BYU basketball: Cougars' offense hot, but defense is key
Statistics don't show all the defensive things the Cougars did well in the game's first 30 minutes that really pushed them out to a 21-point halftime lead and 24-point lead early in the second half. The Horned Frogs entered the game with two straight Mountain West Conference wins because of good offensive execution. The Cougars, however, made them look sloppy until late in the game.
"I really believe that in that first half we were really dialed in defensively," BYU coach Dave Rose said.
Knowing they couldn't let TCU win the battle of the boards, spread them out on offense and penetrate to the basket, the Cougars were outstanding in neutralizing the Horned Frogs' rub-off screens with nicely executed rotation and perfect help defense.
"They got a few good looks, but for the most part we were right there making them take tough shots," Cougar senior Lee Cummard said.
Rose said playing with increased intensity and a higher level of focus is key in big conference games like this one, and that's exactly how the Cougars played at least for the first 30 minutes.
The victory puts the Cougars (2-0) tied with San Diego State atop the MWC standings, as both teams are now the only unbeaten teams remaining in the conference. The Aztecs and Cougars will meet for the first of two on Jan. 24 at the Marriott Center. The loss for TCU (2-1) leaves them in a logjam one game back.
While a lot of what BYU did defensively were those immeasurable intangibles, TCU's offensive numbers showed the affects of the defensive pressure it faced. In the first half alone, TCU shot only 31 percent, made only 2-of-13 3-pointers, turned the ball over nine times and let the Cougars steal the ball away five times - all numbers that led to BYU's 42-21 lead at the break. It also helped that TCU made only 11-of-21 free throws in the game.
"We were prepared to play, we just didn't execute any of the things we worked on," TCU coach Jim Christian said. "We just played awful and you can't afford to do that against a great team . . . BYU is a great basketball team and they had a lot to do with us playing awful. We didn't do one of the things well that we tried to focus in on."
Recent comments
This is our year baby!! My prediction: final four!
BYU Athletic Supporter | Jan. 15, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
You want respect? How about a 6 seed in Joe Lunardi's bracket with a...
Respect? | Jan. 14, 2009 at 10:07 p.m.
Hey, Coolio, take your "1-21" comment to another board. You don't...
DieHardCougar | Jan. 14, 2009 at 9:58 p.m.
- Atty: No extortion in Letterman case 6:33 p.m.
- Semifinal slate sealed on 'Dancing' 6:30 p.m.
- Records: MJ's funeral cost about $1M 6:28 p.m.
- Yardsmart: Flowers honor veterans 6:26 p.m.
- Lining up for 'Modern Warfare 2' 6:22 p.m.
- Ronnie Wood divorced over adultery 6:21 p.m.
- Warhol's MJ portrait sells for $812K 6:17 p.m.
- MacIntyre wins literature award 6:16 p.m.
- PETA targets U. laboratories 6:15 p.m.
- School Veterans Day may be cut 6:11 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- House passes health care bill
274 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
233 - TCU showdown has big implications
192 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
99
Utah State hoops coach Stew Morrill took a few minutes to talk about Weber
This needs to be done in more locations.
Cindy and family, Richard was a great influence and example to me in my life...
We wish Coach Monkres and his Dixie HS football team the best of luck against...
Notice how this article spends eight paragraphs telling us how bad Obama's...
I am surprised! The SL Chamber of Commerce didn't continue with its open...
Who is subsidizing this windmill farm? I find it hard to believe anyone would...
because with the fairness doctrine no one listens to the whiney leftist and...
I-80 doesn't run between Nephi and St. George... Wind power is viable and CA...
The church didn't change policy on blacks having the priesthood, it was on...
Don Gale has a knack for getting to the heart of the matter. I wish that he...

