33-21. We seem to be playing better, had 12-2 lead at a start, then the game got close, but we got the lead back.

Still two problem: turnovers and poor shooting (around .500). We turn the ball way too much, and there is one reason for it: point guard. Why this top-20 class did not include one? So far Ainge has been doing better and the lead is due to him. But he's not John Stockton, so I'm little nerveous.

BYU went after a very good PG. Can't remember his name off the top my head. He wound up going to UConn. He was at Cleveland's old school in Fresno. But, Phasi, and just about every other poster this week, why are you guys so down on this bball team.
You're upset that Austin Ainge isn't that good and that he's not John Stockton. Heck, Stockon is the best point guard to EVER play. Comparing a college sophmore to him is not fair. I'm not disappointed in this team. They are so very young and have so little experience. Did anyone really expect anything else from this trip to Maui? Get a grip guys!

I just hope we can see some improvement at the PG position. If Angie can play something like Lemes did for us last season we should be okay.

SpiffCoug

But, Phasi, and just about every other poster this week, why are you guys so down on this bball team.

I didn't say we need John Stockton. All we need is somebody like Woodberry or Lemes, but so far from what I've heard on the radio and have seen with my own eyes, we don't have a PG that can even lead us to NCAA tournament.

And from what I heard on the radio today, we can't even compete with a team that was predicted to finish 7th in the Pac-10. Doesn't look like it was PG problem this time since we didn't turn over the ball as bad as earlier this week, but we need to step up somewhere. Either set up a ball better (PG!) or start shooting 3s (27% is good?). I never been a big fan of Rose, and doesn't seem like he's any better this season. Sam Burgess needs to start living to his 3-p master legends, or else we won't even be winning games at home.

Phasi, can't compete? A 3pt loss isn't competing? I do agree that this team needs better play from the PG. Unfortunately, what we have is what we got. They've cut down on turnovers, so that's good, but they're awful with post entry passes right now. The offense is being run poorly right now. I agree about Rose and Burgess, if they don't shoot well, this team has no chance. Last night, Cal was sagging into the middle and dared BYU to take the outside shot. They didn't respect it and we didn't make them pay for it.

SpiffCoug

Phasi, can't compete? A 3pt loss isn't competing? I do agree that this team needs better play from the PG. Unfortunately, what we have is what we got. They've cut down on turnovers, so that's good, but they're awful with post entry passes right now. The offense is being run poorly right now. I agree about Rose and Burgess, if they don't shoot well, this team has no chance. Last night, Cal was sagging into the middle and dared BYU to take the outside shot. They didn't respect it and we didn't make them pay for it.

Yes, 3 points isn't as bad as 36 points, but don't forget that Cal isn't UNC. I highly doubt we will see them in the NCAA tournament and they will probably won't even get into the first five of Pac-10. But we'll see.

Three things upset me about last night. First, that the game was never close until the very end when it was too late. Second, that we seem to get into the game too late -- this is when the loss to UNC happened, as well as Stanford and it was the beginning of our only winning game that was actually close (I mean the first ten minutes). I think it's simply due to the lack of experience and I hope we grow up soon. Third, that we allowed Cal to beat us at home. They seem to be a bad opponent for us any time with any set of players, but I don't like the fact that we lost. Yes, the attendence was lower than usual, but what else do you expect on the week of Thanksgiving brake? I didn't see the game because we were driving through a snow storm in central Utah, as much as I wanted to be there. But KSL gives good reports, so I didn't miss out.

Seems like we chose a hard schedule (compare it with last year when our only good opponent was Oklahoma at Delta Center, and the rest were the likes of SUU) and I don't know why I even thought we'll have a better start. Only one out of first six games at home! But like you said, Spiff, if we only could shoot better we certainly could have a shot at a title. I hope we do better, because we can't have Hall be our best 3-p shooter. That's not his main speciality.