BYU-Utah: Previewing the Cougars' Quest for Five Straight

We are attempting to beat Utah tomorrow for the fifth time in a row overall and third in a row in the Huntsman Center. This will not be an easy task, as crazy Jim Boylen will have the troops fired up and ready to run somebody over. He knows he can’t lose again or the fanbase will start to turn against him.

This is a huge game for them. We need to make sure it’s just as important to us. I think we will have no problem getting up for this game; we just need to make sure we come in with confidence. Our guards have to play excellent tomorrow as Utah has the advantage down low with 7′2″ Luke Nevill, who seems to kill us in this building.

The Huntsman Center has to be the darkest arena in all of college basketball, and they are the only team in the league to use the “Wilson Revolution” basketballs. This always seemed silly to me that we didn’t all decide on one ball for the league. They have the thickest seams I’ve played with, and the ball is really grippy. It’s not bad, just a little different. It’s the small things, you know.

These things and the fans create a nice advantage for the Utes, and they’ve been very good at home over the years.

The practice before the Utah game is intense. The coaches usually look tired from all night film, and you can tell how important this game is. There are so many reasons for them to win this game. Let me name one you might not think of: The coaches don’t want to deal with the boosters and all the people who surround the program after losing this game.

This is a win that makes all those people happy. They can talk trash to their cousin in Draper for another year, that type of thing. It builds support and momentum for a program when you beat your rival.

For the players, this is a great chance to come up big. This is why you practice; this is why you play the game.

Scouting Report

No. 50 Luke Nevill: 17.2 PPG 8.4 Reb

Push this guy out!!!! If he gets low post position early, I’m switching to American Idol because the game is over. The key is to keep him 10-15 feet away from the basket because then the guard on the same side can “dig down” and make him pick up his dribble, instead of having to double team with our 4 man and everyone scramble as the ball is passed out.

If we can guard him one on one and keep him under his average, we will win the game. If we have to double team all night, they will get wide-open three-pointers, and if they are shooting their average they win fairly easily. We need to make him run the floor as well to wear him out; our 5 man needs to run.

No. 21 Shaun Green: 10.4 PPG 5.2 Reb

Power Forward, shooter. We don’t want do have to double team off of him because he’s a knockdown three-point shooter. Double-teaming with our 4 man is called “monstering” the post.  When he sets a ballscreen, we can just switch men because Tavernari can guard the guard coming off the screen, and our guards can handle Shaun Green, who is setting the screen. This is the easiest way to guard it. NO OPEN THREES!

No. 11 Lawrence Borha: 11.1 PPG 3.2 Reb

Good pump fake, stay down. He likes the pull up and shoot from 15 feet and occasionally will get all the way to the rack usually for a reverse lay-up.

No. 32 Tyler Kepkay: 10.2 PPG 1.2 assists

He’s a good player; he was a JC All-American. Likes to shoot coming off the ballscreen, and on the catch he will fire up threes. Second best shooter behind Shaun Green. No open threes!!!!

No. 15 Carlon Brown: 10.0 PPG 3.7 assists

Quickest player, best penetrator. Likes to drive and kick the ball out for the three-point shot from a teammate. Also he will pull up for that mid-range jumpshot. Don’t over-help when he is driving; make him make that floater in the lane rather than helping and he kicks it out for an open three.

No. 5 Luca Drca: 7.9 PPG 3.2 assists

Good player; off the ball screen he is dangerous. Loves to go behind his back when you cut him off on the penetration. He is a good post feeder and all-around passer. Also looks for the 15-foot jumper and will shoot threes off the catch.

Keys to win

* Keep Nevill away from the basket.

* Limit their three-point shots and makes.

* RUN!