Props to BYU Bigs

They controlled sdsu's front court amazingly. Stuffing them left and right and fighting for rebounds. And they did it without getting in foul trouble.



with how cold jackson and some of the others were, they were a big part in us winning that game. I was very impressed with how they played.



I think SDSU made a mistake to hold so many guys back in fear of byu running the ball. they should have played to their strengths and stuck to what they are good at more. They were outplayed and out coached.



Great win for the team and for our big guys as well.

SDSU got Jimmerered, but they also got "Rosed". Dave Rose did a wonderful job coaching this game.

Davies was phenomenal. Just absolutely phenomenal. I was as impressed with him offensively as I was Jimmer in the first half.



Didn't foul much, played just "ok" D in the zone (I don't like to see my bigs wander around the 3 line in a zone, and he was out there all game it seemed. Shows great hustle, but pop out for a sec - or pretend to - and make KC or Abuou come the full way. We need you back down low. They got beat a few several times cause he was out of position). But it was good enough for the W.



Props to Davies on the offense, and Anderson on the defense.



Noah looked like he was playing scared/nervous the whole game... Hopefully that game gave him some confidence. We need him to play well for saturday.

If anybody was playing scared or nervous I thought it was collinsworth. He was extremely hesitant and couldn't seem to get a step on his defender.

jonnylingo wrote:
If anybody was playing scared or nervous I thought it was collinsworth. He was extremely hesitant and couldn't seem to get a step on his defender.

That's probably why we didn't see him much the second half and the fact that Abouo's defense in the second half was huge.

Yeah KC made a couple nice passes, that was it.



KC and Noah were on ice. Abuou and Anderson had good games filling in.



Davies was great in the zone playing center. I really like Davies in the middle, Abuou on the side, and Noah on the other side. That works really well.

jonnylingo wrote:
If anybody was playing scared or nervous I thought it was collinsworth. He was extremely hesitant and couldn't seem to get a step on his defender.

Noah was huge on defense. It took a lot of work to move back forth on the base line to help Davies out on the double, and he battled really hard for boards. Didn't always come down with it, but always had a hand or finger on it.



KC was scared. Yes, he had a nice pass or two, but he also coughed up the ball a few times and looked like the guy on my church basketball team that hasn't touched a basketball in 6 years.



Abouo was a game changer in the 2nd half. I think he should have started last night, but oh well. Was disappointed that Abouo didn't finish on those drives to the basket he had. So close! But his extra size and toughness gave us the edge we needed.



I hope Rose starts him more and at the very least starts him against SDSU in Feb. If KC was wide-eyed while at the Marriott Center against SDSU, what's KC going to be like when playing SDSU at SDSU.

I think KC struggled a little with nerves. But even more he struggled with strength. He is a very tough for a freshman but Abouo is a beast.



On a side note, why can't Abouo finish more plays around the hoop? He looks like gets their and makes a good move but can't finish. I hope last night improved his confidence because we are going to need him.

Kyle has received alot more consideration/patience from fans than Heaps did as a freshman. But then again, byu hoops has the player of the year, surrounded by experience and seniors.Not the other way around like Heaps.

Kyle has done amazing thus far with increased pt and now a starting spot. However, part of the reason he was inneffective last night was strength. He was pushed around while defending--the second best player in the mwc--who also happens to be nba bound. Same on offense. Leonard owuld not let him drive. It was part of sdsu's gameplan. It was well within leonard's better physical attributes--not to slight Kyle. If Abouo does not start at sdsu against leonard, he will play most of the game. ABouo was a beast. It was awesome to watch. Let abouo beat up on leonard and then let Kyle come in and get some good bench play against sdsu's bench 3.

Kyle did also look nervous--biggest game for him yet at byu. But he will be more ready for sdsu next time and much better prepared for the ncaa tourney. He will shape up nicely.

When Abuou touches the ball on offense i get scared. Defensively he is great. Hi soffensive game has never been amazing but it has dropped off lately. I know he was struggling with injury, but he seems to be out of sync and often makes bad decisions like his backwards shot yesterday :)



KC had a great game against CSU. He has a ton of potential. He just needs some time.

BTW,I would disagree that our bigs "controlled" sdsu's bigs. They competed fiercely And i am thrilled that they did so well.

I would also disagree that Davies was phenomenal. He played to the level he was capable of and greatly improved.



BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VARIABLE THAT ALLOWED OUR BIGS OT PLAY WELL--the refs stayed out of it. They clearly were not going to "get in the way" of the outcome. They let the big dogs have their day. I loved it. I predicted that this would be significant AND it was. Otherwise, anderson would have fouled out and Davies owuld have been in trouble.

dmcougar wrote:
BTW,I would disagree that our bigs "controlled" sdsu's bigs. They competed fiercely And i am thrilled that they did so well.

I would also disagree that Davies was phenomenal. He played to the level he was capable of and greatly improved.



BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VARIABLE THAT ALLOWED OUR BIGS OT PLAY WELL--the refs stayed out of it. They clearly were not going to "get in the way" of the outcome. They let the big dogs have their day. I loved it. I predicted that this would be significant AND it was. Otherwise, anderson would have fouled out and Davies owuld have been in trouble.

I agree with the bolded part. I kept thinking to myself, "Wow! I can't believe they aren't calling any of this."



The lack of free throws played into SDSU's hands, as we mop the floor with them comparatively at the line, but it also kept our bigs in the game. I'm happy with the result. ;)



But if you think Davies wasn't phenomenal, then you didn't watch the first half. The first 8 mins he had 80% of our points. He then proceeded to make a few goofy fouls that the refs actually called, and that took him out of the game. HE WAS LIGHTS OUT THE FIRST 8 MINUTES!!!



I WAS AS IMPRESSED WITH DAVIES OFFENSE ABILITY IN THE FIRST HALF AS I WAS WITH JIMMER.



I kept thinking, wow, he is a special player in the post... and he is. Now we just need to work on moving with the defender, and SHABAM!!! we go DEEEEEEEEEP into the tourney.



Either you didn't watch the first 5-10 mins, or you don't know what you are talking about.

dmcougar wrote:
BTW,I would disagree that our bigs "controlled" sdsu's bigs. They competed fiercely And i am thrilled that they did so well.

I would also disagree that Davies was phenomenal. He played to the level he was capable of and greatly improved.



BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VARIABLE THAT ALLOWED OUR BIGS OT PLAY WELL--the refs stayed out of it. They clearly were not going to "get in the way" of the outcome. They let the big dogs have their day. I loved it. I predicted that this would be significant AND it was. Otherwise, anderson would have fouled out and Davies owuld have been in trouble.

Sorry, it's not even worth reading the rest of your post if you don't think Davies played phenomenal.

Davies kept us in the game early.

Phenomenal would include--

1. proper defensive positioning

2. avoiding stupid, preventable fouls;

3. playing at that level for the whole game---say like, whomever the whole nation is talking about.

What I hear some of you saying is that you have lowered the bar for Davies because he has so much potential and only rarely lives up to it; and that you are so dissappointed with his play in several games, that when he shows up and plays really strong for eight minutes, he deserves our praise and labels. Dont get me wrong. Love Davies. Seems like a great kid. Loved watching him take it to sdsu's bigs.

AND YES, if he keeps playing like this, we can make a deep run in the tourney.

And when he plays the whole game like the first 10 minutes, I will be happy to agree that he played "phenonenal".

dmcougar wrote:
BTW,I would disagree that our bigs "controlled" sdsu's bigs. They competed fiercely And i am thrilled that they did so well.

I would also disagree that Davies was phenomenal. He played to the level he was capable of and greatly improved.



BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VARIABLE THAT ALLOWED OUR BIGS OT PLAY WELL--the refs stayed out of it. They clearly were not going to "get in the way" of the outcome. They let the big dogs have their day. I loved it. I predicted that this would be significant AND it was. Otherwise, anderson would have fouled out and Davies owuld have been in trouble.

"controlled" is the right word. They didn't stop them, but they kept them under control.



Davies was phenomenal. To say otherwise is hard to even understand.



I absolutely agree with one point you made however about the refs. They let them play which enabled our better bigs to stay in the game. That was the key in my opinion and could be the difference in a win or a loss in our next meeting.

It's TANGENT TIME!!!



To accuse us, DM of "lowering the bar" for Davies is presumptuous at best. Let me ask you, DM. What is the bar, you talk of us lowering? What is this "potential" you speak of? And what is this mythical number that you have in your head as Davies' potential? I hate it when people talk about potential, as if they - and only they - know what it will take to realize this. Potential... It's such a cliche word.



Who are we to say what a players' potential is/isn't ?

Jimmer is better than any of us "potentially" thought he would be, isn't he...



Yes, he needs to stop fouling stupidly (although the refs were operating under "barnyard basketball" rules last night), yes he needs to stay in the game more. Yes he needs to play better defense whether it be zone/man, whatever. But to expect an offensive performance like he had the first 8 mins for an entire game is crazy. If he where to re-produce that over an entire game, that would be a 30-40 point night, from the post, in college. Are you saying he needs to be at that level consistently? He was shooting the lights out, and couldn't be stopped. He played ____________ !!!! (insert whatever word you chose to describe here - I use the word phenomenal - because to me it was.)



And as far as fouling, I happen to be one of the most "IN YOUR FACE" posters about Davies and foul trouble, etc. And he did fine last night, only having to sit out 5 mins for foul trouble (when he hadn't sat the entire half anyways, iirc.) He ended with, iirc, 3 fouls and they did call some stupid "whodunnit" type calls towards the end of the game. And if we are taking both ends of the court into account, then I expect you to hold Jimmer to that same standard, and say that he had an "okay" game because he turned the ball over, and let his guy score too much. Fair enough?



So he needs better defense? Yep.

To be more level headed at times? Yep.



Play better offensively? I don't think he can. He was amazing in the first half. So amazing, that the best player/shooter in the entire country was FEEDING him the ball as a first option, and SDSU had to make in-game adjustments to cover him. (Like leaving Noah open - which worked well, as he was in "deer-in-headlights" mode most of the game, every shot being tentative, and off-kilter.)



I do agree with your point about the reffing, as i stated earlier. But that plays into our hands as well. Jimmer got absolutely no calls either. It was good officiating, in that, it was sooo bad for both teams. It was "call your own foul" pickup ball, and that plays well for both teams.