We'll be back. Well.
Speaker 2: Welcome in Jared Bledsoe, former BAU wide receiver, to discuss
what's cooking with the cougars. This is Cougar Sports on one
of three nine nine eight point three.
Speaker 3: Yes, we'll come back.
Speaker 1: This so marches right around the corner and the Cougars
are in the metal level. It's time to talk some
college basketball on Cougar Sports with Ben Griffin.
Speaker 2: Well, welcome back, Rick, Your smart's one of three nine
ninety eight points th reees Men the fan, I've bet
trinal broadcasting from Mark Vanderwealth Studios banterwellth dot com. Get
on a pree Q and a noble obligation to invest
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answer stigutability calling today.
Speaker 3: Set up an appointment.
Speaker 2: Check out that tax smart Wealth playbook today at Bantererwealthbatterwealth
dot comed. He's time for Little college basketball segment. We're
gonna welcome in Jonathan Tabnari's You Live from Madison Square
Guard and get a break down this BYU Clemson matchup
b YU a five and a half point favorite, and
we hope the Kougs, who are our top ten team
in the country, can knock off a top twenty five
team in the country Clemson Tigers. Right now, I think
the Clemson Tigers have two losses BA only one loss,
and we're gonna break it down for you here on
your Utah ESPN Radio Network. It's gonna be brought to
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Men's where Odeon Men'swear dot com. By the way, there
at Madison Square Garden, the who's who of BYU gonna
be arriving here. Momentarily I heard yeg Or Demon Gilman.
Excuse me, Yegor Gilman is in the house looking to
rep the why the right way. He's got his leather
men's jacket looking all nice and pretty, not too far
away playing for Brooklyn where Brooklyn at Yegor showing up
to support the Kougs. He's one of the stories of
BYU basketball that I think has the Board of Trustees
and the Brethren supporting BYU athletics in the modern era.
Ronald the three Man, you were there at the farewell
press conference of Jegorg Gentleman. I was, and I think
you asked him a specific question about his experience at BYU,
why he came to BYU, what made it so special,
and how faith played a role in all of it.
Speaker 5: Yeah.
Speaker 6: I was told from a specific source that the boys
up here nor if the brother and they liked that question. Look, guys,
I mean, look, we were talking about basketball being the
whole time much is great, right, I don't want to
take that away. He did some amazing thing. He was
a lottery pick. But when you see a kid who's
from Moscow, Russia, from a different part of the world
at general conference dating a member of the church and
they any give him a quarter for what I know still,
you know, in a long distance relationship, I'm like, this
question has to be asked, Like we have to ask
what his experience has been like, right, And he commented
on it. He said, you know, at Byu, it's bigger
than you know yourself, my faith in Christ, and you
know I've grown as a person here lily bearing his
own testimony, the Yego Joeman version of Byu, and that's
stuck out. And I think that is the reason of
why a lot of people want to be here. You know,
on and off the court, there's multitudes of non members here.
I look, Fu Sine Treore was another person right, reports
that you know he's gonna get baptized, right, you know
in France like that, that's the type of people that
are in this culture, that are a part of it,
Like the Bachmeier brothers. Right, we had them on the show, Ben,
did they not say that we are BYU, like we
are the culture, Like these are individuals around the world
that come to b A you not just to play
at a high level, but also you know, grow their
faith and grow their testimony and be with people of
different faiths than people of the same faith, you know.
Speaker 3: And it's been open and Yegor.
Speaker 6: Is a positive experience. He's he's been one of the
faces been I think during the time and be even
more post right, I think we've heard more commentary about
Yegor and his time at BYU since he's left BYU,
right with Legion of Hoops put it out there. Yeah,
New York is different than BYU. You know, people don't
want to drink or party like that was a struggle
for him, right, I think he struggled a couple of weeks,
maybe mentally figuring it out. But now he's been thriving
with Brooklyn and planning a lot more. I know fans
didn't like that draft pick at first, but I think
fans have started to come around to Yegor. And yeah,
he's at Madison store Garden and rightfully so, he was
there for the draft. So tip to Yegor. Been great
individual that you able to get into your program. You
only had him for a year, but I don't think
you have to be here long to make an impact
on people.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2: I think that's one of the reasons why the rubber
stamp of approval from the Board of Trustees has.
Speaker 3: Been you know, it's been so willing to be given right.
You see.
Speaker 2: Also recently the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Brigham
Young University being celebrated in Elder Oaks. President Oaks profits
here in Revelador Oaks at the Church'suschristion letter say said
Elder Holland, both having been former president to bring him
Young University outwardly openly declaring their love and appreciation not
only for BYU as an institution academically, spiritually, morally, but
also athletically. We went into it. We gave you some
of those sound bites. Maybe I can pull them up
again for all of you guys, Cougar fans and Cougar country.
And so they know and that they love BYU's institution,
and then they see what's happening in athletics and that
BA Athletics is doing it the right way, and they're
willing and ready to support it. They are more than
willing to say, Look, do you guys get to play
in your sandbox and do what you do. As long
as you're doing it in the right way, then we'll
continue to support you in all things.
Speaker 3: So I love it.
Speaker 2: I think it's tremendous and I love seeing Yegor showing
up and supporting his former BYU basketball teammates as they ball.
Speaker 3: Out and do great things.
Speaker 2: Now, Richie Saunders, Okay, Richie rich the Todd King. What
do we expect from the Tator Todd King versus the
Clemson Tigers. We're pretty close to tip off, are we not?
Speaker 3: Yeah?
Speaker 6: I think they're about the tip off of what I'm
looking at. I got the game pulled up here been
we are close to tip off about to happen, yes, sir.
Speaker 2: So obviously, Ajda Bonsa has been the headliner I think
for a lot of the propaganda out there in the
sports media world, and with two reason.
Speaker 3: I mean.
Speaker 2: Ajda Bonsas is second in Jeff Borzello's and Mior Medcalf's
most recent Freshman of the Year contenders.
Speaker 3: His previous rank was number one.
Speaker 2: These things gets mixed up all the time, but biggest
performance so far he had a twenty five point six
rebound two steel game versus Yukon in Boston on November fifteenth,
So under the brightest lights, he's balled out. While the
highlight worthy dunks have helped a Bonsa go viral, his
defensive impact deserves equal attention BYU is a top twenty
five team and adjusted defensive efficiency and when Debonsa and
Canard Davis Junior are on the floor together, watch out.
Opposing teams have registered just eighty three point four point
per possession that I think just eighty three point four
points for possession against the Cougars.
Speaker 3: Players who are who.
Speaker 2: Have tried to take jump shots over the Bots are
just five for twenty eight percentergy Sports data. His versatility
has altered BYU's makeup on both sides of the ball.
That is Myron medcalt breakdown of AJ. But Richie rich
has also been tre medicine. He's taking the torch. Is
this Richie's team, Ronnie or is this a J's team?
Speaker 3: Gosh, dart it.
Speaker 6: Look, that's a very tough question. That's the question of
the day that everybody wants to say. But I'm gonna
let the fans speak for themselves, right, I go to
the games for you, did I not put out on
your platform there's a kid dressed like Richie Saunders with
the head Ben Richie with the jersey, right, But I
also see Aja jersey as well as he had beans.
But I think if I had to pick Ben, if
you had to, you know, answer the question flat out,
Richie's gonna get the national age, is gonna get the
national attention. Excuse me, because he's the number one overall recruit,
projected number one draft pick.
Speaker 3: He is.
Speaker 6: But when you ask whose team it is who averages
more point, I think it's the top King, right, who
won MVP, you know at the Terry Chocolate Invitational, the
top King. Look, Richie is in the best position possible
as one of the best stars. And I don't want
to say co stars with A J and Robb because
I think they all the superstars in themselves. But he's
benefiting at the best point in my opinion, as one
of the Big three because AJ and Rob demands so
much attention that Richie can just play and shoot as
many threes as he would like. He's already made twenty
three on the season. Ben has made seventy five last year. Look,
I think it's Richie's team right now. I think you
have to scout AJ and Rob. But if you leave
the three point line open, number fifteen bears you. So
I still think it's Richie Saunders team. I still think
he's a leader as one of the captains, even though
AJ is getting a lot of the spotlight.
Speaker 2: The top king ladies from gentlemen. Hopefully he goes off
tonight for the BA Krugers. But if you missed it,
let me just take a brief time out from basketball
talk and discuss what happened up on the hill.
Speaker 3: The University of Utah signed a.
Speaker 2: College sports first private equity deal, So if you missed
it here, University of Utah Border trustees unanimously approved a
measure Tuesday to create a for profit company in partnership
with New York based equity firm Otro Capital that could
help infuse more than five hundred million dollars to the
athletics department.
Speaker 3: According to Josh.
Speaker 2: Furlong OFKSL dot Com, the first of its kind d
first of its kind deal creates a new for profit
company called Utah Brands and Entertainment LLC that will operate
as part of the university structure, but be outside of
the athletic department. Utah will maintain majority ownership of the
company and full control while being in partnership with Otro Capital,
who will be a minority owner and the source for
immediate infusion of cash into the department. Ultra Capital will
receive a percentage of the annual revenue for the Utah
Brands and Entertainment LLC that will be split with the university,
with a goal to exit the partnership in the next
five to seven years. Yahoo Sports, Rossdalger notes Utah Brands
and Entertainment will house most of the components traditionally held
within the university's athletic department through fundraising will no fundraising
will remain with the school. The new company's primary goals
to generate more revenue across an assortment of areas, including ticketing, concessions,
corporate sales, and sponsorships. The move isn't completely foreign to
college sports, as a host of schools Kentucky, Michigan State, Clemson,
Texas Tech, and SMU have announced the creation of a
private revenue generating entity outside of the athletic department. However,
none of those schools have partnered with Inequity firm.
Speaker 3: Let's transition back to hoopstock.
Speaker 2: We got Jonathan Tabinari, the Brazilian bomber, live from Madison
Square Garden to talks BYU Hoops JT.
Speaker 3: How that heck are you buddy?
Speaker 5: And again started and AJ with Keike Painters. So I
couldn't be better right now?
Speaker 2: Hey, uh, you know, how how good is this b
YU basketball team right now? Are you feeling good about
where they're trending? Their chemistry? I think everyone's always want
to hate. How's the chemistry, How's the cohesion? How's the
continuity within the players?
Speaker 5: You know, the season they've had so far in the
nonconference schedule has been tremended. You've seen all the players evolved.
Obviously a couple of injuries that you weren't expecting, but
you know, we knew that this was going to be
the Robbert right you know, the r W TH and
AJ and Reach the show and uh, you know, and
now you're hoping that some of the other supporting casts
will be able to step up. You know, you're hoping
that Alexei you will be able to get going as
the backup point guards. You're hoping that Tyler, russ And
and Mohilo are able to knock down shots and uh,
you know, and then obviously I'm super happy with how
you know, Kadeem has come in and done an incredible job.
You know he sat with playing the four and a
five and uh, but again you need more and you
know Skimfordgadnick Fiomande who also has been incredible. And so
it's a great team that they're improving and this game
here against Thompson is the last game and that they
actually have a real talent before they play about four
bunnies you know, to finish out the season in the
year or to finish out go on comperence schedule. So
that's you know, the players to take their finals. But
you know, so far is a really good game here
five three physical Uh Jake y Ring former Tinview guy. Uh,
you know playing Fort Clemson right now and uh, good
game so far, you know, my first time in the
garden then, so.
Speaker 3: Love that man. Yeah.
Speaker 2: The starters for by your rod right the third, Richie Saunders,
Kenard Davis Junior, Easier to buoncer Kebakeda on Clemson inside,
Justin Porter, Dylan Hunter, Jake Wallen, Nick Davidson and then
Carter Wellney. You got to b YU or excuse me,
you got two Utah based uh prospect say Recorder Welling
and Jake Walleen and then I think Nick Davids instead
also played basketball at By.
Speaker 3: A lot of b A your connections.
Speaker 2: There are a lot of Utah connection with Jake Walleen
being a former BO you commit.
Speaker 5: Yeah, And you know I was really bummed when Jake
decided to go to decided to go to Utah, you know,
with the prospects of r you had, you know, even
going back to Burby cause allows incredible, incredible players and uh,
you know there's different fast success now and Jake looking
at here right now, looks big, looks strong. Uh you
know a j's playing another jump over him and uh,
but phenomenal game. I think this v RU team, you
know it is boys. My expectation for this game, ben
if very much. You know, are they going to be
able to be the team by twenty you know or
thirty because like he did against Wisconsin, I don't know
it would be difficult to sell. But uh, that's the
type of performance that I expect from by here was
you know, right before the repubs the non conferdence part
of the season.
Speaker 2: With Dawson Baker suffering an a cl tear, obviously Pickens
is out for the season. Uh, who who gets those minutes?
What will the rotation look like now with Dawson out
of the lineup.
Speaker 5: Oh? I think that the rotation gets tightened up with
you know, probably Xavion being the one to get your
little of the last playing time, with Mahilo Dominich and
being an Alexe getting most of the minutes. Right, they
beginning to see that Mihilo was getting them and then
condium Ante stepped up. But it'll be interesting to seem
because this team doesn't soonly have a snipers, right, someone
that is a gets a prolific catching shoot guy. I
s out for Richie. Uh, you know that that's just
a starter. But from the bench, they don't have a
you know, someone like seven Network last year, and so
just based on that or being just going to see
who steps up.
Speaker 2: Jonathan Tabinari talking to some BYU Basketball here on your
UTAI ESPN radio network. He's live from Madison Square at
Garden as the b au Cougar is taking on the
Clemson Tigers. Uh, do you feel like this is gonna
be another blowout. It sounds like you're eluding to it
similar to Wisconsin, who was you know, a top twenty
five team as well.
Speaker 5: To my expectation is that you know, b y U
games and wins well, right, you know, and uh, you know,
aside from from aside from ukon, b YU hasn't really
been challenge and even in that game, they were able
to come back and almost win the game. And so
I think that's the expectations for this turning playing against
caliber now person's very athletic, very long and so you know,
decided to see when there's game the game fans out
to be.
Speaker 2: Jonathan Tabinari live from Medison Square guard and Jonathan last
thing before we let you go, uh this uh, this
b YU basketball team. This is their their last non
conference games, you know, leading up to in conference games.
Speaker 3: Do you think they've they've been prepared.
Speaker 2: Through the non conference in order to battle with arguably
the best. I mean, it is the best college basketball
uh conference in the country. You look at their records
versus the SEC, the Big Ten, everybody else. They have
been dominant versus everybody else in the college basketball world.
Speaker 5: Yeah, you know, all other teams we have to hear
about the USCC in football, the UYU gets told probably
say God about a Big twelve and basketball, and you know,
the YU happens to be you know, not do want
to be premier seams in the Big twelve. And so
as the season goes on, the team is only going
to get better, The high is only going to get bigger,
you know, And focusing on aj for a minute, it
is crazy to think that the more goes on, the
hype gets bigger and he's still and he still delivers,
right and so you know, definitely by a mile, the
greatest basketball season in program here story the most high
to one for sure, and rightfully.
Speaker 2: So is DeMarcus Harrison in attendance. By chance, now that
I see it, DeMarcus Harrison, I think, is the only
I don't know, I is he the only guy that
played for BYU basketball and Clemson in his career?
Speaker 5: Now, I don't know. I know, I know the market
didn't go to go to Clemson, but I don't see
him here right now. So I do see. I see
I see Yagor, I see President Gen Dave Road, and
then I see my boss. My boss was Bob David Tlana,
but I do not see James Bolin, all right.
Speaker 2: I was just I was just seeing if you know,
who's the who's who out there at the ed Madison
Square Garden. So JT always appreciate her time and enjoy
the game. Man, we'll catch up with you later.
Speaker 5: I appreciate it. And you know it's all of the
ESPN fans always on forever team.
Speaker 3: They go, that's Jonathan devin Are. Yeah.
Speaker 2: The Big twelve is thirty eight and twenty one against
other power conferences right now in this basketball season, they're
fourteen to two against the SEC eleven and seven versus
the ACC Big Ten is seven and six, Big East
six and six. I may put out real quick a
photo of DeMarcus Harrison.
Speaker 3: Who is this?
Speaker 2: And why am I asking it? Cougarnation, Uh hit me
up on Twitter. Who is the only UH basketball player
to have played for both BYU and the Clemson Tires.
Speaker 3: Did you know that little little trivia of the day.
Speaker 6: I did not been though I didn't.
Speaker 2: DeMarcus Harrison, man, Yeah, that was an interesting situation. Man,
Like DeMarcus had decided. I think he was gonna serve
a mission after his freshman season bawled out.
Speaker 3: He had a great year.
Speaker 2: He pull up his stat line I think in the
tournament just was trending in the right direction. And then
decide he I'm gonna I'm gonna go supermission, but then
decided not to submission, and by you had already kind
of filled their roster spots, and so DeMarcus found his
way to Clemson. It was the transfer portal before the
transfer portal kind of thing, and because he wasn't a
graduate transfer anyway. Any that that's your your Staturday. But yeah,
you gotta look up DeMarcus Harrison for those that know.
Speaker 3: He was a great player.
Speaker 2: I don't know what his uh his overall stat lines were.
I think he was a contributing player, no doubt. I
don't know if he was a starting lineup guy, and.
Speaker 3: I think he played.
Speaker 2: He played well for the Clemson Tigers for multiple year
six point one points per game, two point four rebounds,
one assist, thirty seven percent from the field played in uh,
you know, from two thousand and twelve to twenty fifteen.
He actually, yeah, he started thirty one games played that
first year, thirty six games the following year, then thirty
one after that.
Speaker 3: Started in fourteen, twenty two, and twenty one.
Speaker 2: So overall, I think he had fifty seven starts for
the Clemson Tigers averaged on his career with Clemson over
twenty minutes per game too, So uh, great player. Great
players final year with Clemson average seven point nine points
per game.
Speaker 3: So it would have been nice.
Speaker 2: It would have been nice to have the Marcus Harrison
as a BYU Cougar. All right, that's our segment. Guys,
appreciate you guys tuning in, chiming in wherever you've been
tuning in, tuning in and chiming infrom BYU basketball currently
up in this BYU Clemson matchup, and hopefully they get
another convincing victory there. It's nine to seven currently with
about fifteen minutes left in the first half. Let's go
to break, We'll come back. More Cougar sports commentary here
on your Utah ESPN Radio network one O three to nine.
Oh and by the way, hey, let me just reiterate,
tune in every day a twenty am for your chance
to win a four pack of tickets to an advanced
screening of Avatar Fire and Ash at the Jordan Comments
Megaplex on Tuesday, the sixteenth.
Speaker 3: That's right.
Speaker 2: Tune in a twenty am for your chance to win
a four pack of tickets to advanced screening of Avatar
Fire and Ash here on ESPN the Fan at the
Jordan Commons Megaplex. That's Tuesday, December sixteenth. Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 3: This is Cougar Sports one to three, nine ninety eight
point three.
Speaker 1: You are listening to Cougar Sports with Ben Kretl and
it's time for a Cougar Insider report. Now, let's get
that proprietary inside scoop on Cougar Sports from Credle.
Speaker 3: Welcome back er Sports one of three, nine ninety eight
point three, ESBN the Fan. I've been twital broadcasting.
Speaker 2: From our Vanderwealth Studios Bantererwealth dot com. Get on a
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our tax More Wealth Advisors certify financial planners. Nobody does
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Wealth playbook from Vanderwalth today.
Speaker 3: It is top for a little insider report.
Speaker 2: Going to get some updates on Brett your Mark's thoughts
on how the Ady of Notre Dame in Beverquah has
personally attacked the ACC and even the conference Commissioner of
the ACC. This segment gonna be brought to you by
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Utah orthorprosoutah dot com. All right, so check this out,
ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. This is a report
coming from Ross Dellinger And I don't know if what
press conference this was was at. Honestly, any insight there
Where's this coming from Ronald the three man weave r.
Speaker 3: I know Ross, I'm not trying to find looking for videos.
Speaker 6: Is just just hit the internet about eight minutes ago.
Speaker 2: Big twelve commission Pretty York says he's confident that schools
will sign a modified CSC participation agreement. There will be
adjustments and it won't happen overnight. That is, you know,
the most recent thing that he's dropped.
Speaker 3: But check this out.
Speaker 2: He also commented on Notre Dame and eighty Pete Beverquah's commentary.
Big twelve Minute Commissioner Bretty or Mark is very critical
of Notre Dame's ad Pete Beverquah's comments.
Speaker 3: I don't like it.
Speaker 2: His behavior has been egregious. It's egregious going after Jim Phillips,
the ACC Commissioner.
Speaker 3: Or Mark says.
Speaker 2: The College Football Playoffs selection Committee got the rankings right.
Even though he's not necessarily pleased that BYU was left
out of the field, he sounds understanding of it to
a degree that's interesting, you know, like look and I
did too. I'm I understand why they did it. Do
I think it's fair? Am I gonna piss and moan
and be a little female canine about it like Notre Dame?
Speaker 5: No?
Speaker 2: But that being said, I've empathy, have sympathy for the
situation that Notre Dame's in.
Speaker 3: They were in from the beginning.
Speaker 2: It seemed well, at least through midseason, right they started
winning and winning a high level, and they.
Speaker 3: Were in like Flynn.
Speaker 2: Then all of a sudden, you know, the the Alabama
resume became better than theirs, BYU's resume became worse than Miami's,
and Miami moved up, and then you had to head
to head. It was all strategic and it seems unfair.
It seems like there were some some maybe subterfusion type
of deals in the back rooms, if you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3: So it is what it is.
Speaker 2: You have to take it all in and decide, Okay,
how are you going to navigate this adversity?
Speaker 3: And Notre Dame decided to take their ball and go home.
Speaker 2: The fighting Irish says, we are the quitting Irish.
Speaker 3: Look.
Speaker 2: Alabama played in a bowl game last year. Miami played
in a bowl game last year. Okay, the college football
caball and cartel has screwed over other teams. How about
Florida State a few years ago. They lose their quarterback
and then they they aren't deemed as worthy even though
their resume says otherwise. Ole Miss didn't get punished. Why
because they're in SEC school. They're head coaching. Their entire
offensive staff left. Yeah, they're OC's coming back to coaching.
But it's not the same. It's not the same. That
is ESPN SEC bias. We worked for ESPN. It is
what it is. Money makes the world go round, and
it's five teams from the SEC getting into this playoff,
and the SEC is now strategically wanting to you know,
they're they're they're going to nine conference games.
Speaker 3: They want the.
Speaker 2: Ability to just have their strength of schedule built off
of fifty years, forty years, whatever it is, of equity, cashet,
built up of wins and championships through I would say
clandestine bag men type of means, meaning they used the
filthy lucre to build up their program to buy players
through back doors, As Ed Orgeron stated earlier, today with
Busted with the Boys if you missed that, and or
coach Edo from LSU won a national championship, admitted that
the bag men, the former nil bag men right now
now they come through the front door, then the back door.
That's the only thing that's changed. That's the only thing
that he would have to adapt to. He just welcomes
them into the front door rather than the back door.
It's been happening forever. So you're taking that equity that
was built through cheating and you're booing up the sec
once again. And it's unfortunate that ESPN has to do it,
or is you know, purposely doing it. It's sad but true.
That's your insider Report. Brett Yormark said on stage at
the IAF that he thinks the CFP got it right.
I was was I happy about by you know, but
I think overall they did the right job. Listen, it's
progress over perfection. He also called out Notre Dame Adp Beverqua.
I think his behavior has been egregious. That's the latest
here on your Utah ESPN Radio Network. Your insider Report
brought to you by Orthropros of Utah Orthorprosofutah dot com.
If you're looking for medical devices durable medical equipment that
can agent support you to maintain motion, limit pain, increased
function college today we can fill out your insurance or
you can utilize an HSA FSA card. Next thing up,
this is what I want to talk about him Hu Mouoni,
former BYU running back. Okay, we all respect him. He
was a baller, a great football player. He took to
LinkedIn and stated that he wants to see maybe a
little bit of change on the offensive side of the
ball with coaching. Now, he's not saying he wants to
get rid of Aaron Roderick. BYU was a top twenty
five team offensively this season per sp plus. What he's
saying is he wants some sort of an equivalency of
staffing with a senior analyst alongside Aaron Roderick to maybe
fill in the gaps, similar to akin to what Jay
Hill has with Gary Anderson. We'll discuss next with a
former BYU wide receiver, Jared Bledsoe here on your UTI
ESPN Radio network.
Speaker 3: One of three nine ninet eight point three