KC! And some of you scoffed....

At KC all together. But also when I suggested that he could be Magic Johnson-like for this team.

He is having a great season--especially for the first one back. Check out some stats/tweets from Wrubell.



"Kyle Collinsworth continues to impress with across-the-board dominance in conference-only stats."



"Collinsworth's WCC rankings (conf play only): 7th ppg, 2nd rpg, 1st orpg, 2nd FG%, 1st apg, 6th a/to ratio, 1st stls/gm, 8th blocks/gm."



"Best all-around player in the WCC? Kyle Collinsworth is making an early case. Tough pace to maintain, but he has been fantastic in league."



GO KC!

I was on the KC bandwagon early. Not Magic Johnson version, but I expected him to be a starter ad a key contributor. Took some heat from those that were incensed that Rose would even mention his name and the words point and / or guard in the same sentence. KC needs to improve his free throw shooting and then he will be a complete player and possibly the most versatile BYU player ever.



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I'm surprised at how quickly he's gotten into shape. He's actually better than he was as a freshman. Which is impressive considering he didn't play for two years.



SEE! Missions ARE an advantage! We need to send all our guys to Siberia!

WEll, besides his Fts costing BYU a couple games, I've been impressed. Fun to watch this year.

Fix his free throw shooting and his jumper and, yes, I'd say perhaps he's easily the most versatile player we've ever had at BYU. But until he fixes his shot--a terribly difficult thing to do imo--he's not in that conversation. He has literally cost us games his entire career due to these weaknesses.

Which player or coach hasn't cost BYU some games this year or last?

His FTs are starting to improve. Outside shot needs to improve, but, but I'd take KC over MC about 90 times out of 100.

mizzoucoug wrote:
Fix his free throw shooting and his jumper and, yes, I'd say perhaps he's easily the most versatile player we've ever had at BYU. But until he fixes his shot--a terribly difficult thing to do imo--he's not in that conversation. He has literally cost us games his entire career due to these weaknesses.

Absolutely as has Haws and Carlino and just about everyone else on the team. Other than Haws, if even Haws, I am not sure anyone has won more games for us this year either. Kyle has shortcomings as noted - a sophomore mind you - but he has been our most consistent player.

Being a huge Phoenix Suns fan, he makes me think I am watching a Young Dan Majerle in the late 80's. Lots of hustle, great rebounder, does all the dirty work. If he gets himself a dead on reliable jump shot and gets his free throw percentage into the 80's we will see him in the NBA for a bunch of years.

KC is much better than I expected. Handles the ball better than he did and certainly makes better decisions.



We knew he couldn't shoot, so no surprise there. Over the last few games he has gotten better at the line, so there is hope.



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I still scoff...at his hair.

Maybe my memory is fading but to me Kyle is a bigger, stronger version of Travis Hansen. The only thing that bothers me about Kyle is he seeming lack of hustle, especially in recovery after his own mistakes. He seems a little casual to me and yet often can be found lulling his man and blowing by him for inside baskets. It's no wonder his shooting percentage is high. He rarely shoots outside of 6 feet.



OVerall, I'm impressed with him. I just think he is a ways off from hitting his ceiling.



Go Cougs!!!

J. Child

Ammon, ID

AmmonCougar1 wrote:
Maybe my memory is fading but to me Kyle is a bigger, stronger version of Travis Hansen. The only thing that bothers me about Kyle is he seeming lack of hustle, especially in recovery after his own mistakes. He seems a little casual to me and yet often can be found lulling his man and blowing by him for inside baskets. It's no wonder his shooting percentage is high. He rarely shoots outside of 6 feet.



OVerall, I'm impressed with him. I just think he is a ways off from hitting his ceiling.



Go Cougs!!!

J. Child

Ammon, ID

Except Travis Hansen was quicker, made free throws, had a great outside shot and bleached his hair which wasn't a faux hawk or mullet. I'm always amazed when KC gets to the hoop because he does seem so casual and slow. He nearly stands upright all game. I would make more negative comments about is style, except he gets results and you can't say much against that.

BYULV wrote:

Maybe my memory is fading but to me Kyle is a bigger, stronger version of Travis Hansen. The only thing that bothers me about Kyle is he seeming lack of hustle, especially in recovery after his own mistakes. He seems a little casual to me and yet often can be found lulling his man and blowing by him for inside baskets. It's no wonder his shooting percentage is high. He rarely shoots outside of 6 feet.



OVerall, I'm impressed with him. I just think he is a ways off from hitting his ceiling.



Go Cougs!!!

J. Child

Ammon, ID

Except Travis Hansen was quicker, made free throws, had a great outside shot and bleached his hair which wasn't a faux hawk or mullet. I'm always amazed when KC gets to the hoop because he does seem so casual and slow. He nearly stands upright all game. I would make more negative comments about is style, except he gets results and you can't say much against that.

Don't forget that Hansen could really get up. I think KC is a better ball-handler but Hansen is the last all-around wing we had that was about the same size.



Though KC will need to either learn how to shoot nba 3's or become a freak athlete to make the league.

KC is doing better at pulling up in the lane and shooting 10 foot jumpers. Even someone who shoots like a girl should be able to nail that shot consistently even if it has to hit rim 3x. That kind of mid range shot is what gets him to the next level if he keeps it up. Next it will need to be 3's and FT's. Because right now all he makes are layups and dunks and nobody who isn't 7'0" can rely on that forever.

mizzoucoug wrote:
KC is doing better at pulling up in the lane and shooting 10 foot jumpers. Even someone who shoots like a girl should be able to nail that shot consistently even if it has to hit rim 3x. That kind of mid range shot is what gets him to the next level if he keeps it up. Next it will need to be 3's and FT's. Because right now all he makes are layups and dunks and nobody who isn't 7'0" can rely on that forever.

He doesn't really extend his arms when shooting, does he. With his height and vertical he should be able shoot over defenders all day.



Regarding Travis Hansen, I'd take Hansen over KC any day of the week. Better shooting, better hops, better post up moves and certainly better defense. No comparison in my mind.



KC needs an outside shot and a couple of back to the basket moves and he'd be nearly unstoppable.



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Gunk wrote:
[He doesn't really extend his arms when shooting, does he. With his height and vertical he should be able shoot over defenders all day.



Regarding Travis Hansen, I'd take Hansen over KC any day of the week. Better shooting, better hops, better post up moves and certainly better defense. No comparison in my mind.



KC needs an outside shot and a couple of back to the basket moves and he'd be nearly unstoppable.



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It's for this reason I can't wait till KC is a senior and it will be His team. He may never develop the shooting touch Hansen had but with his size and a couple years of polish he will be dang exciting to watch, regardless of what position he ends up on the floor.



Go Cougs!



L Hatton

Louisville, KY

KYCoug wrote:

[He doesn't really extend his arms when shooting, does he. With his height and vertical he should be able shoot over defenders all day.



Regarding Travis Hansen, I'd take Hansen over KC any day of the week. Better shooting, better hops, better post up moves and certainly better defense. No comparison in my mind.



KC needs an outside shot and a couple of back to the basket moves and he'd be nearly unstoppable.



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It's for this reason I can't wait till KC is a senior and it will be His team. He may never develop the shooting touch Hansen had but with his size and a couple years of polish he will be dang exciting to watch, regardless of what position he ends up on the floor.



Go Cougs!



L Hatton

Louisville, KY

I don't want to have to wait until he's a Senior to see him get a jumper. That's a sad thought. He should spend time with Keena in the offseason and learn some post moves and a fadeaway. If he can master the post then he can live with a weak jumper.

I don't know if we'll have wait until he is a SR before he has a reliable jumper. But we certainly have to wait until he is a JR as he's not going to have that this year.



Also, KC and Haws are setting the bar quite high for RMs. If you're an RM, you better be ready to contribute right away. Because these two guys have shown you can lose your mission legs right quick.

They have shown that THEY can lose their mission legs right quick. Many others have injured themselves trying to get back quickly. I don't know what the difference is, but I do know that not all bodies are the same, so it is impossible to say that what one can do, all others will be able to do.



It's great to see what they have done. I really look forward to see how good KC will be next year.

bigbluepuma wrote:
They have shown that THEY can lose their mission legs right quick. Many others have injured themselves trying to get back quickly. I don't know what the difference is, but I do know that not all bodies are the same, so it is impossible to say that what one can do, all others will be able to do.



It's great to see what they have done. I really look forward to see how good KC will be next year.

From the bits and pieces I have caught, Haws and KC took it slow getting back into shape. Before jumping into a 5 on 5 game they worked out, did a lot of yoga, etc. After a few weeks of getting their bodies ready to take bruising of basketball they started working basketball back into their daily regime, whereas previous RMs were so eager to get back to form they just jumped back into competitive basketball.



In KC's case it's probably why we've seen an increase in ball handling. He took the time to rework on fundamentals before playing games. Had he just played games he likely would have resorted to previous habits.



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