BYUtx wrote:

craigoscarson wrote:

Even in the two best years of football since our Cotton Bowl season, we have failed to win big games against BCS opponents.

Don't forget wins in the LV bowl against Oregon and UCLA and a home win against AZ. If you're saying that those games don't count as "big games", then we have not had one big game in the last 2 seasons (with perhaps the exception of the game @ BC in 06).

I didn't say all big games, however we also lost to BC, Arizona, UCLA (all in games we could have won- just like the A+M hoops game and last year's Xavier 3 pt loss); the point is it's not so different than the success and some of the losses the hoops team has had.

While I'm really down on the lack of heart and toughness that Trent plays with, the hoops squad deserves a lot of credit for what they've accomplished the last two seasons; we still have the nations longest home winning streak and finished inside the top 30 in RPI again while winning conference. I didn't have very high hopes to start the season, knowing that Murdock and Burgess were the answer at guard. I just don't see a huge gap between the success that the hoops squad has had over the last 2 years and the football team has had; and as long as Trent sticks around, the gap shouldn't be much wider for next year.

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And I disagree that there's not enough LDS talent to build a top 25 lineup year in and year out. If coaches can get out of a team like Drake and Butler what they do, then we have more than enough talent to win. If Coach Rose thinks that he has to play an up tempo offense, then he's probably right; but that's on him. (We don't have to be the Mormon version of Phi Slamma Jamma to win).

After watching Lon Kruger coach UNLV against us and against Kansas, with a lineup featuring no one over 6'6" (Darger is not 6'7" and running a slowdown offense (even with athletic players), I think the onus needs to fall on the coaching staff. (I dont' think Bill Donovan would settle for a timid Plaisted; it seems that our coaches do).

A side note: There's probably enough hoops talent in Utah right now to build a top 25 team for years to come; in fact that Lone Peak team will end up sending 6+ players to D1 schools itself. (question: How did Davis high nearly win that state semi without a single player considered D1 caliber?)

I'm also curious if Bronson Kafusi will be playing both hoops and football at BYU. I've watched a lot of Des News video, etc. and he brings a lot of toughness on the court (as a sophomore); by the time he's college age, he'll be quite imposing for a 6'7" banger (maybe in the mold of DeJuan Blair from Pitt)

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=36578

DevilPuncher wrote:

If my wife would let me, I would sleep with my footballs (yes I have many). :)

Poor guy... My wife loves sleeping with my balls.

I tell you why, Football is a superior sport. Basketball is fun to watch only once in a while. Football games are exciting and they only come once a week. The build up to each game is imperative and every game is important. In basketball, there are almost 40 games in the season hence an inherant unimportance to some games.(ex. Baseball) Football is exciting every single week.

Who can actually say they like basketball over football? The only thing basketball has over football is march madness. If football had a similar playoff system, all other sports would be dwarfed even more.

ColoradoBlueZone wrote:

I tell you why, Football is a superior sport. Basketball is fun to watch only once in a while. Football games are exciting and they only come once a week. The build up to each game is imperative and every game is important. In basketball, there are almost 40 games in the season hence an inherant unimportance to some games.(ex. Baseball) Football is exciting every single week.

Who can actually say they like basketball over football? The only thing basketball has over football is march madness. If football had a similar playoff system, all other sports would be dwarfed even more.

You're right. In fact I was just thinking how thankful we should be for the BCS. Without it, no one would be watching any other sports. Those BCS boys are really just doing the rest of the collegiate sports world a favor. Koolaid anyone?

KYCoug wrote:

I agree with Rose regarding talent. I just don't think LDS demographics fit with us ever having a wealth of basketball talent. That doesn't mean we don't have talented players and I don't know how much race and talent are connected but this I do know. Kids in rural areas or inner city areas don't have a lot of options on activities when they are young and developing and a basketball is put in their hands at a very early age. I'm from Louisville KY. and our youth basketball team played a team from Shelbyville, a rural community yesterday. I don't think any of them was over 5'8" but they all were very savvy with the ball and displayed moves that had me in awe. During halftime their coaches 4 year old was on the floor dribbling behind his back and doing lay-ups, he'd have gone between his legs but the ball wouldn't fit. I couldn't believe it. I was talking to the coach after the game and these boys are practically born with basketballs and that's all they do. No soccer, no T-ball, no football, it's basketball, basketball and more basketball. The Young Men's program is built around basketball. They may have a scouting program but before and after it's basketball. Made me think what these boys would be like if they were a foot taller. I know it's much the same in inner cities, if you arn't in a gang somewhere you're playing basketball. That kind of focus develops basketball centered talent that my kids will never have and most kids who are exposed to a lot more things don't get that either. Sure guys like Danny Ainge and Steve Young can be All-State in every sport but most won't, but a focus on one sport from a very early age can produce good talented players and we just arn't strong demographly in inner cities and rural areas. I know there are a lot of rural areas out West but not nearly the population as the South and Midwest. Many of those Shelbyville boys would be playing HS ball and beyond if they weren't so short.

I think we can produce some very talented basketball talent but other parts of the country and other patrs of society produce tons of talented basketball players because that's all they do. Anyway that's my two cents!

L Hatton
Louisville KY

I think you mean urban, not rural

I grew up in a rural area of Oregon. Basketball and wrestling were what one did to pass the time between hunting and fishing seasons.

My first three years at BYU I took a week off from school each fall semester to return to Eastern Oregon for deer season. I usually provide rides to a couple of others doing the same thing. Got a "B" in my Fall Semeseter Calc 141 class because the prof didn't have his priorities straight.