WCC fan bemoans bottom-feeding BYU basketball

frdbtr wrote:
The problem isn't ball hogging or Rose not being intense, it is defense. BYU hasn't played defense since Jackson Emery graduated. The WCC is a guard driven league and BYU's guards constantly get owned by the WCC guards because none of them can play defense. Rose has tried to hide this by playing zones but that hasn't worked either.

Gunk wrote:

The problem isn't ball hogging or Rose not being intense, it is defense. BYU hasn't played defense since Jackson Emery graduated. The WCC is a guard driven league and BYU's guards constantly get owned by the WCC guards because none of them can play defense. Rose has tried to hide this by playing zones but that hasn't worked either.

Defense is largely a product of coaching and player intensity.



Supposedly, we have one of the most if not the most talented team in BYU history, yet our defense is garbage. If they are superior talents then why aren't they playing superior defense compared to past teams?

hawkwing wrote:
He makes some good points. BYU consistently has the absolute best talent in the west and yet struggles to win against bad teams and at best barely makes the NCAA tournament or falls to the NIT. It really is a head scratcher to me too. And every single year the only thing fans say is "Next year, it will be better because so-and-so will have 1 year back from his mission." but every year there's a new so-and-so who just got off his mission, and the situation never changes.

Mars wrote:
http://wccboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1682&sid=53b5ad314a41ed761db3608e826b2aec

BlueK wrote:

http://wccboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1682&sid=53b5ad314a41ed761db3608e826b2aec

BYU hasn't performed at a level as high as we would have hoped since joining the WCC, but even many BYU fans I think incorrectly think St Mary's has done way better. Let's see below. I think you can only make a credible case for St. Mary's for the first two years so far.



2012 BYU NCAA tournament. Won a "first four" game, lost next round

2013 BYU NIT final four

2014 BYU NCAA tournament -- 10 seed. Lost first game right after Collinsworth knee injury

2015 BYU NCAA tournament -- lost "first four" game.

2016 BYU NIT final four



St. Marys

2012 NCAA tournament. 7 seed -- lost first game to 10 seed

2013 NCAA tournament -- won first four game, lost next round

2014 NIT -- lost in 2nd round

2015 NIT -- lost in 1st round

2016 NIT -- lost by 20 to Valpo in quarterfinals



Head to head:

BYU lost its first four games against SMC during the first two years in the WCC. Since then we've won 4 and lost 2.

Gunk wrote:
We've failed to own the WCC. Just about any Rose team before 2010 would have destroyed the WCC. I have a few theories:



1) Since joining the WCC, we've played "down." Between SDSU, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah and even Air Force there for a bit the MWC had some solid teams. We couldn't afford to take a team/game for granted. We had to prove ourselves. The WCC is a weaker conference and it got to our heads. We came in entitled, got smacked in the face, and haven't recovered. Mentally, our team just isn't there. The hunger is gone. Rather than fighting, it's like we're defending. But what? 2nd or 3rd place?

2) Sadly, I don't think Rose has been the same coach since his bout with cancer. You used to hear how intense he was and how the players feared/respected that intensity.

3) Jimmer was the best and worst thing for BYU. Jimmer was a ball hog, but we cheered him for it because he was so spectacular. Rose himself said he wished Jimmer wouldn't have taken many of the shots he did, but away Jimmer would bomb and make them. Jimmer basically dared Rose to reign him in and Rose balked. The exposure, the entertainment was great. We got to the Sweet 16, which I am sure attracted more talented players. However, those more talented players have egos and want to be the next "Jimmer."

4) Loss of team ball. BYU teams used to thrive off of being scrappy. We won because we hustled on defense and beat teams down the court. Our roster was full of 2 and the occasional 3 star recruit. We played with chips on our shoulders, out to prove a bunch Mormons can play ball too. The players looked to Rose to captain them and scheme a way to win. They played for Rose not to fill a stat sheet so they could get drafted. Remember how we used to be thrilled when a BYU player was good enough to play Euro ball? I would trade any of those early Rose teams for the one we have now. The influx of talent has eroded trust in Rose and the concept of team ball.

BYULV wrote:
Reading the post, this "WCC Fan" is actually a SMC fan. He lets it slip about "We" when talking about SMC. He has some valid points, sure, but in no way has BYU been equivalent to the rest of the WCC. As pointed out above, BYU has done more tournament than SMC and I suspect typically plays a lot tougher OOC schedule than SMC (this year not as much).



As far as comparing our guys to Gonzaga or SMC as far as team chemistry, it is apples to oranges. SMC obviously had no turnover. Gonzaga had turnover, but replaced with very experienced players. BYU is starting 2 freshman, 2 sophomores and a transfer senior. This includes two guys fresh off missions. I'd have been impressed if they were able to gel right away. I'm disappointed with our losses, especially to UVU, but no reason to give up on this team yet. They obviously haven't given up and look to be attempting to follow the coaches gameplans. Hope they get it together soon, I'm confident they will.



The good new is we have got our bad loss (UVU) out of the way so we don't have to lose to Pacific or Portland or someone this year. Go Cougs!!