Cougars face pair of 7-footers

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The last time the Cougars came to this city on the Rocky Mountain front range, they had an NBA-bound enforcer on the squad.

Today, BYU begins its first MWC road trip against Colorado State with freshman Chris Miles, banged-up sophomore Derek Dawes and Garner Meads, fresh off a broken foot.

The Rams will counter the Cougar post players with a pair of 7-footers that includes senior Matt Nelson, the nation's top percentage shooter, who is converting 69 percent of his field goal attempts.

Colorado State (8-6, 0-1) hosts the Cougars (6-10, 0-1) today at 1 p.m.

"I'm ready," Miles, from Timpview High, said of his matchup with the Ram players.

Said BYU coach Steve Cleveland: "They are going to put two 7-foot players on the court, and that poses some real challenges for teams. Matt Nelson is one of the best players in the league. He is deadly when he gets the ball inside."

The other Ram big man is freshman Jason Smith, a 7-0, 225-pounder from Kersey, Colo.

"Matt Nelson scored 24 points on us in 20 minutes last year, even when we beat them," Cleveland said. "He's pretty good. When he scores, they're hard to beat."

The Rams lost starting point guard Dwight Boatner, who simply disappeared off the roster. No official explanation has been provided in CSU press materials. Cleveland, however, said Boatner's absence matters little because the Rams have used a different starting lineup in almost every game this season.

"Michael Morris will start for them at point guard and he's an experienced and very skilled player," Cleveland said. "Boatner is gone, for whatever reason, they just said he left the team. We'll see what they do."

Colorado State will run a zone defense based in principle the same as Air Force. It matches up and goes with cutters, according to Cleveland. "They switch all screens," he said. "They've traditionally been a man defensive team but they've gone to this matchup zone and along with two 7-footers, will play 6-10 sophomore Stephen Verwers."

The Cougars will counter with senior center Jared Jensen, Miles and either Meads (6-8) or Dawes (6-11). Both Meads (foot) and Dawes (shoulder, thumb) have been injured and missed extensive practice time the past month.