BYU Game 5 Team Preview- Norm’s Rainbows

Ah, Hawaii, you fair and delightsome school. Even though your ‘scoreybook’ past has been in a slump lately, you get your Prodigal Son back, and former BYU Offensive Genius, er, Coordinator, Norm Chow. Chow begins is head coaching career back in a familiar place, at least league wise, in the Mountain West Conference. Hawaii fans have an appreciation for Chow and hope he can return these Warriors back to prominence on the national level.

It will take some work though year one. Still trying to replace the latest in a series of good QB’s at HawaiiU in Bryant Moniz, Junior David Graves gets the nod to implement Chow’s system. He hasn’t been on the level yet of previous QB’s here, but he is mostly unproven. And he also has an extra weapon on his side. Veteran WR’s Billy Ray Stuzmann and Jeremiah Ostrowski, not to mention the bevy of secondary WR’s should help Graves find somebody open during much of each game. With so much talent it’s hard to overlook two returning running backs for the Rainbows. Although Joey Iosefa and Sterling Jackson weren’t a part of much offense last year, their experience, combined with the possibility of new wrinkles through Chow’s system, could give these guys some added dimension to the air attack.

First year Defensive Coordinator Thom Kaumeyer comes from the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and will need every bit of his experience to piece together a defense as good as last years. Key graduations to linebackers Corey Paredes and Aaron Brown leaves Kaumeyer the dubious chore of replacing a combined 210 tackles from last season. Hawaii’s defense hasn’t been called upon to win games, but they’re hoping for the defense to keep them in games this season as they start out year 1 in the retooled MWC.

The Dog and Deuce Show

On Tuesday evening, May 15, Carl and I had the opportunity to try our hand at podcasting at the invitation of Dog and Deuce on their podcast, The Dog and Deuce Show.  They are a couple of die-hard Ute fans who happen to have some reasonable heads on their shoulders and don’t get caught up in the rivalry hatred.  I’ve been talking with them on Twitter for some time now and have become a regular listener of their weekly podcast.  We’ve even collaborated on few academically ineligible features to discuss the Utah Jazz on our Ask the Ineligibles page.

On the podcast we discussed several topics including what happened to the Jazz in the playoffs and what we expect going forward.  We touch on the precarious state of the LA Lakers.  Then we delve into the never-ending discussion of college football conference realignment and end with a lively debate about BYU and whether they need to be in a conference or not.  Check out the episode here.  They’ve got the full show notes up on their page including how to contact them.

Thanks again to Dog and Deuce for inviting us on their podcast.  I know we both had a lot of fun and can’t wait to record another episode of The Dog and Deuce Show.

As a side note, if you don’t have iTunes, don’t like iTunes, or for any other reason don’t use iTunes, I found a really great app from the app store for downloading and storing podcasts automatically.  It is called Instacast.  You can download it here.

BYU Player Profile – Uona Kaveinga

  Uona Kaveinga

   Position: Linebacker

   Class: Senior

   Height: 5’11″  Weight: 236

   Hometown: Hawthorne, CA

Kaveinga came to BYU two seasons ago as a transfer student from USC after having chosen the Trojans over Bronco Mendenhall’s Cougars.  He found that he was missing something in his experience and came to BYU.  He wanted to do it so badly that he even took his redshirt year between schools and played a year on BYU’s scout team.  Last season he forced 4 fumbles, made more than 50 solo tackles, and in general just ruled the middle linebacking spot.  Look for him to make and even bigger mark this season as he begins his senior campaign.

We Are Utah Jazz

#WeAreUtahJazz

Last night the Jazz pushed and fought and played as well as they probably were capable of in this series against the San Antonio Spurs.  However, they lost, and with that loss, the season came to an end for this team of super over-achievers.  I’ve recently written my thoughts on how this team has over-achieved on every expectation that anyone but maybe themselves placed upon them, so I won’t get into it again, just go read all my recent Jazz posts and tweets on either my personal or the academically ineligible Twitter feeds.

What I want to hit upon here is a quick snippet on each member of this current roster; his evolution to this point.

And before I start, let me just tell this team, “Thank you for such a marvelous season.  You took me on a journey that I never would have expected, and couldn’t have asked more from you.  I’m excited for the future and can’t wait to see you come back together come October.”

Now, without further ado, the guards:

Devin Harris

Devin Harris – Harris didn’t have anyone to challenge him for his starting position except himself.  I’ve been hard on him all season, but as we watched him over this stretch run, I think we saw many glimpses of who this player really is.  For the season, he was a 36% 3 point shooter and elevated that to 42% in April while adding more than 5 PPG and almost another half assist while this team marched into the playoffs.

I still feel there are better options out there, but we aren’t going to find one in the free agency and even less likely in the draft, so I really like Harris going into a contract season.  He is making $8.5 million* next season, which I feel is fair for a starting point guard.

Keep him here.

Earl Watson – He’s going to make $2 million* this next season.  Can you get a better deal for a veteran back up?  Okay, maybe you can with Jamaal Tinsley, maybe not.  With Watson, you get a better defender and a more judicious shooter, but Tinsley gives you a little more moxie with more bad shots.  Neither is so good as to elevate one above the other.  But with Tinsley only making $1.35 million* if the Jazz pick up his option, I’m okay with either one.

However, if a better option should present itself this off-season, I wouldn’t be sad to see the end of the Tinsley experiment in Utah.

Blake Ahearn - Thanks for jumping in as a safety net, but I don’t expect you back next season.

Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward – When you have a second year player on your roster, you expect him to take big strides towards a successful career.  However, that comes from summer league play, training camp, practice, and consistency, none of which was afforded to Hayward.  And it showed at the beginning of the season.  But when the young man from Butler turned it on as the season progressed, he showed us all why he should be considered one of the two cornerstone pieces of this team.  The maturity he exuded during the move to the bench during the season tells volumes about Hayward.  He’s under contract for as many as three more seasons under his current contract at an incredible value of $2.7 million* next season.  And word is he’ll play summer league with Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and the other young guns.  This is a kid to build a team around.

Alec Burks – What do you say about the rookie taken 12^th overall in a draft with a dearth of talented players?  Well, I for one was not disappointed.  He had a lot of learning opportunities and he succeeded in some and in others he “learned.”  He’s under contract for cheap still and with a full off-season of opportunities to learn and grow, he’ll be a more valuable contributor next season.

CJ Miles – Umm, I don’t even know where to start.  I like how the player most fans want to see out of Utah this offseason spent his locker clean out day complaining about how he didn’t fit in this year.  Yeah, you think CJ?  You don’t play defense, you aren’t a “knock down shooter” and you play selfish basketball.  And if someone looked up “underachiever” in the dictionary, your picture would be next to Bart Simpson’s.

Please Kevin O’Connor, for the love of the basketball gods, DO NOT SIGN HIM FOR ANY AMOUNT!

Raja Bell – Ty Corbin understood, better than just about anyone else this season, that he owed his veterans a chance to earn a future living.  So in spite of all the clamoring for more of the “meaningful minutes” for the young guys, he stuck with it and played the vets.  Bell was perhaps the one who didn’t get that this wasn’t his team.  He dealt with injury all season, was sent home during an East Coast road trip for mouthing off to a rookie head coach, and then didn’t spend one minute playing against the Spurs.  The writing is on the wall Raja.  Fortunately, he sees it too.  Unfortunately, he still has one guaranteed season.  Hopefully KOC can find a partner.

Josh Howard

Josh Howard – Yet another experiment that had its ups and its downs this season.  Howard came cheap this season as he resurrected his career, but he won’t come for 1 year and $2.5 million* next year and I don’t see how this is a match that can be justified for more than that.  Howard provided some quality veteran leadership, but frankly, he was outplayed by DeMarre Carroll who showed his passion to make this team in the future by playing straight up ball.  If Howard can come back on the cheap like he did this season, I’ll be happy to see him in SLC next season.

DeMarre Carroll – The mid-season pick up gave more than anyone could have hoped for as he provided big minutes from the bench and as a starter over the final few games for the team and was pivotal in the final push to make the playoffs.  He was replaced as a starter by a returning Josh Howard which many felt was the wrong move at the time.  I didn’t.  I was wrong.  Howard’s “playoff experience” didn’t matter in the end and Carroll had built the chemistry that Howard had lost while recovering from his knee injury.

Carroll won’t come at $535,000* next season, but all indications are the Jazz will bring him back.

Jeremy Evans - #freeJeremyEvans.  That’s about all I can say.  Its really too bad there just isn’t much room for this great kid on the floor.  But how hard is it to let the dunk champ go, especially after the governor gives him his own day in Utah – even if it does only come around but once every four years?

Paul Millsap – Man, oh man!  I’ve been critical of Millsap over the season, but as it now concludes, I couldn’t think of many more guys I want on this team than Millsap.  He too will be entering into a contract year in 2012.  This guy has dreams of being an all-star power forward, but the problem is the guy breathing down his neck . . . .

Derrick Favors blocks Tiago Splitter

Derrick Favors – The humble, soft-spoken kid from Atlanta spoke up today with the coaches.  “I want to start coach” is the gist of the conversation.  And after the proof in the pudding of the team’s improved defense with him on the floor, can you really keep starting Millsap at the 4?  Sure, Paul has stated he will play the 3 if he’s asked, but the “big lineup” isn’t a full-time lineup.  It just isn’t going to work.  Can Paul accept being a back up?  Can he be okay with working to be the 6^th man of the year?

Al Jefferson – You know, if Big Al weren’t going to make $15 million* next season, I probably would be just fine with him here in Utah.  But that’s just it; he is going to make that much.  It’s hard to get on board with that idea.  So then you have to ask if your leading scorer and rebounder is worth $15 million.  And finally, who is going to take his minutes if you move him?  Favors is ready for more minutes, but I just don’t think he is truly capable of playing at the 5 full-time.  And Kanter is not either.  I think he needs more minutes, but he can’t produce what Jefferson did this season and who is going to make up his missing production if he’s not on the floor?

Enes Kanter – The other rookie.  I just hope he takes all his off-season work outs, the summer leagues, and then training camp seriously.  I mean, for a kid who is only in his 6^th year of playing basketball, he’s unbelievably talented.  If he can continue to  grow, Jefferson will have to come back cheap in 2013 if he wants to stay aboard the only playoff team he’s ever led.

I will be watching the summer leagues (man, I miss the Rocky Mountain Review).  I will be watching to see who the Jazz sign, who they trade, and who they allow to walk away after 7 tumultuous seasons (here’s looking to you CJ.)  I look forward to it all.

And finally, let me just finish this post how I started it; thank you Utah Jazz.

*Salary info is from Hoops Hype

BYU Player Profile – Austin Holt

   Austin Holt

   Position: Tight End

   Class: Junior

   Height: 6’5″  Weight: 247

   Hometown: South Jordan, Utah

Holt is one of the many tight ends on this BYU roster that is working towards returning the tight end position to glory at BYU.  Last season he was productive with 11 catches for 180 yards en route to earning all-independent second team honors before missing the final two games with a knee injury.  I was vaguely aware of Holt as a senior in high school at Bingham High School as he earned Region 3 MVP honors before serving a mission in St. Louis, and was very excited to get him into the fold to replace Dennis Pitta and Andrew George.  I’m hoping he’ll have that break out season this year as he goes out to get those big third down conversions this season as a sure-handed big man for Riley Nelson.

5 Burning Questions for BYU Football in 2012

There have been a lot of little snippets of different football-related items that are BYU relevant and I’ve wanted to put my two cents to them on paper, so here we go.  I give you, the academically ineligible 5 Burning Question for BYU Football in 2012.

Conference affiliation vs. Independence

In posts past, I have discussed my feelings on affiliation and the division it endless seems to create amongst BYU fans.  I don’t want to spend a lot of time rehashing this.  I do want to offer my take as it relates to the recent BCS news regarding the inclusion of the 4-team playoff and the supposed doing away of the automatic qualifier (AQ) moniker.  BYU has and will continue to have a difficult road ahead if it ever wants to play in a BCS game or even the national championship game.  Nothing more than one loss will ever allow BYU into a prestigious game.  Inclusion in a BCS-caliber league will not allow it.  The only shot they ever had at mediocrity being good enough was standing with the lousiness that is the Big East, but imagine BYU made a BCS game with 3 or 4 losses.  Could you honestly look at your Utah neighbor in the eyes and tell him that you were the same – I couldn’t.  Inclusion in the Big 12 or the PAC 12 will not allow for a team with more than one loss to play in the biggest of games and certainly never in a National Championship game.  So if “status” is what you are looking for, that alone isn’t worth it.

Does BYU need to get into a major conference this year or soon?  I don’t think so.  Like Greg Wrubell wrote about, BYU can, and should continue “Boldly Independent” as long as there is not such a better offer on the table.  I’ve had the MTN in the past so access to games was never an issue for me, but I sure preferred the ESPN and BYUtv access.  I watched more basketball games this season than ever before.  And I liked the WCC.

I’m not in a hurry.

Bronco’s Drafting Issues

The NFL draft came and went last week and even with all the anticipation, did you really watch a lot of it?  The only thing to really note (other than I feel my Cowboys had a great draft) is the noticeable absence of former BYU players taken amongst the 253 players in the draft.  Really?  BYU didn’t have one player in the “top 253”?  I have seen a lot of people take umbrage with this and blame it on Bronco, but is that really his fault?  His recruiting base is a bunch of kids whose primary focus (for many) in this plan is to get an education and start a family first and then football.  And lets face it, Matt Reynolds didn’t exactly do anything last year to substantiate his draft position (unless you count the helmet-less hit in the Armed Forces Bowl, which was awesome.)  Loni Fangupo was only in Provo for a year and prior to that was underutilized in SoCal.  And given the issues the offensive line had last season to start, can you really get upset that Terrence Brown didn’t get drafted?  And really, who would have expected disappointing McKay Jacobsen to get drafted?  The fact that he got a free agent deal boggles my mind.

If you want to get concerned here, hold your breath.  This year’s seniors include Braden Brown, Romney Fuga, Uona Kaveinga, Riley Nelson, Brandon Ogletree, Joe Sampson, and James Lark.  Do any of them strike you as play on Sunday guys?  Maybe Brown, Fuga, and Kaveinga.  Our juniors who could declare after this season include Michael Alisa, Cody Hoffman, Josh Quezada, and Kyle Van Noy.  You could throw Ross Apo on that list as he is a redshirt sophomore.  I’d be surprised if any but Hoffman and Van Noy declared.  What I’m getting at here paranoid BYU fan is be patient.  If BYU gets shut out in the next few drafts, then BYU might need to worry.  But ask yourself this question: are you really watching and cheering on these next level players or is it just jealousy that Star Lotulelei is projected to be a sure-fire first rounder next season?  If you are just jealous, then don’t get too upset; you can’t complain about 10 win seasons in 6 of 7 years.

Will BYU Win 8 Games or 11?

Looking quickly at BYU’s 2012 schedule, you can ink in wins in the following contests: Weber State, Hawaii, Idaho, San Jose State, and New Mexico State.  You can pencil in Washington State, Utah State, and probably Oregon State.  The toss-up games are all away from Provo in Salt Lake, Boise, South Bend, and Atlanta.  So if you are keep track, BYU should easily win 5 games.  Washington State will be learning a new system on the road for the first week and Oregon State has been bad and if they continue to be so, that should be two more wins.  Utah State has historically been an inked in win, but the past two seasons make this different.  The Aggies now feel they belong and can compete with the Cougars, but with continuity on their side and a brash leader in Riley Nelson, I’ll give them another win.  That brings us to 8 wins.  So, how does it break down for the two tough back-to-back road games for the Cougars?

I believe BYU will get back a little of its butt that it handed to Utah last season and win in SL.  If they can stay focused and prepared, they can beat a newly retooled Boise State.  I’d like to predict a win in South Bend, but I can’t and likewise, I think the complex option at Georgia Tech will provide fits.  I’m reserving the right to change any of these predictions as the season and each game approaches, but for now, I have BYU at 10-2 with a bowl game looming.

So what’s the key to the difference of winning 8 games and 11 games?  In my opinion, not a lot.  The ground game must get going early in the season to allow Riley to develop into a pocket quarterback.  He must be accurate and decisive.  And the defense has to be nasty like it was last season (I think it will be better.)

What needs to happen for 2012 to be considered successful?

Does anyone else feel like 10 wins last season wasn’t “successful”?  I know I did.  Call me spoiled, but it just felt like a colossal failure.  Maybe it was the glaring absence of a meaningful win.  Maybe it was 54-10.  Maybe it was the Jake Heaps/Riley Nelson or the Team Indy/Team Big 12 debates.  Something wasn’t right about last season and 10 wins felt like a letdown.  So how does Bronco avoid a 10-win let down?

For one there are four “big” games this season (all on the road.)  Assuming BYU goes undefeated at home and wins at San Jose State and New Mexico State, BYU has 8 wins.  A split of the four games would be 10 wins pending a bowl game.  Is that good enough to feel successful?  If a Utah win is part of that split, I think fans will be content and border on happy if the other is Notre Dame or Boise State.  Getting three wins in four seems possible in my opinion and pending the bowl game, it would be a successful season.

Bottom line, BYU has to win at home, pick up the two “gimme” games on the road, and at least split the big four plus add a bowl game to be considered successful.

Is this schedule strong enough to earn a BCS berth?

It is, but only if the table gets run or the one loss happens to Utah, Notre Dame, or Georgia Tech (and that school will also have to have an incredibly “successful” season to boot.  I don’t know that BYU has built the sustainability yet to be a one loss BCS invitee yet, so I’d say this team needs to win them all and they will be bowling in January in a very warm location.

What do you think Cougar Nation?  Am I up in the night.  Sound off!  I want to hear it.

BYU Game 6 Team Preview: Conference Weekenders

Whoa here they come.  Watch out boy they’ll chew you up.  Whoa here they come, they’re Cougar eaters.  No longer are the ‘kid brothers’ to the very north considered push-overs.  They’ve grown up, they’ve taken punches, but now they too can punch back.  In 2010, Utah State crushed BYU.  In 2011, they crushed BYU, but like all of the other games USU lost, they were leading in the 4th quarter and lost focus.  Head Coach Gary Andersen seems to have the Aggies moving in the right direction.

Offense - That direction moves with dual standout QB’s Chuckie Keeton and Adam Kennedy.  Whoever gets the starting nod will be depended upon heavily as they work in first time running backs.  Stars Robert Turbin and Michael Smith were both drafted in the NFL.  Combine those losses with 3 on the offensive line and you’ve got a recipe for rebuilding.  Joe Hill and Tavarreon Dickerson are the top 2 RB’s competing for the top spot.

Defense - There were a lot of changes to the front 7 with incoming, unproven talent.  During their spring game, Linebacker Kyler Fackrell emerged as a player that we’ll be talking about again in the future.  Zach Vigil and Frankie Sutera are the more experienced playmakers on this side of the ball.  They’ll need to rely on each other to play as a team, make stops and get off the field.

They won’t be overlooked any longer by the Cougars.  Maybe that’s a good thing as they head in to conference weekend in October.

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs – Playoff Game #2

#WeareUtahJazz

How do the Jazz get a win tonight?  Is it even reasonable to hope for a win tonight? Or should we all just be happy that our Jazz made the playoffs and start looking toward next year?

Head Coach Ty Corbin

Clearly, the term, “playing with house money” applies to the Jazz at this time.  This team was expected to be one of the worst teams in the league this season and to make the playoffs is nothing short of an unexpected miracle season.  And while I think he should have had more “appreciation” than he got, head coach Ty Corbin did finish sixth in this year’s Coach of the Year Award.  So what does anyone expect from the playoffs this year?  I don’t expect much.  I honestly expect the Jazz might win one game and wouldn’t be surprised to see them swept out.  (To be fair, I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Jazz figured something out and beat this Spurs team, but I’m far too much of a realist to hang any hope there.)  All I hoped for as this season wore down was to be in the playoffs.  Eventually, this team has to make the playoffs and I’d rather their first foray into this dynamic was in a season when nothing was expected of them.  Can you imagine if they were a consistent top four team all season long, make the playoffs with home court and then drew the Lakers in the first round in only their first time in the playoffs?  Any Lakers team with playoff veterans such as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol (in spite of their inept head coach) would destroy a rookie playoff team in Salt Lake.  So I am happy they are here this year.

And to those of you who would have liked a lottery pick, I don’t know what that pick would do for this team next year.  There wouldn’t be room to contribute and most draft picks that come after the first ten rarely become regular contributors in an NBA rotation anyway.  So I’ll take the playoffs and hope the Warriors eat some serious karma on May 30 and land the 8^th pick.  That will be as good as anything else to me this season.  (I sure hope that happens or we won’t have a pick in the first round at all.)

Tony Parker

So, is it reasonable then to hope for a win tonight in San Antonio?  Sure, I don’t think it is a strange thing to hope for a win tonight.  I don’t even think it is a strange thing to think the team could win tonight.  I’m not holding out much hope.  Call my cynical if you want, but this Spurs team is just that good.  And what’s even more disconcerting about this team is how they’ve flipped their entire scheme on its head.  Where this team used to feed the ball to Tim Duncan and then beat you with unyielding defense, they now play an offense that is as potent as any you’ll ever see.  Their efficiency is heads above any other team in the league.  They have a point guard in Tony Parker who plays the pick and roll as well as anyone in recent memory.  Duncan sets a picks with one foot in the paint and then rolls for an easy bucket.  Or maybe Parker keeps it and hits a 6 – 12 footer with ease.  Or maybe another player sets the pick and the pops out for an easy jump shot or makes that extra pass to the perimeter where any number of guys are hitting 3s in the 40% range lately.  They have so many options and play such team basketball, led by the original “Big 3” in Parker, Duncan, and Manu Ginobli, they are just so hard to game plan for.

So how do they get that win tonight?  They have to hedge the pick and roll better and force Parker into longer jump shots.  They need to zone the lane better and sooner and be engaged in stopping the dribble penetration by Parker.  As much as I want to scream that they need to stop the 3 better, they just can’t take care of what the Big 3 do and stop the 3 and as it is a lower percentage shot, you have to take a chance that by throwing off the game plan just a little bit that the shooters won’t have their rhythm.  But how do you get that to happen?  Well, lets just say I wish it were my problem to deal with and then I’d get to be the one sporting the sweet suits on the sideline and making some serious cash at the same time.

BYU Player Profile – Ezekial “Ziggy” Ansah

   Ezekial “Ziggy” Ansah

   Position: Linebacker/Defensive End

   Class: Senior

   Height: 6’6″  Weight: 270

   Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Ziggy came to BYU in 2008 as a track athlete before moving to football in 2009.  He’s a guy that has been mentioned a lot over the past two seasons as someone to watch and thus far has only contributed in small roles.  He’s someone that I specifically watched when I attended the spring scrimmage and while the offense was mostly comprised of back ups, Ansah was consistently in the backfield hurrying the QB.  He is lighting fast from the edge rush (he’s listed on byucougars.com as a linebacker, but he lined up primarily in the defensive end position during the scrimmage and he didn’t disappoint me at all.  If this guy can get some meaningful minutes on the defensive line this season I think he will make a serious impact on opposing teams.

BYU Game 4 Team Preview: Dude Where’s Kellen?

Will anyone, including BYU, be chomping at the bit to get a piece of the Kellen-less Broncos? Might be asking for too much. Even without Kellen, Chris Petersen isn’t going to let Boise State just roll over in to mediocrity. Nevertheless, he will be replacing the winningest QB in college football history. Boise and Petersen have done it before. After Jared Zabransky graduated, Petersen found Taylor Tharp to play the lead position. That resulted in Petersen’s worst record in 6 years, 10-3. Not too bad if you ask me.

Offense - Behold, the specimens to take over the coveted QB position: Joe Southwick, Grant Hedrick, Nick Patti and Jimmy Laughrea. Southwick seems the defacto starter even though nobody has it officially. He’s been through the system from the sidelines. However, Laughrea has the best arm out of the quartet. As if being promoted to starting QB isn’t a tough enough job, the winner will be throwing and handing off as well to first time starters. Boise is well-enough established, however, these new guys will just need to build game time in order to gel together as a unit.

Defense - Boise needs to replace a defensive line hit hard by graduation. The starting front four and the top backup on the line are gone. Senior J.C. Percy is the only veteran returning from last year’s linebacking corps. Additionally, two safeties will need to be replaced. Will this Bronco team have enough time to mesh by the time week 4 rolls around?