Detmer wrote:

Which player will have the biggest impact on the outcome of the game for BYU?

Plaisted?
Cummard?
Tavernari?

Or is it Murdock?

It will have to be plaisted and miles on D and Cummard on O if BYU wants to win. If BYU wants to lose they're offensive impact will look a lot like it did saturday night--lots of people launching and missing threes and not getting the ball inside.

Honestly, I don't know if this particular game will be much different than when we played Louisville. A+M is a team that doesn't shoot outside well consistently and because of the size they employee, doesn't press much. I think we have a chance to win depending on how we shoot and rebound; A+M isn't the worst matchup for us (for example I'd rather play A+M than Kstate, even though they had about the same success).

We mixed and matched zone defense against Louisville and dictated the flow of the game for the most part. With the exception of getting beaten on offensive boards and putbacks, we controlled the majority of that game. (If you remember, it didn't need to be as tight as the final score indicated).

I think we have a chance, and I'm glad that Trent has to play against big men that will be NBA bound in the future. (DeAndre Jordan is very raw but many think he's lottery if he leaves this year). Hopefully Trent comes out of this experience with the understanding that he needs to come back, improve his limited game and have a dominant senior season; because truthfully not many give us odds against UCLA if we win this one (Collison is Murdocks worst nightmare). Win or lose, if Trent decides to return and work his butt off this summer...I'll be happy. If we lose and he makes the mistake to hit the NBA, I'll be distraught at best.
If we win and he leaves, it might be a wash (just toget that win in the NCAAs)
I see Jimmer, Lloyd and Morgan as upgrades from Murdock and Burgess and we can only hope that Miles, Cummard, Taverneri, Plaisted (and possibly even Colinsworth if he decides to play next season) come back and have a very special season.

A&M plays an up tempo game with shooters. BYU will have their work cut out to make a game of it. BYU has a good chance of winning although history in the tournament shows a bleek outcome. I have to go with history and one and done approach. I hope I'm wrong.

Go Cougs.

This game could actually bode well now that I think about it. (Basing my comment on the assumption that A&M doesn't shoot outside well) My #1 concern is our defensive rebounding; however, we tend to be much worse on long rebounds, not so much on inside shots. If our boys can box out (a 3rd grade fundamental) then we should be able to shut them down. I just remember that in a few, if not all, of our losses we were absolutely pwned on 2nd chance points.

Of course we need Trent, JT and Cummard to play at the top of their game, but as has been in the past once again we are weak in the PG category.

Who will have the biggest impact on the outcome of the game? Murdock and Jimmer, whoever is bringing up the ball and guarding A&M's PG. Murdock played well against Louisville. They pressured him all game and he took care of the ball. I was actually impressed with his performance. He hasn't had a game like that since. I don't know where his head is. Jimmer is a bit more of a threat out on the court and isn't affraid to drive, but he needs some polishing. If he's not careful with the ball he's an easy pick. We can't afford any turnovers from our PGs. They have to get the ball inside to Trent and be able to pass it around.

But what worries me most about our PGs is on the other end of the ball on defense. A&M is bigger than we are. Their forwards will be able to push JT and Lee around all they want, so our PGs have to pressure A&M's PGs. Murdock, Jimmer, Burgess, etc. need to disrupt the passing lanes and stay infront of A&M's PGs, anything to keep the ball out of A&M's big guy's hands and keep the big guys away from the basket. In essence, our PGs need to adopt a defense similar to the one UNLV uses against them.

Read the A&M board and you'll learn their PGs can be just as fragile. We need to frustrate them as much as possible.

As before, I think whether we win or not will come down to PG play. Weak PG play has always been BYU's biggest weakness.

I have BYU winning the first round game, and for good measure, I have them beating UCLA. Because I think UCLA is the second best team in the tourney, this year (behind UNC) I have the Cougs going all the way to the National Championship game - ultimately loosing to the Heels by 20.

I figure my brackets suck every year, why not be an unabashed homer?

p.s. I have no money on the line, its just pride!