BYU basketball: Y. must be physical to earn breakthrough win against Texas A&M

PHILADELPHIA — The BYU Cougars don't need to be reminded that Texas A&M and other Big 12 schools play a different style of basketball.

They learned that firsthand last March as they were getting bumped around by the Aggies in Anaheim, Calif., and bumped out of the NCAA Tournament in Round One.

"It was a physical game, and it took us a while to get used to it, and hopefully we won't have to do that this year," coach Dave Rose said of BYU's 67-62 defeat last year to Texas A&M.

With a tougher and more physical conference this year, and some players who've experienced two straight years of NCAA Tournament play, the Cougars are confident they can match the Aggies in physical play this time around.

"From past experience, the NCAA Tournament is a real physical game, and you need to be able to adjust to that," Rose said.

Senior Lee Cummard, the BYU veteran in tournament games, says the Cougars are ready for whatever strength the Aggies try to assert.

"This year the Mountain West Conference was as physical as it has been, and I think that will help us," he said.

But even though the Cougars are expecting a physical game, they can't get too caught up in only that aspect. They have to stay focused on their game plan and execution if they hope for payback on the Aggies and the program's first tournament win since 1993 when BYU topped SMU in an opening-round game.

"The bottom line is to run your offense, get open shots and shoot them with confidence, and defensively be able to make them take tough shots and rebound the ball. If you can do that I don't think it matters what conference you are playing," Rose said.

Two keys, other than being ready for a rough and rugged game, that every Cougar is mentioning are effort and rebounding. The Aggies normally have two big men in the post, and even their perimeter guys get into the paint and crash the boards.

"They are long, athletic and can shoot, but I think more than anything they play with a lot of energy, and we have to match that," sophomore Jackson Emery said.

Center Chris Miles and forward Jonathan Tavernari are both going to have their hands full with Texas A&M forward Bryan Davis (6-foot-9) and center Chinemelu Elonu (6-foot-10). Miles and Tavernari both need to stay out of foul trouble. Still, Cougar reserves James Anderson and Noah Hartsock are going to be counted on heavily to offset the Aggies' power inside.