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BYU Cougars basketball: Team overcomes all road obstacles

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BlueCoug | 1:37 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Nice win Cougs!

Good luck at Weber State and vs Utah State.

carlc44 | 8:33 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Nice win for the cougars! What about the "fight" between the BYU coaches and the ISU coaches. The commentators said the ISU coach wanted to have it out, in the parking lot, with Coach Rose. What was that all about?

IF Cougar | 8:35 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

ISU fans were not booing Cummard for the altercation with ISU #20. Cummard was called for a foul on the offensive boards and in frustration as he was walking up the court grabbed at the ball being held in an ISU player's hand.

Comments continue below

Crimson Club | 8:45 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

We all know how BYU's season will end. BYU will have a great season as far as wins, but will end up losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They always do.

BYU just can't compete on a national level. Consider the following:

BYU won its last Tournament game in 1992. Since then, the Utes have won sixteen (16) Tournament games.

It may be time for Cougar fans to finally realize that their program just can't compete at the national leve. The truth hurts sometimes.

To Crim Club | 9:01 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Who cares, as long as BYU keeps beating Utah like a drum.

Anonymous | 9:02 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The truth really does hurt. The Utes can no longer compete at the local level.

re Crimson Club | 9:05 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

too funny coming from a team who lost to SW Baptist Community College this year.

TED | 9:10 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BOY, IT TOOK FOUR POSTS THIS TIME TO BRING OUT THE NEG.CRIMSON COMMENTS! DO YOU GUYS HAVE A REAL LIFE?

Cougar Faithful | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Better dead than red.

Find Antother Fat Coach | 9:16 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Crimson Club you forgot the part about dominating your team again and how Pukes will spend the season hoping for an NIT bid. Its great that you still bask in the glow of the 90's while you put a pathetic product on the court. Well, there is always women's gymanstics!

Itake Uteduece

RE: Crimson Club | 9:16 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

WOW, thanks for the history lesson that we are all aware of. I don't think any of the BYU fans were saying that they were going to win the national championship or that they have won in the turnament since '92. Only that it was a good win (At least they didn't lose to a D2 school, right?)

Once again you prove that no matter how good the Utes are, Utah fans can't do anything with out looking over their shoulder at BYU. Its the big brother little brother syndrome. Why don't you spend more time rooting for your team and not rooting against BYU. 8:45 on a Sunday morning and you have nothing better to do than to read about a BYU win against ISU...wow that is one confused fan.

Re: Crimson Club | 9:18 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

How did the Utes do in the NCAA tournament last year? Don't waste your time trying to make Cougar fans feel bad, surley you have better things to do with your time.

Richard | 9:22 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

To Cougar Faithful,

You better win some Tournament games or you will continue to be the laughing stock of the NCAA Tournament. You guys haven't won a Tournament game in 17 years. Ouch!

Maybe you should ask Utah what the secret to winning Tournament games is.

Crimson Club | 9:26 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I think I hit a nerve with the BYU fans. Losing year after year, after year, after year, in the NCAA Tournament will make some people overly sensitive I guess.

Good luck on your quest for the "perfect season" in basketball. I will see you all at the Tournament.

LOL

Who is little brother again?... | 9:38 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Utah is going to its 2nd BCS Bowl game in 5 years while BYU's "quest" went down in flames. For the same reasons BYU will have a difficult time every reaching a BCS Bowl game (lack of athleticism), BYU will always struggle to win in the NCAA tourney.

BYU has been good the past few years in B-ball while Utah continues to rebuild from the disasterous Giaco hire. Enjoy your day in the sun Cougar fans because in another year or two, Utah B-ball is going to be back up to where it was in the early part of this decade (including 2005 when they went to the Sweet 16 - so much for the Kewgar fans trying to make it sound like Utah B-ball's success was a 90's phenomenon).

Once BYU actually wins an NCAA tourney game, you guys can actually talk some smack. It better happen soon though, because with Boylen's incoming class next year, it won't be long until Utah is back whipping up on BYU and making a splash on the nat'l level.

re: Richard | 9:40 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

You're a real jokester.

The Utes don't even know how to get into the NCAA tournament anymore, let alone win a game.

Perhaps the Utes should offer their post season tutoring services to teach SLCC how to get into the CBI.

Jessica | 9:42 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Utah completely dominated in the 1990's. Utah hasn't done too bad in this decade either. Utah was the Conference Champion in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

They will be the conference champ this year also.

BYU can't hold a candle to the Ute's basketball achievments.

Crimson Glasses Club | 9:47 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

LOL

The Utes have found the secret to not losing in the NCAA tournament...

simply be mediocre enough never to get invited to the big dance.

BlueBoy | 9:52 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

More posts by Ute fans than BYU fans. Guess that means little brother is still jealous, and big brother is just happy they blew out a team that went into overtime against several other D1 level teams that generally have good years.

BYU's defense will be their trademark this year. Sure, they'll be a pretty good trey team, but you can die by the sword, too. So, it'll be BYU's defense that wins many games when the trey isn't working. In fact, that's already happened this year.

Too bad the Ute's coach is such a me-me guy. If he were about his players as much as himself, they might have a chance this year. Proof's in the pudding, boys. He took over a team that underperformed under his coaching, in comparison to how much better they were under the previous coach. And, it appears he's got them headed in the "right" direction again this year with that D2 loss!

It's good to be BLUE!

To: re: Richard | 10:09 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Tell me, how many basketball conference championships have the Utes won in the last 10 years? How many basketball conference championships has BYU won in the last 10 years?

I await your answer. lol

Re: Jessica | 10:21 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

You're really funny. BYU and Utah shared the conference championship in 2001. Wyoming won it in 2002. BYU and Utah shared it again in 2003. Air Force won it in 2004. Yes the Utes won it in 2005, but then BYU won it in 2007 and 2008. Next you're going to say that the Utes won the NCAA tournament all those years and pray that nobody checks the facts. Nice.

Nice spin little brother... | 10:22 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

but, Utah basketball has faded; and using football smack on a basketball blog, just proves the little brother mentality that will always exist for many Utah fans.

When BYU won their first national championship in 1984, BYU fans never even considered how that compared to past Utah accomplishments.

The gold standard for many Utah fans is, and always will be, BYU.

Little Bro. | 10:25 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Little brother snydrome alive and well up on the hill.

I wonder if Ute fans will EVER have enough confidence and pride in their team to stop worrying about what BYU does???

Must be a pretty miserable existence.

Rod Cox | 10:25 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Cummard will play in the NBA for a long time. Tavs, Jimmer, Jackson and Miles will help him win a tourney game if they dive on the floor for loose balls.

BYU fans in Idaho | 10:30 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I don't think ISU has ever seen so many fans at a home basketball game before. Someone said he had never seen anyone up in the football bleachers, and they went clear to the rafters. ISU made a good chunk of change off of BYU fans in the area, including a good number of BYU students home for Thanksgiving. I was kind of embarrassed for my home state though, the ISU fans were hostile and poor sports, as they booed all night long, and actually were more vocal against BYU than they were in cheering on their own team.

I believe there were more BYU fans there than ISU fans, but the BYU fans were more considerate of their somewhat less than gracious hosts.

Eugene | 10:37 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I attended the game and was pleased to see that every time the crowd booed Cummard, there was always a big Cougar fan cheer when Cummard scored. I even saw a lot of orange-clad Benalites cheering for both teams (since being a Y fan in an LDS community located in ISU-dom is still koshure.

BYU vs. iSU game | 10:48 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I was there in the Holt arena last night, and I am a ISU graduate, but a BYU fan. Sorry ISU, just couldn't find it in my heart to root for a horrible program. Please ISU, please build a basketball stadium. The potato cellar (a.k.a. Holt Arena) is a sorry excuse for a place to play basketball. Nobody is intimidated playing in a potato cellar. As for BYU, they are a good team, but I still don't see them winning a game in the NCAA tourney because they don't have enough size, and if BYU goes cold on the outside which will happen when a more athletic team guards them, they will lose again. Sorry I'm just a realistic Cougar FAn.

To: Re Jessica | 11:05 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I don't know what stats you are looking at, but Utah has been conference champs the following years:

1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005

If I go back past 1991, Ute even dominates BYU more.

How many conference champs has BYU won since 1991?

Sorry BYU Fans, Please Read: | 11:10 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The Runnin' Utes basketball program has the 9th most wins amonge college basketball programs. The Utes have made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, which ranks 7th all-time, while the Utes 28 conference championships is the 5th best in NCAA history. Ouch BYU fans!!!

Just some recent Conference Championships won by the Running Utes:

1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005

Go Utes!

4 in a row | 11:13 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Ute fans living in the past AGAIN. Trying AGAIN to justify their existence to BYU fans.

Good try little brother.

The stat that really matters is two regular season champtionships the past two years and 4 straight wins over the "mighty" Utes.

Dear Jessica | 11:13 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Go to the MWC media guide online and peruse Utahs record. They shared the 2000-2001 regular season title with BYU and Wyoming. BYU won the tournament. They shared it again with BYU in 2002-2003 but Colorado State won the tournament. They won the regular season in 2004-2005 but New Mexico won the tournament. So they have won regular season titles but not the tournament with it's automatic bid.
By the way, Utah is tied for second in the conference standings in MWC history with UNLV and behind BYU. They are third in overall standings, again behind BYU and UNLV. To be fair, Utah did win the 2003-2004 MWC tournament after finishing third in the regular season.

Rod Cox | 11:24 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Utah will lose both games to BYU this year (all 3 if they play in Vegas). I'm am serious! That is what matters now!

I'm am serious | 11:25 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Did you go to school at BYU?

Sorry Utah fans | 11:41 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Utah hasn't won a conference championship since 2005 and has only won one outright MWC championship;

BYU has won two straight outright MWC championships and four straight over Utah

BYU
2001 (shared with Utah & Wyoming)
2003 (shared with Utah)
2007 (outright)
2008 (outright)

Utah
2000 (shared with UNLV)
2001 (shared with BYU & Wyoming)
2003 (shared with BYU)
2005 (outright)

Pocatello Cougar | 11:43 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Isn't it obvious why Utah does better in the tournament? BYU's recruiting base is small. When the Cougar athletic teams go outside their faith, bad things happen (i.e.all those football players during the Gary Crowton era, Ron Selleaze during Steve Cleveland's first year, those just arrested swimmers).

Utah can bring in anyone who can dribble or run. BYU must stay within a limited field.

I wonder why it took Utah football the entire 20th century to figure out how to win with the entire nation as their recruiting oyster. And I wonder why it only took BYU three-quarters of that same century to figure out how to win with a revolving door of returning missionaries.

To all the Utah fans, I'm a realist. I don't expect any wins in the tournament, and I don't really care if they never win again. For us, it's the regular season championship and a 20+ win season. It's impossible now to win the tournament at Las Vegas.

Regarding football, I'll take 11-2 three years in a row over one great year and two slightly above-average.

And while I congratulate you on this season, remember, you were a couple of plays away from 10-2.

CBI Tournament | 11:55 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The U of U Basketball team played in the CBI Tournament LAST YEAR. The 16-team field consists of teams that are not selected for the NCAA or NIT Tournament. Teams will be invited based upon their performance during their conference and non-conference schedule, as well as how well the team is playing at the end of the regular season.

Utah is so elite they were invited last year. They were not good enough for the NCAA, or NIT. If Utah's program goes backward this year, they will be playing in some tourney at the local elementary school outside on the concrete with chain link nets.

Oh, poor Jessica, it must be so hard defending the Ute basketball team.

Mormon Gal | 12:39 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

To CBI Tournament,

Sounds like someone hit your grumpy nerve. It's okay to be sensitive about BYU's Tournament record. If I were a BYU fan I would be terribly embarrassed. Don't worry there is always hope that your team will someday win a Tournament game and be as nationally prestigious as the Utes. We all need our dreams, hold on to yours tight.

CBI Tourney?? | 1:00 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Wasn't Vernal community Tech in that tourney too?

Oh Yes... | 1:12 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

National prestigious programs lose home games to SW Baptist. I see North Carolina do that all the time. You yewt fans tell the Cougar fans to quit living in the past with football, try it on for size with your basketball program. You are not a national power anymore. You cant even finish in the top 3 of your conference.

Hey Mormon Gal | 1:26 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Hate to break it to you, but Utah has no NCAA basketball "prestige" that is not tied to Rick Majerus. I don't live in Utah and outside of your state, your "reputation" is all in your mind.

Utah has found the solution to not losing an NCAA tournament game - play poorly enough to not qualify for it.

It is amazing the smack that can come from the fan base of a team that lost to SW Baptist on its home court. You guys have lost your minds.

Have fun in the CBI this year. Maybe you can start a new reputation and dominate the CBI. You could even hang your CBI tournament appearances from the rafters of the HC. Visitors and recruits would be SO impressed!!

byu bengal | 2:34 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Went to the game last night. Was embarrased by byu sportsmanship. i saw cummard thorugh an elbow way after the whistle was blown and neither he or Tavernari shook hands after the game. they must of thought all the talking during the game was enough.

So what | 2:39 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Just another patsy team to play in order to inflate the W/L columns before March Madness.

Mormon Gal | 3:19 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

One very important thing you BYU fans forgot to mention was that Utah has the 9th most winning record in college basketball. Can you say National Prestige baby!!

Here is an interesting statistic for you. Utah's endowment is over 600 million dollars, BYU's endowment is 280 million and Boise's endowment is 64 million.

There really is no comparison between Utah and BYU or Boise in terms of academics, endowment and athletics. Go Utes!

Re: Mormon Gal | 4:58 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Not a very intelligent post at all. BYU is funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They have all the funding they need. They have almost limitless funds. When the state of Utah falls on hard times, however, Utah is out of luck and is the beneficiary of "cutbacks." Also, a large part of the U's endowment goes to the medical school, which is incredibly expensive to run.

No comparison in academics? Did you know that BYU's entering statistics are better than the U's across the board? Did you know that BYU has a matriculation rate of applicants that is only rivaled by Ivy League schools? Did you know that both BYU's Business school and Law school rank higher than the U's? Did you know that BYU is always ranked ahead of the U in rankings? What, exactly, are you basing this on?

Athletics . . . ? Utah has made it to a final four in basketball. I think BYU has made it to a sweet sixteen. However, if you have never won a national championship in the sport you are not even worth talking about. Football - BYU has national championship. Utah - 0.

Chuck Schroeder | 5:01 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

To Mormon Gal,

Utah may have the 9th most winning college basketball program in the country, but you never had Danny Ainge. He was awesome in 1981.

Re: Mormon Gal | 5:03 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

National Prestige, ha ha ha ha. How feared are the Utes right now? You LOST TO SOUTHWEST BAPTIST!

Neither BYU nor Utah has anything to say in the college basketball argument, we are both on the outside looking in. And total winning percentage doesn't matter, for about 50 years both BYU and Utah played each other and similarly small, irrelevant teams.

Tournament Record: yeah, it is ugly on BYU's part. But let's be honest, other than that one blip on the radar that Utah had, neither of us are doing so hot. Also, going one or two games into the tournament is not much better than an early exit. Both teams in that situation are . . . irrelevant.

Reality | 5:19 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

To Re: Mormon Gal,

Utah accepts aroud 60% of applicants. BYU accepts almost 80% of people who applied for admission. Not very selective. Utah State and Weber accept around the same percentage (80%).

Of course BYU's matricultation rate is high. The main reason they applied to BYU is to go to an LDS school. Of course they are going to matriculate if they get accepted.

University of Utah's Law School and graduates will make almost $15,000 more a year starting salary, than a BYU graduate. Also, Utah's Law School ranks higher than BYU's in the 2009 U.S. News and World Report Rankings.

As far as endowment, BYU's 280 million dollar endowment is not "unlimited". The Church has stated that most of the subsidizing it does for BYU is for tuition. Everything else (hiring, research, facilities, etc.) comes out of that 280 million endowment.

Also, Utah has made it to four (4) final fours, and has won a National Championship in basketball. Further, Utah has the 9th most winning college basketball program in the country.

BCS invites: BYU 0 Utah 2

I don't know where you are getting your facts. I'm glad I can enlighten.

Reality | 5:25 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

To Re: Mormon Gal,

"..other than that one blip on the radar that Utah had.." Are you serious??

Utah has been to the Sweet Sixteen 10 times: 1955, 1959, 1960, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1996, 2005

BYU has been to the Sweet Sixteen 1 time: 1981

Utah has won a National Championship and has been to the final four on four (4) different occasions.

BYU has never been to the final four or won a National Championship.

Utah has the 9th most winning basketball program in the country.

I don't know where you get your facts, but they are completely inaccurate. I'm glad I can continue to enlighten you.

1944 | 5:43 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Utes won the 1944 National Championship. How many national championships does BYU have?

Madden | 6:19 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BYU won the basketball championship in 1951 (or thereabouts) in the NIT. For those who know no history, the NCAA tournament was NOT the primary postseason tourney until the mid-to-late 50's. By the 70s the NOT was a joke...when BYU won their first NIT though it was the tournament of choice.

If you doubt, read Wikipedia.

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