line in the sand...

[BlueK]

I don't know what to expect from this team. We're so young, so new to each other that I don't know how they'll do. There was a ton of turnover in the off-season that the coaches have their work cut for them in getting everyone on the same page. I worry about team cliques (the Lone Peak 3, the graduate transfers, the incoming, non-RM freshmen, etc) that might affect team chemistry.

I think we have some real talented players, but I don't know if it will all come together this year.

I know the "lone peak 3" are the 3 we've all been waiting to see on the floor together, but doesn't BYU have a few more players from lone peak?

Only Zach Frampton, a walkon who won't play much

[BlueK]

None of the former BYU players at UVU (Jake Toolson, Calvert, Neilson) would have gotten much playing time this year. That's why they left. Also, for this season Neilson is the only one who will be able to play. Toolson and Calvert have to redshirt. Actually, I think Calvert may be able to second semester, but that would be too late to play against BYU.

[hawkwing]

< 20 wins = Major disappointment, Rose on the HOT seat.
20 - 22 wins = disappointing season
23 wins = Expectation
> 23 - 25 wins = Exceeding expectations
> 25 wins = Fantastic season

[BlueK]

Going back to St. Mary's, my point about them was that they and BYU had basically the same season last year. The NIT rated us both the same (2 seed) with our team going a round further.

The reason I think we will be better overall than them this year is because we lost a part of our team and have replaced it with better players. Now I guess you can argue that the new group of players really isn't going to be that good or will be worse than the group that left. I wouldn't agree with that, but that's the logical alternative.

[BroncoBot]

< 20 wins = Major disappointment, Rose on the HOT seat.
20 - 22 wins = disappointing season
23 wins = Expectation
> 23 - 25 wins = Exceeding expectations
> 25 wins = Fantastic season

This all depends on how good those teams end up being that beat us in pre-wcc play. Also depends on if BYU has a couple headscratchers during WCC play, they've always had a few that I don't understand since joining WCC. I don't think Rose is going to be on the hotseat unless we have a losing season this year, which I don't see happening. It's a young unproven team that has a lot to get figured out. Maybe my opinion will change after a few pre-season games.

[hawkwing]

< 20 wins = Major disappointment, Rose on the HOT seat.
20 - 22 wins = disappointing season
23 wins = Expectation
> 23 - 25 wins = Exceeding expectations
> 25 wins = Fantastic season

This all depends on how good those teams end up being that beat us in pre-wcc play. Also depends on if BYU has a couple headscratchers during WCC play, they've always had a few that I don't understand since joining WCC. I don't think Rose is going to be on the hotseat unless we have a losing season this year, which I don't see happening. It's a young unproven team that has a lot to get figured out. Maybe my opinion will change after a few pre-season games.

I disagree, other teams with several top 100 players on the team often make it to the sweet 16. I don't understand why our expectations for BYU are so much lower than the rest of the world.

[Qman]

< 20 wins = Major disappointment, Rose on the HOT seat.
20 - 22 wins = disappointing season
23 wins = Expectation
> 23 - 25 wins = Exceeding expectations
> 25 wins = Fantastic season

This all depends on how good those teams end up being that beat us in pre-wcc play. Also depends on if BYU has a couple headscratchers during WCC play, they've always had a few that I don't understand since joining WCC. I don't think Rose is going to be on the hotseat unless we have a losing season this year, which I don't see happening. It's a young unproven team that has a lot to get figured out. Maybe my opinion will change after a few pre-season games.

I disagree, other teams with several top 100 players on the team often make it to the sweet 16. I don't understand why our expectations for BYU are so much lower than the rest of the world.

And several teams with no ESPN 100 guys make the sweet 16 too. I hope you are right and we dominate the WCC and make a big run in NCAA's. But I believe we don't have the experience/physicality to play consistently well.

Think about it this way- who are big guys who weigh more than 230 on the team? Mika, Kaufisi, Aytes and Dastrup(not in a good way for him). That means Childs, Shaw and Davis are under-strength. Other teams will be able to wear us down.

On the perimeter who on the team weighs more than 195? Rose and Bryant. Unfortunately Rose is frequently hurt. So we are going to be at physical disadvantage almost all the time.

Maybe next year our strength conditioning program will provide some improvements, but this year I expect to be at a strength disadvantage all year long.

[hawkwing]

< 20 wins = Major disappointment, Rose on the HOT seat.
20 - 22 wins = disappointing season
23 wins = Expectation
> 23 - 25 wins = Exceeding expectations
> 25 wins = Fantastic season

This all depends on how good those teams end up being that beat us in pre-wcc play. Also depends on if BYU has a couple headscratchers during WCC play, they've always had a few that I don't understand since joining WCC. I don't think Rose is going to be on the hotseat unless we have a losing season this year, which I don't see happening. It's a young unproven team that has a lot to get figured out. Maybe my opinion will change after a few pre-season games.

I disagree, other teams with several top 100 players on the team often make it to the sweet 16. I don't understand why our expectations for BYU are so much lower than the rest of the world.

And several teams with no ESPN 100 guys make the sweet 16 too. I hope you are right and we dominate the WCC and make a big run in NCAA's. But I believe we don't have the experience/physicality to play consistently well.

Think about it this way- who are big guys who weigh more than 230 on the team? Mika, Kaufisi, Aytes and Dastrup(not in a good way for him). That means Childs, Shaw and Davis are under-strength. Other teams will be able to wear us down.

On the perimeter who on the team weighs more than 195? Rose and Bryant. Unfortunately Rose is frequently hurt. So we are going to be at physical disadvantage almost all the time.

Maybe next year our strength conditioning program will provide some improvements, but this year I expect to be at a strength disadvantage all year long.

I don't remember the exact numbers off the top of my head but I I looked at the Final Four/Elite Eight teams several months ago and very few of them had less than 2 top 100 players, I don't think any of them had none (don't quote me on that last part).

[SpiffCoug]

I don't remember the exact numbers off the top of my head but I I looked at the Final Four/Elite Eight teams several months ago and very few of them had less than 2 top 100 players, I don't think any of them had none (don't quote me on that last part).

Here's the thread you started that had some pretty good info from you and other posters.
http://cougarcorner.com/viewtopic.php?f ... ur#p226884

[Gunk]

23 wins. We'll drop a few we aren't supposed to. It's a young group of players that hasn't played together.