Bottom line is we got beat by the 6th best team of the 3rd or 4th best conference. We are basically running with 4 guards on the floor. Trent is a solid college level center but will never be the go to guy and has no support underneath and I hope there isn't anymore talk of him in the draft this year. Jimmer and Lee should be big time in the future. We just need to get several bigs that can compete consistantly with quality minutes at the college level and bang the boards. We've got a team that can do well in the Mountain West but when it comes tournament time there are just lots of teams out there that have the big dogs that we don't.

And that's My thoughts (for what they are worth)

Go Cougs!
L Hatton
Louisville KY

hamrdown wrote:

WACoug wrote:

This team needs to get picked up by a tornado, fly to Oz, see the wizard and ask him for a heart, a brain (Tavernari), and some courage.

PS And maybe the ability to hit a free throw.

I couldn't agree more. When Tavernari launched his 40 foot 3-pointer with a ton of time left, I knew the team was dead. He has done this over and over this year. He needs to be a smarter player.

When this happened one of my friends watching with me said, "he isn't on an academic scholarship is he?"

Go Cougs!!!

Give credit to A&M. The only way they were going to win that game was to come shooting lights out. That's what they did. Add that to the Cougar's inability to rebound and shoot free throws (neither of which were totally unexpected, but far worse that hoped), and that is a formula for a solid loss. A&M is a good team, but BYU could have easily won the game if they really wanted to.

By the way, no one can blame the refs. I thought they called a very good game, and that it was fair. I'd be happy to have that crew for MWC play.

As long as BYU keeps drawing an 8 or 9 seed, they are going to struggle to make it past the first round, as would any other team. I think that there is also a psychological factor at play here as well.

Finally, given Trent's play on the national stage, I think he would be foolish to even try to make the jump to the NBA now. While he clearly has some great skills, he is very inconsistent and there are some serious problem areas that would make any NBA team balk at him, not the least of which is his utter inability to shoot free throws. After last night, those limitations should be very obvious to pro scouts. It's better if he waits another year and improves--barring a total meltdown, I can't imagine his stock going down further.

Real.Men.Wear.Blue wrote:

Give credit to A&M. The only way they were going to win that game was to come shooting lights out. That's what they did. Add that to the Cougar's inability to rebound and shoot free throws (neither of which were totally unexpected, but far worse that hoped), and that is a formula for a solid loss. A&M is a good team, but BYU could have easily won the game if they really wanted to.

Sure, but this happens every year. Shouldn't we have known this could have happened and put a body on him? People are saying the exact same thing as the year we lost to Syracuse. "Wow! Who would have thought that McNamara was going to hit so many three's? Wow! That was very surprising!" I am tired of hearing this. It tells me that Rose is a good coach not a great one.

On the way home last night I told my wife that we would come out scared and fall behind quickly. 11-0 to start. It's time to wake up and realize that we suck at basketball. Our team is never ready for the big game under Rose, and the Louisville game doesn't count. One time this year doesn't change the fact that we lost 4 big games because we were scared, nervous, had the jitters, etc.

I really thought this team was going places when we beat Utah at Utah, until I realized that Utah is a really, really bad team.

In college it is all about the guard play. Most of our starting guards did nothing. For one, with the system we are playing (finesse) we need a really good point guard who knows how to get the ball inside. It would also help if the big guys would learn to hold their own and not get pushed out 20 feet from the basket. We have an ok team. Until they realize that they can be great, they will not get far in the tournament. If they are scared of the other teams, they just shouldn't be there. Where is that dang chip on the shoulder from losing the MWC tournament? Instead of coming out and proving they belong. They just.....wait! The season is over. I can't change a thing. The coaches don't read this board. The players don't read this board and I am just a "nobody." We all have the special potion for what ails the team. But none of us has the access to provide it. So, enjoy spring ball. Pray that the coaches and team have good "exit interviews" and assessments. And realize that all we can do is be fans, cheer, boo and hope for the best. C'st la vie.
GO Cougs!!! the_other_blackguy@byu

NorthernCougar wrote:

I really thought this team was going places when we beat Utah at Utah, until I realized that Utah is a really, really bad team.

And yet they're still playing and we're not.