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Speaker 4: Let's let's get right into it.
Speaker 3: Let's fire up the me in the fans starting lineup,
and I can introduce you to my coast and the
rest of the star. Set of Casualting was thro this Wednesday,
March eleventh edition of Cougar Sports.
Speaker 4: First and foremost, let's spoke.
Speaker 3: In the point Guard the architect of the show Behind
the Glass in Salt Lake City, we got Ronald with
the three man.
Speaker 5: We was up.
Speaker 2: Ronnie Well, Rob Right and I might be one and
the same. Ben. We both had to go see the dentist.
Speaker 6: But fortunately for me, my tooth wasn't in the back
of my mouth.
Speaker 2: But I did get some work done.
Speaker 6: And shout out to one of the sponsors, Dentel Pros
of Utah. They got me smiling as good as ever.
Speaker 3: Boom shaka Laca, that beautiful smile.
Speaker 4: We can't see it right.
Speaker 3: We all have faces for radio here at ESPN the Fan,
but we keep those smiles Christine and Crystal clear, and
that's what we do. We go over to Dental pros
of Utes how to get all of our dental care done.
Shout out to Dental Prose of Utah in American four
and you mentioned Rob Right the third Ronnie. I'm wondering
if we're buying or selling the rhetoric that Rob Right
could be running in a back at b YU. He's
easier going pros or he's coming back to pro Phoe
Capitol pro lowercase vo. Liz welcome into the show as well,
Color Analyst, The Ultimate insider for all things in Cougarnation.
We got Brett always bringing the hammer hammer time show
was up. Bro, That's my bad, that's my bad.
Speaker 4: I got you.
Speaker 5: Yesterday had to be the craziest day in sports that
had no business being that crazy. Between Team USA losing
to the Italians and almost maybe getting knocked out of
the World Baseball Classic because the manager doesn't know the rules,
between bam Adebio going off for eighty three, between Max
Crosby's draft or his trade not going through for two
first round picks, and then oh yeah, on top of that,
I think if none of those things happened, I think
AJ may have been the biggest story in sports yesterday. Unfortunately,
a random Tuesday had too many great stories, but none
too big for us to discus how well bore you
played against k State and how well they're gonna play
against West Virginia today.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's interesting because with his elite performance offensively, I
begin to wonder, like, can AJ do something that could
eclipse Jimmermania during the NCAA two up to this point,
right in leading up to the season. Okay, you're talking
about these uh these you know, these precipices of BYU
basketball history that we've experienced to a degree in the
in the modern era. We were debating prior to AJ's
venture to provo, before the inception of the ag de
Bonza year, whether or not it would eclipse that of Jimmermania,
and up to this point it hasn't.
Speaker 4: And I don't even know if it's even close. Right.
Speaker 3: It's been good, it's been great in many ways, but
I don't think it's even held the candle to Jim
or many and everything that was a crew occurring and
brewing around Brigham at that time.
Speaker 4: You know Naty Smith Award conversation.
Speaker 3: Obviously he was Player of the Year for the Mountain
West b YU was was winning a lot of ball games,
and granted they were in a different conference. The strength
to schedule maybe doesn't hold the candle to what the
Big twelvees this season, but it hasn't lived up maybe
to that height. But you know what could happen in
the NCAA tournament. AJ could very well go off and
eclipse maybe what what BYU has in that era, in
that in that particular season, what by was able to accomplish.
And it made me think, also AJ went off for
a you know, for you know, forty plus points in
this game.
Speaker 4: What a remarkable game it was.
Speaker 3: Could he possibly go off in a game and eclipse
the single game best scoring volume in BA basketball history,
which is idly fifty two points. AJ is more than
capable to get there. Right, could it happen in the
big place? It's more likely it happened to the Big
twelve Tournament than maybe the NCAA tournament. But you never
know in a first round game versus a lesser opponent,
a lower seed. Right, could it happen? Would that give
a little bit more juice to this season? Obviously how
far you go is big, But the virility of Jim
er Manie is what I'm talking about. The eyes on
AJ and BYU and everybody chiming in, everybody wondering how good,
how far a BYU team can go in the NCAA tournament.
What do you make of it?
Speaker 5: Well, first of all, I think the Gimmer conversation isn't
we're and worth having because I don't think it will
ever be able to light a candle to what Jimmer did,
not because it's not impressive, because we always remember the
good old days much more favorably than we remember that today,
and that's just we we look with Rosen exactly, and
so I think the competition is somewhat futile. Now to
your point about going off for a fifty piece, I
would have told you, I don't know that he could
score forty points in the Big Twelve tournament, So maybe
it's possible. The other thing is you are likely not
going to play a Big twelve team in the ncate
By Tournament, whom ESPN I don't know if you guys
caught this, If you guys have been watching the Big
Twelve tournament. If you haven't, let me bring you up
to speed. Whenever they intro either the game or at halftime,
whether it's the play by player Kevin Connors, they say
the best conference in college basketball, which look, a color
analyst can say that. A Steven A. Smithson who's giving
an opinion can say that, But a broadcaster a Kevin
Conner is a play by play they can't really say
that unless a couple of things. Either it is unanimous
that everybody believes that, or the Big Twelve in the
ESPN are trying to push a certain narrative, which we look,
we're part of the Big Twelve, conference, so we would
and we agree that we think it's the best conference
in America. All of that to say, because you're not
going to play a team who's the best conference in America,
you're likely I mean, at best you're playing an sec
ACC Big ten team, but likely you're probably playing a
mac A Mountain West Conference at WCC in the NCAA
tournament with less talented defense, which makes me think, to
your point, again, depending on who they get in that
NCBLLY tournament first round, I think it's honestly more likely
that you get a fifty point game in that first
round than you do in this tournament. But I also
would have told you I don't think AJ could have
gone for forty. I don't think Bo you could have
scored one hundred and five and won that game. And
they did it anyway. But again, it's March, baby, Let
the madness begin.
Speaker 3: Let the madness begin. Check out the rest of our
ESPN the Fan starting lineup. We got a star started
cast for you. Appreciate Brett and Ronnie being here. Shout
out to Vic Graham on the data aggregation and the newsletter.
Speaker 4: Also a big groar to everybody else that's gonna be
joining us.
Speaker 3: We're gonna get into ky media availability commentary, postgame sound
what happened in the in this first round of the
Big twelfth Tournament, what stood out to him? We'll get
Rob right the third explaining what happened with his tooth
and his lip, And you wonder is this gonna limit
Rob right the third? And I know it's not an
extremity right knee, ankle, hand, wrist, shoulder, but but you know,
it's like, you know, he's there's a tooth removed and
his his lip is bloody. Does that make him less aggressive?
Does that make him less than I mean, like when
he's on the prow when he's in score mode, like
he's physical getting to the getting.
Speaker 4: To the hoop. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 3: He's fair, He bodies up guys defensively. Maybe lacks a
little bit of that physicality, but sometimes he gets into
it with you.
Speaker 4: I wonder if it limits him at all? Ronald, your
thoughts on this?
Speaker 6: Yeah, I was thinking about this because this is gonna
be the big question of you know, and we're gonna
hear from Kevin Young if he will play tonight.
Speaker 2: Right, I'll let the coach speak on that, But being
a look.
Speaker 6: You know, if Rob is going tonight, if he does play,
I think what it will do is he'll make him
more calculated in how he maneuvers, which I think is
what Rob has needed to do. He's phenomenal when he
gets to his right hand, Ben, There's no doubt about it.
When he gets downhill, he's a dog. We saw it
in the Texas Tech game. But we also saw the
last time this team played West Virginia where there are
moments where Rob should not have maybe you know, pushed
the ball a few times now. He played great in
that game, but there are moments sometimes where I was like, Okay,
it's not of body of experience in a bad way
not to go and where it's a little bit careless
and a little bit reckless. Right, but that's the game.
You take shots that are sometimes heavily contested. I think
he'll remain aggressive. But this is actually good, just like
how it was good last night. Ben for no Rob
right to be on the court. And if you'd have
told me, Ben that b Yu would be down by
you would be up by five with Kansas stated on
a six zero round with no Rob and Kevin Young
asking and the broadcast saying it saying where is he?
I would be like maybe BYU's outsit. But look, they
learned how to play without him, and AJ learned how
to do something. You saw the depth get tested and
they were proven true. So it was good Bue.
Speaker 2: He needed that Ben. They needed to not have Rob
on the floor.
Speaker 6: Now you need him obviously for the rest of the games,
but you need it in that moment to see what
Dominique and Hadema and that the players are made of.
This is good for Rob because it will allow him. Okay,
maybe I'm a little bit injured, how do I know,
maybe pass a little bit more like when we played
in that Wisconsin game, right and I was dishing up
divvying it out.
Speaker 2: I think you need that Rob right this.
Speaker 6: Game against West Virginia if he goes because sometimes look
they say six to one Ben, I think he's five eleven.
Speaker 3: I'm not.
Speaker 2: I'm just gonna go there. I think he is.
Speaker 6: It's tough to, you know, take on guys who are
six six six, seven, six eight. So I hope that
he's able to be calculated tonight. But I think he'll
remain aggressive, but he'll be wise on how he picks
the spots.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I just wonder how limited he will be less
physical he will be due to the lip lasceration and
the tooth that got knocked out and you know, put
back in place.
Speaker 4: I mean, look like, how stable is that tooth? You
know what I mean?
Speaker 3: If he gets in again, is he gonna be wearing
a mask? We'll get into that sound from k why
what he predicts will happen tonight. So stay tuned, don't
go anywhere. Lots to get to today. Rocke Miller coll
swoops analyus bracketeer dot Org. We're gonna get in some bracketology.
Speaker 4: At three h five.
Speaker 3: Jojo Phillips caught up with us during springball. Could be
wide receiver one. Jojo looking really good and should be
a standout this year in that wide receiver room. Chancellor
Johnson cougar byde he he conversed with AJ Debonsa in
the post game about being not being Big twelve player
of the Year and and uh had a couple of
great quotes. Got a few awesome quotes from Aj to
Bonsa in the locker room post game.
Speaker 4: We'll get into that also.
Speaker 3: Klinisa take is wrestling springball b YU wide receivers UH
and UH standouts through spring thus far, Jackson Payne and
a Cougar beat four thirty, David Nixon, former b YU
football linebacker and NFL VET, and then Brad Howe will
join us as we get prepped, we get ready for
the by West Virginia game. All that and more here
on your Utah ESPN Radio network. Let's get into the
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Speaker 4: All right, let's talk some.
Speaker 3: BYU basketball got the dub, a nice convincing one. He
was a competitive one, no doubt, in the first half,
but a an offensively proficient one in the first and
second half. They were able to get some stops in
the second half and continue on their scoring output in
the second half.
Speaker 4: It was awesome to watch. AJ was tremendous.
Speaker 3: Let's get Kevin Young's opening statement post game after the
win over Kansas State.
Speaker 7: Yeah, just hard fought game. You know, obviously a high
scoring game. They got off to a great start. We're
shooting the heck out of the three. Thought our guys
did a good job of responding. I thought that run
we made the end the first half was critical for
us to you know, obviously cut the lead with then
game gain momentum, and then you know, we were able
to get some enough stops and string enough stops together
there in the second half to get a spread.
Speaker 4: So it was a good game for US.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess k Why was right he is bringing
the NBA to b YU one oh five ninety one.
Speaker 5: Well, yesterday we had a team in the NBA scored
like one hundred and fifty plus, So maybe that that
that gap is creating.
Speaker 4: Against it just keeps on going higher and hire. Yeah,
it looked like an All Star game.
Speaker 2: Man.
Speaker 3: Uh and uh with Bam going off too, by the way,
you know, I know we discussed it kind of in
the beginning. It's like, man, what what what's the ceiling?
Obviously up to this point it's fifty two points. It
Wouldjimmer put for net put out in twenty eleven versus
New Mexico. You know, you wonder what the capability is.
And I don't know what the single game NCAA record
is for for for total points.
Speaker 4: I have to look that up. But last night I
think was a big twelve tournament record. Correct, Yeah it
was two points yeah, yeah, over kd oorait.
Speaker 3: So yeah, you know are you talking about for the
well's talking about eight record as well as the game
record for points scored in the Big Twelve tournament. Yeah,
so I mean you don't get into the one hundreds
in college basketball.
Speaker 4: I mean you didn't used to.
Speaker 5: But that may be more reg because, like I was
saying before, like if you go and look at how
many points teams were scoring on average last year in
the Big Twelve, like your best team last year, which
I believe was Arizona, would be like the seventh or
eighth highest scoring team in the Big Twelve this year.
So I think just basketball as a whole, scoring is
going up.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent. There's no doubt about that. So
interesting conversations, no doubt to have. Let's get back to it. Okay,
why discussing the performance of his team early is very
Big Twelve Commissioner Brett Ormark mentioned you as one of
the players he believes is deserving for nationalists is to
aj for National Player of the Year honors. With the
performance you put up today obviously helping your case quite
a bit.
Speaker 4: What do you feel, you.
Speaker 3: Know, when you hear him mention you in that sort
of regard, and why should that award be yours?
Speaker 8: I mean, it's an honor for him to be the
Big Twelve commissioner and I feel like this is the
best league you know, in the world for college basketball.
For him to recognize my talents and think I should
be up there with one of the best players in
the country, this means a lot. But I mean today,
I was just trying to focus on the win, whatever
it took. I'm just good the win.
Speaker 4: And they got to win.
Speaker 3: Look, I mean, AJ, you ask him whether or not
he's the best player in the world, best player in
the league, best player in college bats gonna say.
Speaker 4: Yeah, man, I feel like I can. You know, I'm
pretty good.
Speaker 3: But he's also humble enough to recognize that there's a
process of procedure and protocol that is ultimately followed with
these types of votes.
Speaker 5: So is that Brett Yormark's way of saying, why the
heck did you guys vote Jayden Bradley's Big Toe Player
of the Year? Because to me, logically, if you're National
Player of the Year, then you're guaranteed the best player
in your own conference, and the criteria for both of
those awards remains the same. Now, to your point, AJ
isn't There's not a single person on the planet who
doesn't think AJ doesn't think he's the best player in
the world. Like, we know that he believes that. So
if he doesn't go out there and say, yeah, man,
I deserve it, I'm the.
Speaker 4: Best player in the world.
Speaker 5: That's because he's respectful enough to not disrespect everybody in
the conference.
Speaker 4: But we know that he feels that way.
Speaker 5: But I did think it was interesting that Brett remark
said that yesterday, given the fact that, like you just
I know, we had this conversation about Jamee Bradley, But
it's just interesting, if AJ should be National Player of
the Year, then shouldn't he have been Big twelve Player
of the Year.
Speaker 4: That's all I got to say.
Speaker 3: Yeah, there's there's a debate, There no doubt about it.
Speaker 4: Let's get back to it.
Speaker 3: Coach, was there a turning point in this game, a
singular moment in this game where you felt like it
turned the tide in your favor?
Speaker 7: Yeah, that that first little spurt in the second half
where we were able to get I think that the
first kind of ten point cushion. I thought that was
what really allowed us to think we could put him away,
you know, challenge the guys in the timeout where you know,
that was kind of how we started the game.
Speaker 4: That they went on that big run, so.
Speaker 7: I thought our guys did a better job of responding
once we did get that lead there and kind of
the midway through the second half.
Speaker 3: Gotta have those turning points. I mean, look, this team
was in fuego the entire game. Like the they were
highly provision highly productive. The only thing that wasn't efficient
was the tackiness of the basketball court. This is an
issue guys, like we saw it in the women's tournament.
And I know Brett Yormark's willing to do just about
anything for a little filthy lucre, a little extra cash
in the big twelve pocket. I think it outside the box.
But I don't think this is a good thing. There
could be a major injury. There hasn't been one yet,
but there could be a major injury on this court.
Because the men's tournaments just getting started. That means bigger, faster, stronger.
And if there is not tack on that court and
that glass is way too slippery, there's moisture, there's an
issue there.
Speaker 4: You can have an injury.
Speaker 3: You can have an acl you can have achilles, you
can have a hip injury, a back injury. You slip
and fall, you can you can, you can break something.
It's it's not good. This is this is an accident,
a big accident waiting happen. This is a liability issue
in my opinion, and players are sounding off about it
right now. I think this is I understand we got
to be risk takers, but when it comes to the
possibility of injuries going up, that's where you got to
take a stand and say, hey, we just got to
keep things. Uh, you know, homeo into Homeostasius, go back
to status quo with the court.
Speaker 4: You know. That's kind of my thoughts on it.
Speaker 3: We got a SoundBite from Who's this from Ronnie to
Taj Manning of Cases State.
Speaker 4: This is what he had to say about the floor.
Little basketball question about toy. Everyone's been talking about this floor.
What was it like playing on the floor again?
Speaker 2: I saw a few pretty bad. Yeah, it's slipper. It's
the lights and stuff cause Kamara to get a migraine and.
Speaker 4: It's a it's a it's a bad floor.
Speaker 2: They shouldn't bring it back, if you I'm honest.
Speaker 3: Damn fun for the fans, but not for the players.
Speaker 7: Maybe I haven't really talked to the fans any fans,
so I don't know.
Speaker 2: I'll probably ask my dad when you talk about it. Yeah, yeah,
it's just it's just an eyesore.
Speaker 6: It's constantly like it's constantly changing and stuff and flashing
different lights.
Speaker 1: And all that.
Speaker 4: Just nobody wants to play on every movie just what
the normal harror was. This is an issue.
Speaker 3: Yeah, Camaro's got to migrate because of one of his teammates, Slippery.
Like to me, it's just but if you want like
banners and you want like advertisements on there, do it
in a in a traditional way off the court, I get,
you know what I mean. Like, it's just it's just
not a good thing. This is a bad look in
my opinion for the Big twelve and brett yor Mark.
Especially if there's an injury issue that rears its ugly
head in this Big twelve bat men's basketball tournament.
Speaker 4: Yeah, that would make things look really bad.
Speaker 5: And I don't know how contracts and liabilities work, but
I imagine some people would be pretty upset, especially if you're
a team that knows you can go on a deep
tournament run and you get someone injured. We've given the
court a lot of and I will say, like, I
think it's cool that they have the animation when they
dunk and the glasses breaking on the floor and the
three point line lighting up. It is it's cool, but
it's one thing to try out a gimmick. It's a
whole other thing to try out something that risks players' safety.
And I was talking to my cousin. My cousin is
actually installing one of these floors at the home of
one of the rich and famous here in Utah, and
so I was asking him. I was like, what is
the floor really like, what is the durability, what's the
grip level? And he said, look, it's good, it's not great.
But what it really comes down to is, and you
probably experienced this as a football player, playing on turf
and playing on natural grass is not the same thing.
Speaker 4: And I'm not comparing that to this court.
Speaker 5: But what I am saying is when you go from
playing on one surface the entire time, your body the
way that how much give you know you have where
you have to pull back in certain areas, You understand
this is how my body has to operate in order
to be successful on this playing surface. It doesn't matter
if you can say, because I know Kevin Young said
the other day well, there's some teams in Europe who
this is what they use full time. I got it,
But is it the same thing that they are playing
in every single night in the Merry Center and in
every other Big twelve corps And there's no version of
the answer that you can give me that says, well,
it's basically.
Speaker 3: See how many hours did the each team get on
this floor before they they actually start competing on it.
Speaker 4: That's the That's a huge thing too.
Speaker 3: You gotta familiarize yourself with the playing surface, and you
gotta know what shoes you're gonna be wearing on that
playing surface because you've been you've been wearing a certain
shoe all season long, and then all of a sudden
you have to switch it up just to be in
the Big twelve tournament and you're like, man, I don't
have these broken in or they just don't feel right.
Speaker 4: Like it's just.
Speaker 3: It becomes a huge issue in a competitive and a
competitive issue and a liability issue at that Ronald, your
thoughts on this.
Speaker 6: Yeah, I was thinking about it right because there's been
a lot more complaints and I think the visual, you know,
aesthetic of what we see the arts of it, the beauty.
Speaker 2: It's fantastic, man, Like obviously I was.
Speaker 3: Does it really enrich the Yes, I think it's really cool.
Like I was, it enriched your viewing experience.
Speaker 4: That's the point that it's worth injury.
Speaker 5: But I really enjoy I really enjoy seeing the three
point line light up free throw with the last breaking animation,
like it gemes like a video game vibe to the game,
which I love. However, not at the expense of players.
And uh Manning brought up a great point that I
don't think any of us had thought about, what about
the migraines, Because my wife and I have this conversation
the other day. I remember when I was a kid,
and if I watch TV for longer than an hour,
I'd start to get a headache. Kids today don't even
know what that is because they've become so accustomed to
living on a screen.
Speaker 4: And as as of all.
Speaker 5: Of us headache, well, you just don't get the headaches
anymore because you're adjusted to it. And I and I
think with this court, that's another great point that nobody's
brought up, is you have that flashing animation that to
us in school because we see it on TV. Yeah,
but those players like, I don't think their bodies are
used to seeing those flashes and everything, especially if you're
someone who's more susceptible to migraines. So there's just a
whole lot of issues here with bad that doesn't outweigh
the good. And to you and Ron's point, like, if
someone does get hurt here, that's not gonna be like, Wow,
the Big twelve tried out a gimmick. It it didn't work.
That is going to be a major mark on somebody's record.
Speaker 6: Ben, all I have to say is this, and again,
the visual looks great, and I think that's what break
you and Mark went with Ben because to be different
because last year there were negative reviews of the court
was terrible on television, so I think he said, Okay,
I'm gonna give the viewers something way better.
Speaker 2: I really believe that was one of the factors.
Speaker 6: But in the process, if it gets like Mihailo's driving
to the basketball has a wide up and Lane goes
to pump fake or tries to go and he just
eats it and travels because of the court, it's just
that slippery. And look, I don't want anybody to get hurt.
I don't, but I can say this full confidently. Now
that's zero for two for Rey or Mark on the court.
In baseball, that is a not good batting average and
any other sport that means you did not do you
did not hit out of the park. So he needs
to figure it out for next year, maybe just go
back to the basic court. Ben But year one, last
year that we saw people did not like that. The
eyes were hurting, and now this year the visual for
the fans and the viewers and me, I love it
seeing the final score and the introductions and the different
size of the logos. But for those playing on it,
safety is the most important. We got to think about
the players, nots that are watching on TV.
Speaker 4: No doubt about it.
Speaker 3: Let's get back to a few more sound bites before
we take a break. Kevin Young and a few of
the players addressed the media yesterday.
Speaker 4: Number four.
Speaker 3: You talked about that run at the end of the half.
I believe Rob Right the third had a fast break,
wide open layup and instead kicked it over with AJ.
For Doug, can you talk a little bit about the
unselfish play of his team.
Speaker 7: It's something that we've been really on our guys about
all year. You know, I thought, you know, that's just
we have talent obviously, and so we just try to
make simple plays and play together. And that's easier said
than done. But you know, I thought, you know that
play that you mentioned with Rob, I thought AJ made
a lot of unselfish plays as well, and so that's
something that just really helps the team when you've got.
Speaker 2: A good when you feel like you have a good shot.
Speaker 7: But your teammate has a great shot, being able to
share the ball.
Speaker 3: Got to be unselfish in this basketball game, no doubt.
Speaker 4: AJ.
Speaker 3: Could you talk, Could you speak on the that play
and the unselfishness of your teammates.
Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean I actually slowed down. I want him
to get the lay up, but he told me that
he wasn't gonna dunk it and he needed some.
Speaker 4: Energy going into the half.
Speaker 2: So just credits Rod for you don't give me that dunk.
Speaker 3: AJ, you it ended with forty points. I don't know
if you knew the record of this tournament is forty three.
Was there anything anytime in this game that you thought
about breaking that tournament record?
Speaker 4: You could get? You can felt like you could go
for the record.
Speaker 8: No, I'm just sure one game that's just the main goal.
Try to get a Tech championship. Finally to score forty
three for that and yeah, but I'm not going for
the record.
Speaker 3: Don't need that record, don't need it. Hadeem all right,
great game for him. Could you talk? Could you speak
on the advantages uh that you bring to the glass.
It was a big deal in the second half. Got
you guys going. It seemed like you were pulling down everything.
Speaker 9: I mean, every time before I go through the court,
Coach just gonna be in my ears, like you know,
I put a change to get the rebounds, so you
gotta get the rebounds. And he's just like a big
motivation for me. And every ball that bounce off the rim,
I think it's mine, So I'm just gonna go get
it for sure.
Speaker 3: Anybody else loved that Hit team was like on AJ's shoulder,
like in the post game, just chilling, hanging out.
Speaker 4: It was just like a team interview.
Speaker 5: Is there anybody who has more fun playing basketball than
Hitdean Boop?
Speaker 4: I don't think so. Grateful man. You can tell he's
just grateful. So he just loves playing ball.
Speaker 6: Man.
Speaker 5: He doesn't care what the nil contract looks like. He
just wants to play.
Speaker 6: I do love Ritchie in the back though, like like
you know, lurking back. Did you see the ayes been
like I did like the talk.
Speaker 3: King there, Yeah, no doubt about it. Shout out to
a dem big fan of his. We're all boot fans, Kevin.
Two questions on the performances you've seen from AJ the season.
There's been a lot of great performance. Where does that
one rank versus Cansas Eke?
Speaker 4: And Two?
Speaker 3: Did you expect such a good conct contribution from your
role guys tonight coming off the bench.
Speaker 7: Yeah, as it relates to AJ, I mean that he
was doing was super impresive because I thought he was
scoring every way possible. You know, he was scoring the post,
he was scoring in transition, he was scoring and pick
and roll. He was scoring in isolations, coming off some
pen downs, you know, making good passes out of the post,
making good passes out of the pick and roll. So
I think it was probably one of his most complete
outside of the lob.
Speaker 4: We already talked about.
Speaker 2: That on the way the lobby threw short to the.
Speaker 7: Team at the end there.
Speaker 2: But I thought it was just.
Speaker 7: A full display of his his skill set. You know,
I think he's the most skilled offensive player in college basketball. Uh,
and it was all full displayed at night. In terms
of where that stacks up, you got to put it
right near the top, just given the fact that it
was in the Big Twelve Tournament and help propel us
to a big win. In terms of the role, Guys'
just super happy for those guys. You know, Dom's a guy,
I'll speak to him, I'll speak about you. There's really
a lot of Alexey, you know, MoU a dem they all,
they all uh contributed to the win. And the thing
I love about it is, you know, it's been you know,
an up and down season obviously, but none of those
guys have batted and I that just stayed in the gym.
Speaker 2: They stayed hungry.
Speaker 7: They've they've you know, earned trust to get out there
and and and be able.
Speaker 2: To help contribute to a win.
Speaker 4: So it was, uh, it was really cool to see.
Speaker 7: I thought Dom's play was extremely inspirational for the team
and something we can build them.
Speaker 3: You need, uh, you need a good rotation, a reliable lotation.
Need your rotation, You need a good bench if you
want to survive in advance in the Big Twelve Tournament,
as well as the NCAA tournament. You hope, you pray
your fingers are crossed that b YU has found their rotation,
that they found this third iteration of the team and
it's proficient and productive and can get dubs versus some
of the best teams in the country.
Speaker 4: That's what you're hoping for right now. R b A
fans believers right now to.
Speaker 3: The two consecutive good solid performances from this team, or
is they still wait and see mode? And uh, by
the way, you just got another injury with Rob right
the third Like I'm concerned, Like I've never seen a
team so injured, belaguered by by all manner of oddities
of injuries. Whether it's knees, foot, and ankle. We don't
know what Xavi and Staten's got. You know, Rob right
the third tooth getting knocked out on a lip laceration.
You kidd me seeing to be wearing a one of
the the the clear masks tonight, maybe.
Speaker 4: I hope so those things are sick and it feels
like we guys just pop.
Speaker 3: Who's the last guy to really go off in the
NBA with a clear mask?
Speaker 4: Forgot it?
Speaker 6: Yeah, all those guys were a bucket.
Speaker 5: Yeah, so you know, if Rob has to do it
in channel, then so be it.
Speaker 2: In channel or Kyrie, Rob you got the handles.
Speaker 3: The difference is like the Kobe mask was just the
nose in the in the cheeks and the forehead.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 5: We I don't know that I've seen one that covers now,
you know what I mean. He's like a freaking hockey mask. Yeah,
just go get a hockey mask.
Speaker 6: Look, it's a nice even fit the mask because if
his lip is swollen, like will it fit?
Speaker 2: Will it fit it?
Speaker 6: Will that do more damage if they hit the mask
into his lip? Like I'm kind of concerned if you
understand what I'm saying, Like would the mask be a protection?
Speaker 4: Would be more damage that?
Speaker 10: Yeah?
Speaker 3: I mean I think it's typically protection, but yeah, I mean,
like I grew up watching Rip Hamilton, like that's who.
That's who always were.
Speaker 4: Man, that's it. That was the guy like that.
Speaker 3: He it was an iconic portion of it like all
these other guys. They wear it intermittently, right like uh,
you know Kyrie. I think I think Kyrie was actually
a longer term mask user, maybe from like twenty twelve,
twenty fifteen six anyway, But I think a rip baby.
So if he's got to wear a full mask, good
luck man. Hopefully you can play with some ferocity. Let's uh,
let's go to break. We'll come back with more sound
from ky Aj and Hadem celebrating the win over Kansas
State in the first game of the Big Twelve Tournament
in offensive. It was an offensive output, unlike any we've
seen this season.
Speaker 4: It was with the most productive local perspective.
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That pick Black Rob Rob right the third may be
limited tonight. We're gonna find out here shortly just how
limited he is or if he's gonna be full go.
He had a lip laceration and a tooth that got dislodged.
I guess that's back in place. Maybe he's gonna be
wearing a mask. Kevin Young says Rob is a tough guy.
He's a competitor. He should be available, but we'll find
out here in a moment. But WHOA like I'm like
like well, like just when you think like boy is
getting back on track and wining, and then there's like
another there's another, like albeit minor moderate injury that is
sustained by.
Speaker 4: One of their key players. This this team really can't
buy or break.
Speaker 3: They just can't. It's unfortunate because this is a big game.
This is a big game, you know what I mean, Like,
you gotta get to that Houston game. You gotta get
to that Houston game.
Speaker 4: You can win.
Speaker 3: Can b he win this game without Rob right the
Third being one hundred percent, let's.
Speaker 4: Say he doesn't play. Can they win this game without
Rob right the Third?
Speaker 5: In your opinion, Well, they beat iwas state it without
Rob Wright playing well, and they won a game yesterday
without Rob played a big role early, but like down
the stretch, Rob Wright didn't necessarily play a huge impact
in the game. I do think, though, despite all of that,
even if he doesn't play well, his body needs to
be on the floor for spacing purposes, because if he's
not on the floor, then we're blitzing all five guys
at AJ and you make somebody else beat us. Sure,
So I think at minimum he's got to be on
the floor and I think he.
Speaker 2: I mean, we don't.
Speaker 3: I don't know who's your backup point guard if AJ,
If Rob's not playing AJ, your priory ball hand AJ,
well yeah.
Speaker 2: I know, I know you saw it. He got turnovers.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think is your backup point guard doesn't play?
Speaker 9: Yeah?
Speaker 3: Uh?
Speaker 2: Canardi has played the point guard, but just need can facilitate.
He's got a nice handle.
Speaker 4: He can, he can, he does, but he's a point
guard sometimes.
Speaker 2: Oh boy, don't do that one.
Speaker 4: Yeah. Yeah, anyway, I'm intrigued. Let's get to number ten here.
Speaker 3: Uh uh that, like I said, banda day brought to
by Royal Army dot Com, be all you spikered at
by fans. We're gonna get into some more soundbites. AJ
debonds a post game after the Kansas State wins. More
seriously here, AJ, because he gave some love to his sponsor.
By the way, he gave some love to his Red
Bull sponsored You had six asses tonight. I know everyone
focuses on scoring. How much has your passing started open
up scoring opportunities for you this year and others this year?
Speaker 4: Now?
Speaker 8: I just trying to make just trying to make place
in my teammates. Obviously, like I got like Milk Connard
Davis just trying to get him open shots and I
know they definitely a line the post. So I was
just trying to make the early read. I think earlier
in the year, I was just trying to shoot over
two or three people, but just trying to make that
early read to the cuts the people that are coming
and people that are just open.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I think has definitely showcased his playmaking ability, which is
I think he's a better distributor than Darren Peterson. Right,
So we're gonna go back to the Darren Peterson AJ
debonsa debate. It's like, okay, like who's a better well
rounded player?
Speaker 4: It's AJ.
Speaker 3: He actually looks for teammates. You can build a team
around him. He's a leader, he has lead leadership qualities.
Speaker 4: He's a distributor, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3: Like when you're a distributor, I don't care if you're
like leading by your vocal accountability, like hey, get your
crap together, let's go, let's get after it. Like when
you get your teammates involved, and there's a benefit with
you handling the ball as yes a score and then
you distribute when doubles and blitzes come like you're a
great teammate. People like playing with you. There's good synergy, right,
That's what I'm getting at here.
Speaker 5: I don't even think you want to have the Darren
Peterson assists conversation because there was a stretch of three
games where he had one assist in three games.
Speaker 4: He is Yeah, he averaged one point eight on the season.
Speaker 5: Darren Peterson assisted in Passing the basketball is just not
his thing, but it is AJ's thing.
Speaker 4: And I think that's.
Speaker 5: Among every other tiny little thing that makes AJ proof
of concept for the number one overall pick.
Speaker 4: It's also the fact that.
Speaker 5: He can be a point guard if you need him
to be. He's he is a point forward. He can
do everything you need him to do. And on top
of that, what I feel like this season has really
taught AJ, especially since losing Richie, is they're gonna blitz
you because they don't believe other people can beat you.
Find a way to distribute the basketball. And we knew
AJ could pass the ball beforehand, but he rose to
the level of what the Big twelve dictated and to
what the NBA will dictate, and again, just another just
another tool to put in the belt.
Speaker 4: No doubt about it. Yeah, it's Uh.
Speaker 3: I love what AJ's doing as far as distribution is concerned.
And uh, and then once again, you know, the Darren
Peterson train has slowed down.
Speaker 4: Uh.
Speaker 3: He's also talked about returning to the NC Double A
and Kansas next season. But I think it's it's just
continually trending in AJ's direction as we get into high
competitive play.
Speaker 4: AJ and Boot.
Speaker 3: There's been a lot of opinions going around regarding the court,
going back to that glass court, the digital court.
Speaker 4: Could you give some of.
Speaker 3: Your thoughts, your feedback on what it's like to play
on the court, how if it impacted your game, how
and if it impacted your game.
Speaker 8: I like the idea of it led for the starting lineup.
Speaker 9: I've seen it.
Speaker 8: You had to be ayulia the can't say logan. I
like the idea of it for sure, don't need negative.
I'll say it's slow, slippery just because it's class. But
other than that, now, I like the idea of the court.
Speaker 9: Yeah, I'll probably say the same thing. You know, it's
really nice for sure having the logo over there, but
you know, I think he's kind of slippery, you know,
especially when you're trying to pick up point guards like
you know, pull cord. He's kind of pretty slippery for sure.
Speaker 3: One thing I love about Adrian he's getting a opinion
about everything. He's well educated about everything. Like you can
talk to him about just about anything.
Speaker 5: He's probably gonna pine on it, and he says it
in a good way, right, Like. I like the way
he's like, look, there are a lot of great It's
not him just being like a stevenateseman, Like he's like,
there are some positives here.
Speaker 3: It's a great idea. You aread to say that twice.
Speaker 5: It's a great idea in practicality, maybe not so much yet.
Speaker 3: Yeah, that feedback will get to break your mark, no doubt, coach,
in regards to your role players. With Gnnard Davis having
another nice night, how important is it for him to
you know, ball out for your team here at March huge?
Speaker 7: You know huge, I mean arguably the biggest X factor
on our team in a lot of ways because he's
a you know, we brought him here to be a
two way player. You know, he's a really really good
defensive player and he's on a nice offensive rhythm. I
think in the last little bit, you know, when Richie
went down. He was a guy that we started to
put in a lot more actions and he's been getting
a lot more open threes as well, and he start,
you know, he's hit them out at a higher clip.
I think he's comfortable. But but more than the offense,
I just think he's playing with the edge that that
permeates our group.
Speaker 3: You know.
Speaker 7: I think the other night at Tech, when we played
Texas Tech at home, he was kind of the Him
and Rob were the key to just a defensive intensity
and our guys feet off of that. And then when
he's making shots, you know, it really uh you know,
kind of opens things up for for a j and
Rob too. So he's a huge part of what we're doing.
Speaker 3: Big part man and Canard, You're gonna have handled the
rock a whole lot more tonight. If Rob right the
third is not able to go.
Speaker 4: Uh.
Speaker 3: Rob left the game, k why and did not return?
Do you have an update on him? Do you expect
him to play versus this West Virginia Mountaineers.
Speaker 10: Team Colin lip laceration, so uh, everything else checked out, so,
you know, barring anything unforeseen.
Speaker 7: You know, Rob's a pretty tough, tough young man. I'd
assume he's gonna play.
Speaker 3: So do you guys feel like he's gonna give it
a go and he's if he is playing, is he
wearing a mask?
Speaker 4: Is he just you know, do you know? Does he? Uh?
I feel like there's some question marks here, I really do.
Speaker 2: I think he will go give my thoughts been.
Speaker 6: I think they'll look into all, you know, safety precautions
as to how to protect Rob with that lip laceration
on what that looks like. If it's not a concussion,
you know you're not playing. I mean, look, it's the
Big twelve Tournament, it's March. I mean, j Drew phenomenal job, right.
I mean if you're talking to Jay Drew about you're
gonna come back to BYU or you're gonna go pro, Well,
I'm gonna tell you something that's gonna be harsh from
the fan base. If you sit out for a lip laceration,
this fan base is gonna take you to go pro.
It's gonna keep it a buck with you. That that's
that's gonna sound harsh, Like you can't sit next to
the top two pick who played through the flu, who's
played through all this other stuff, you know, and you
can't say, well, I'm not gonna play through a lible
now if he had a concussion, completely understand Ben, But
this is like, this.
Speaker 2: Is the last go like Richie's right next to you.
Speaker 6: You think Richie wouldn't play through a lib laceration if
he could have, you know, unless it would like and
I know people.
Speaker 3: Say, I don't think it's the lip. Well, I guess
he's got stitches. How many stitches did he say that?
Speaker 6: I don't know if he said that, you know, I
don't none of the soundbites heard, but he got him.
But that's my thing, Like, and that's my thing, Ben,
if he if it's more severe than the lip, if
it's a concussion, then that makes sense of not playing.
I get that because that was a pretty hard elbow.
I think we all can agree like that. That rocked
him pretty pretty good.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 6: If p it's a concussion, obviously don't play. You gotta
think about that.
Speaker 3: He was made available to the media and he took interviews.
Speaker 6: Well it's open locker room, so but yeah, but that's
what I'm saying. I don't think he's hurt.
Speaker 4: Did he seem off in his interview at all?
Speaker 6: From everything that I've seen, on line and that I've
I've watched no he seemed okay.
Speaker 4: I think.
Speaker 6: So that's what I'm saying. That's why if you're saying
come back to b A, you're goal pro. If you
sit out for a lip lastration, it's not a concussion
anything else, that's not a good sign. And people are
gonna be like that might be a little soft because
you know, you know, I mean, it's gonna feel like
the guy in Kansas you played through that lip last.
I'm gonna tell you right now if I had a
lip laceration, if I had no tooth, I mean, for
crying out loud, you talk about the great you know,
United States Rob you're playing basketball, Jack Hughes had lost
the tooth.
Speaker 2: For crying out loud. In one Gold.
Speaker 6: You better get you behind out there and lace up
them boots, laser boots, skeithen Mary would say, and get
out on the court and play with the mask. I mean,
play with the bigger mouthguard. Do what you gotta do.
But if you sit out for just the lip laceration
and not a concussion, Ben, I don't know if that's
gonna sit well with people. This is the this could
be your final game in the tournament, and you got
to make sure you're out there to play.
Speaker 2: They need him.
Speaker 4: Does he wearing a mask? It's the question.
Speaker 5: I don't know if it's as simple as as Ron does.
I do think playing with the because like chipping your
tooth in hockey is not the same as a lip
laceration in basketball, And.
Speaker 3: Dude, I think the tooth being knocked out. And then
because in hockey, getting chipped your teeth is not getting
knocked out. So so I'm I'm with you on I
do think he's gonna play. I do think he's gonna hustle.
Speaker 5: But I do think it is kind of a big
deal having a lip laceration, having had stitches, your teeth
in your mouth moved around, and guess what the odds
of you getting hit in the face today at some
point throughout the game pretty likely. What It's not like
playing with the flu, Like you can't get more flu.
By playing with the flu, you can get your mouth
more messed up. By playing in that game, you.
Speaker 4: Can get another Yeah, you can get that opened up again.
Speaker 3: So I do think he'll give it a go.
Speaker 5: However, anyone who's been hit hitt in the mouth before,
like I wonder how much apprehension that gives Rob, Like,
how free do you feel to play? Just knowing if
this gets hit again, something could get messed up.
Speaker 4: That to me is the more interesting question.
Speaker 3: Yeah all right, guys, let's take a time out. That
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Chancellor Johnson, we've had him on the show before Big
Twelve Insider, he covers the Big Twelve. He's that he
was out at the Big twelve tournament and entered the
locker room and chatted with Aj Debonso Byu in the
post game. Now, Aj had a tremendous season. He's the
lead scored in the NCAA. Obviously we'd all agree that
he's the best player. Unfortunately, he did not become the
Big Twelve Player of the Year. That was given to
somebody else on the best team in the Big Twelve,
which bakes the question what type of award are we
talking about here? But Chancellor followed up, Okay, the Big
Twelve Player of the Year has been debated for the
last twenty four hours. He caught up with AJ for
his thoughts, and this is what AJ said about the situation.
Speaker 12: Going back to yesterday when the awards came out and
another player was voted as the Big Twelve Player of
the Year, keep it a buck with me. What was
your initial reaction?
Speaker 8: Initial reaction, I was like, oh, damn, I thought I
should have won it. Seen I got Freshmen of the Year.
But when I look back at like record and everything,
like he was ahead of the Snake on the number
one team in the conference. Harts sold the team senior
so well deserved.
Speaker 12: Congratulations to Jane Bailey on that as well. I know
you gave respect for him. But leading the country in scoring,
what did coaches miss on that end?
Speaker 8: I mean, it's not all about scoring. I mean they
were the number three team in the country. Like I mean,
it's kind of like the NBA stand is, like you're
you can't really be the MVP was It's kind of
like what there was he can't be the NBA found
like a losing team. We finished five hundred, so I
mean astually the domin wins.
Speaker 3: Going Ben to yesterday, I should have got more wins,
not we should have got more wins. You can't be
the MVP if you're on a losing team. This is
internal self accountability autonomy that I think is. I mean,
he's mature, beyond his age, beyond his years. Shout out
to his wonderful parents for teaching him the ways, really
nice work. So I was honestly, I mean, I wasn't
taken back, but I was like, oh man, it's a
surprise to hear that from a young eighteen nineteen year
old young man who's gonna be the first overall pick
in the NBA draft.
Speaker 4: Most likely.
Speaker 5: AJ has clearly had good media training, and whether that's
just the way that he and his parents communicate, which
I bet is a lot of it, in a way
that this is just how he speaks. He wasn't trained
to speak this way, like this is just who he is.
But one way or another, when AJ steps up to
the podium, he usually hits it out of the park
with the answers that he gives.
Speaker 4: Like It's not like he just gives you nothing.
Speaker 5: He doesn't avoid things because he's afraid to saying the
wrong thing. He will give you everything and give it
to you in the right way.
Speaker 4: You can't be the MVP if you're on a losing team.
That's an interesting comment.
Speaker 5: But the interesting thing about it is that I don't
feel like any of us feel as.
Speaker 4: Though that's a shot at BYU when he says it.
It's not.
Speaker 5: But I think if you wanted to, you could interpret
it that way. So it's interesting that he says that,
and then what you said. I love that he says
I should have got more wins, because there's no part
of AJ that's saying I'm not where I want to
be because of you, or because of him, or because
of anybody. And so for AJ to be taking so
much self accountability, that also throws me back to the
comment that he made in post game a couple a
couple games ago when Kevin Young was talking about him
kind of embellishing fouls a little bit, and then he
made He's like, I gotta stop making stupid turnovers and
doing this like that. This quote now shows you like
that wasn't him being sarcastic. Now he really meant that
when he said it. This is a guy who takes
full accountability, and that's a trait that NBA scouts love.
Speaker 3: It's one that you can't fully quantify all the time, but.
Speaker 5: It's one that if you have it is going to
project later success at the next level.
Speaker 4: No doubt about it.
Speaker 3: Sean Farnham hopped on by the Way to Be a
Sports Nation and commented on the Big Twelve Player of
the Year debate. It sounds like he's you know, he
liked AJ Debonsa's resume, But let's tune in. Let's listen
to Sean Farnum articulates his opinion on the matter.
Speaker 13: I believe that probably what transpired on that vote was
that JT. Topp and AJ probably split it so much
that Jaden Bradley was able to win the award. I mean,
Jane Bradley wasn't a UNANIUS selection of first team, yet
he's the.
Speaker 2: Comp Fens Player of the Year.
Speaker 4: That's kind of weird because.
Speaker 13: Normally when you're the conference player of the Year, you're
usually unanimously a first team All conference player. But that
was not the case this year. And look I get it.
Their season was unbelievable. He's been the backbone of that
team all season long. He's the heart and soul of
that team defensively, how he impacts the game, how he
orchestrates their offense and gets everybody involved.
Speaker 4: He's a masterful player that deserves a lot of accolades
in credit.
Speaker 13: If you were asking me I said this a couple
of weeks ago, I would have gone with AJ debonsa.
Speaker 4: AJ led the nation is foring his efficiency.
Speaker 13: He put a team on his back in games like
he did against Iowa State in particular, when Dave Clemon
and I were there. He's had an outstanding year and
I thought he was the best player in the Big Twelve.
Speaker 4: There's no doubt we all know he was the best
player of the Big Twelve.
Speaker 3: I don't think anyone's going to debate that from an
individual production standpoint. The first reaction that we had, though,
was the same reaction that AJ had. Now AJ said it,
and I think you know a much better, more concise way.
But ultimately, the tenth place team in the Big Twelve
can't have the best Big Twelve player. I think that's
that's what the votes are saying Sean Farnham brings up
the case though of split votes and how JT Toppin
and AJ split those votes. If j T Toppin had
been healthy, do you think JT Toppen wins this thing?
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's not even close.
Speaker 4: He wins it all.
Speaker 3: So that alone kind of like, lets me have you know,
I guess I'm perfectly fine with jay and Bradley winning it,
just like AJ's perfectly fine with Jayden Bradley winning it.
But that being said, Statistically, thirteen point four points per game,
three point five rebounds, four point six assists, forty six
percent from the field, thirty eight point two percent.
Speaker 4: All of those rankings within the Big.
Speaker 3: Twelve players thirtieth, sixty, first, eleventh, sixteenth, seventh. We all
know who the best players in the Big twelve, or
who were the best players in the Big twel Well,
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