We beat ourselves. They fact one player scored nearly half their points shows that. We should have contained him.

Poor rebounding on our part shows a lack of hussle, aggressiveness, and fundamentals. These guys know how to box out. They've been taught how to do it since they were 8 years old. Whether they decide to actually do what they were taught is a mental decision on their part.

We beat ourselves. A&M did not dazzle us. There were no heroic efforts. They played solid fundamental basketball and beat a team that was sitting on their heals.

We lost to a team that won't shoot 30% from 3 point range in its next game because it will be on its heels. The very reason they beat us was confidence. They were never intimidated by us. The same can't be said of us tonight.
On the flip side, if you watch A&M on Saturday, they will look very much like we did today.

Seems to me that you've got to be able to have other options when the outside shots aren't dropping. It would have been nice to have more of an inside game vs NC in the second half earlier this year. 'Nova a couple of years ago had some unbelievable guards and went deep into the tournament. That was a fun team to watch, but you knew they were going to go cold and lose before it was all said and done.

I would just like to know why BYU doesn't play the way they do all year? There was almost no attempt at dribble penetration to open up uncontested three's. They just passed the ball around the perimeter and there would not be a great option on the outside. Of course when there was an open three it was missed too. But I have to say that I think Rose needs to take a page out of Bronco's book and challenge or command or whatever it takes, but make the players practice free throws until their arms fall off. If they would have made just two or three more then they would have probably been tied at the end not needing to take desparation shots or foul the other team. Three's are a streak shot whereas free throws should be almost automatic. Free throw are like field goals in football. If it's a blowout then so what but in a close game they can easily lead to a win or a loss (if you miss).

As for Plaisted, he needs to practice going left and hooking with the right. He also needs to practice doing a duck under from both moves. That would give him four options and he would be unstoppable (except that he would get fouled and miss half of them).

cszjr wrote:

Look at shooting percentage. And all those misses were not necessarily contested. We just didn't play. It shows up in the stats.

Don't get me wrong, the Aggies played well. They did what they had to do to win. But they did not dominate.

You're right, they didn't dominate, and never did I say that. The stats show we got out played. Everyone needs to quit saying we beat ourselves. It was clear that A&M was the better team tonight. Saying we beat ourselves or we just didn't play is a cop out.

Gunk wrote:

We beat ourselves. They fact one player scored nearly half their points shows that. We should have contained him.

Poor rebounding on our part shows a lack of hussle, aggressiveness, and fundamentals. These guys know how to box out. They've been taught how to do it since they were 8 years old. Whether they decide to actually do what they were taught is a mental decision on their part.

We beat ourselves. A&M did not dazzle us. There were no heroic efforts. They played solid fundamental basketball and beat a team that was sitting on their heals.

Carter's 26 is closer to a 1/3 of their points rather than half. He also shot 62% from the field. I'm sure Dave Rose said, Lets leave open the guy who led the country in 3 point shooting last year... He had his 2nd best game point wise in 4 years of collegiate basketball.

You will never hear any of the BYU players say they beat themselves after this game. But you will hear them all say, I mentally chose not to box out. Listen to sports radio on any station tomorrow, and you won't hear a single person say they beat themselves.