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Basketball: BYU strikes it rich in Vegas

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uteman | 1:46 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
our 2-2 record at utah is better than your 5-0. you havent played anyone as good as the mighty utes have beat.
LV Cougarfan | 1:50 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
That was an awesome game. Way to go Cougs! This win will definitely look good come tourney selection time! It would also be sweet if they happen to win tonight! Now, if only I could figure out a way to get tickets to tonight's UNC game. They apparently sell tickets to the tourney in 2 day packages, so I think I'm out of luck. What do you think the Cougs will end up being ranked if they end up beating Louisville, UNC, and Mich. State? Wouldn't that be awesome? If they play the way they played Louisville, I think they have a chance!
Uteman is jealous | 2:13 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Nice argument there buddy, especially since washington and Santa Clara are such tough teams this year. Wait a minute, are they even ranked? I didn't think so. Nevermind.
Comments continue below
Cougarblue | 2:19 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Uteman, that can't be a serious comment. The "Mighty Utes" have beat High Point and USC Upstate, whoever that is.. oh ya, you also lost to a stellar Santa Clara team... by 15 points... at home...
Troobloo | 2:26 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
@uteman--you're kidding, right?
@LV Cougar fan--I agree, if the Cougs play tonight the way they played Louisville, it will be a fun game. If Tavernari continues to be hot, UNC is going to be forced to come out on him, although he doesn't seem to be phased by hands in his face. How do you defend against a trey shooter like that when they're hot? It could really shake things up. Like you said--hard to keep from thinking ahead, eh?
Tommy Boy | 2:50 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
"our 2-2 record at utah is better than your 5-0. you havent played anyone as good as the mighty utes have beat."

HOW OLD ARE YOU? YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE FIVE OR SIX. The Cougars just had a great game. Pitino said BYU was the better team. Ute fans react like little children.
Huge Fan | 3:48 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Uteman,I really hope that you are not being serious. The combined record of the teams you have played is 8 and 9, with the combined record of the teams you have beaten being 2 and 6. BYU just beat Louisville. How is your 2-2 record better than our 5-0 record? I would love to see BYU beat North Carolina, I don't think it will happen but it would be fun to see. I think the Cougars are going to be great this year and I am going to as many home games as possible!!
GO COUGARS!!!!!
yeah right | 4:06 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Great win for the Cougars against UL. uteman.....High Point could beat you on their home floor and i've never heard of USC Upsate. Maybe you should focus your fire against Weber State, because they're taking down the utes on wed.
Thorn in Rose's side | 4:48 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Louisville is not the #6 team in the country without David Padgett. Injuries are part of the game, but the rankings, with or without playing BYU would have been adjusted this week for Rick's UL boys...
Marky | 5:54 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
A quality win over a very tough opponent. Louisville's missinge some key players due to injuries but is still a very good basketball team. The Cougars should be tough to beat this year and should finally make a dent in the polls when it counts.
true blue | 6:01 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
I hope we play defense the way we played against louisville, but if Byu had been firing on all cylinders offensively this would have been another route. Now let's just hope we have a chance to win beat unc at the end.
John | 6:02 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Please, don't tell anyone that you are a Utah graduate with that comment. Utah has certainly defeated some excellent teams in Upstate South Carolina and High Point. Both of those teams would have drilled Louisville, LOL.

You have to love it when someone who is a Utah fan, obviously not a graduate of that higher institution of learning, makes just a ludicrous statement.

Ernest Hemple | 6:14 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
It doesn't matter how they are ranked. Unlike the corrupt football system of picking a champion, basketball has it right with 64 teams playing a tournament to decide a champion.
The Cougars will be invited to the NCAA tournament and then we will see just how good this team really is.
Still, great game!
BYU B-ball is back! | 6:31 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Great game, Cougars! They were poised and sharp throughout the game. Their next game today with UNC is more important than the football rivalry with Utah.
metamoracoug | 6:36 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
I caught the game on-line at byutv. It was awesome to watch the cougs. There were very few mental breakdowns and the team as a whole (not just Tavernari and Plaisted) played well. Murdock consistently and easily handled the full court press that Louisville threw at the cougs the entire game. Passing was crisp, clean, and quick. Plaisted needs to learn to unload the ball as soon as the defense collapses on him though. There were at least three times that he took the ball into the key, had three defenders surround him, and he continued to hold the ball or look to the basket when he had open teammates outside. A great win for the cougs!
Cam Caldwell | 6:46 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Uteman, you make me smile. Your comment is incredibly foolish. "Fan" is an abbreviation of "fanatic." Your comment represents the distorted perception of a fanatical mediating lens.

BYU has played some chumps so far. . . but its victory against a 6th-ranked Louisville confirms that the Cougars have some game.

The pollsters should give BYU some respect. Perhaps you will be more generous when the Utes and Cougars play a couple of MWC games and a conference schedule.

Enjoy the holiday . . .
UteFan | 7:05 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Louisville wasn't that good. Santa Clara, now that's one of the best teams in the country!
pluto | 7:07 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
you're right, wins against highpoint and usc upstate were big wins against tough opponents and big wins(sarcasm in case you didn't catch it). washington is 3-2 with wins over eastern wash., NJ tech, and (gasp) utah (with losses to two ranked teams. and santa clara has "big" wins against CS mtn bay, simpson univ. and (gasp) utah. they may have had easy wins up to this point, but when the test came, they came through. the same can hardly be said about the utes, whose "tests" were by far lesser opponents. nice try.
Ball Handling | 7:13 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
I admit, based on the Hartford game I didn't think we could compete against the big boys that had better hand and foot speed. I was very impressed with Murdock. A win over Utah in football and a W over UNC would make this the greatest BYU sports weekend ever. Plaistead was huge in the middle. He played a tremendous 2nd half, but was obviously gassed down the stretch.
LV Cougarfan if they happen to beat Mich St & UNC and don't lose to Portland / Weber St. They should be ranked in the top 3, but because of pre-season voting we will only see the top 10.
john in texas | 7:14 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Now Coach Rose earns his keep. It will be a major task for him to keep the players nose and ears at the same level. If they can do that they can beat anyone. Amazing how the psyche can have such an influence on persistence. BYU basketball has the
potential to go beyond the Stan Watts era. Go get em
cougars.
Cougar Fan | 7:16 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Nice comment, 'uteman'. Typical little brother Yewt-fan mentality. Uh, "no", 5-0 is always better than 2-2. Hard concept, I know to grasp, little Yewt. Another product of "Investigations Math".

When are you and everyone else going to realize that BYU vs. Utah really doesn't matter as long as we're in a crappy conference, can't see the games on TV, etc.

Nice win, Cougs!
Tc_cougar | 7:20 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Uteman, you are doing a great job of showing the value of your Utah education. I'm going to have to say our 5 wins are looking much better than your 2 wins over USC Upstate and Highpoint. Oh, and how does that 15 point home loss to Santa Clara look? Ouch! The Cougars are going to be the class of the conference in Basketball this year just like they are in football.

uteman?? | 7:20 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Are you kidding me? The only logical explanation for your comment is you're trying to get a rise out of BYU fans, but 99% of ute fans are illogical. The Utes lost to a decent Washington team, I'll give them that, but they got destroyed AT HOME to Santa Clara (a West Coast Conference team that only exists because of Gonzaga). And who did they beat? South Carolina UPSTATE? and hardly beating Highpoint??? Sure, BYU hasn't played anyone up until Louisville, but they won they're previous four games by an average of more than 30 points per game. And then when they DID play a game that mattered, THEY WON! Sounds like this years football season. Sure Utah may be hot and beat UCLA and what not, but BYU wins the games that matter and that's why they're conference champions again with the utes looking from the outside in.
Um... | 7:28 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
...uteman, until last night, I would have agreed. But let's face it, the Cougs might actually have the guns this year to do something big--though they still need to play the games, so nobody get *too* excited. And let's see the Utes (sorry, man, 2-2 doesn't yet sound "mighty," though yeah, the competition's been better) knock off No. 6... and play No. 1... and see what happens.

Let's see both Utes and Cougars play well this season and have the MWC matchups actually *mean* something. A little like today's game, though it'd be even more relevant with, say, a BCS bid on the line. May the best team on the field win. And may all the classless smack-talkers from *both* schools--hey, aren't BYU fans supposed to be "in the world, not of the world"?--get a bad case of laryngitis. Then the *real* sports fans who cheer for their *own* darn team can enjoy the game.
gringogary | 7:34 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
It appears that uteman is off his meds again. This game was not nearly as close as the score. I was very impressed with our guys.
AZ Blue | 7:36 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Great Game and even better we got to watch it on BYU TV. Just happened to stumble upon it. Was not scheduled. Where is the MTN when we don't need them?

I think BYU is for real and they should do well. Tough one tonight. Hope they play their best. They will need to. Go Cougs!

cougarman | 7:41 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Our 1-win 1996 season was better than the Utes' sweet-16 season because we beat Utah State, and USU is a good basketball team.

uteman and cougarman trolls unite!
Cougar | 7:40 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Uteman, it is comments like you just made that give all Yewts a bad name. The Cougars beat the #6 ranked team in the nation and you say something stupid.

Way to go, Cougars. You made all cougar fans proud last night. Now give the good people at UNC a little of what Louisville got.
utevexxer | 7:59 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
uteman: The Cougs just beat someone.
re uteman | 8:06 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
I guess you are right beating the # 6 team in the country is not the same as beating "The Highpoint University" and lets not forget about the perennial powerhouse USC Upstate. Nice work Yewts!
Jimmy's Sneakers | 8:09 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Well done, but Jimmy thinks that Plaisted will have his hands full with Hansbrough.
Domination | 8:14 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Way to go Cougs. You dominated the cardinals. It's too bad that you guys are playing the same weekend as the football game, or I promise you that stadium would be packed of BYU fans cheering you on. Hopefully after we beat Utah in football, all of the local fans will go out and support you guys. Good luck. Go Cougs!
Go Cougs | 8:19 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Am I the only one who watched the game? BYU won by 5. Everyone nationally and locally are reporting they won by two including Deseret Morning News. We have a chance to beat UNC but even if we keep it close this was a great tournament to show we are a good team. Let's hope some of this tournament helps in the March Madness so we can stop being a one and done team then.
Lovin Y | 8:21 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
uteman,
What? Wins over USC Upstate (0-4) and High Point (2-2 with wins over New Jersey Tech and Warren Wilson College) combined with losses to Washington (3-2) and Santa Clara (3-1) trump wins over Long Beach State (1-3), Idaho State (1-4), Jackson State (0-5), Hartford (2-2) and No. 6 Louisville (3-1)? Not only that, but regardless of the quality of the earlier opponents. You are still talking about a team who beat the supposed 6th best team in the land. Suppose BYU somehow beats No. 1 North Carolina today. Will you still think the Utes are better?
Mr Cougar | 8:28 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Get real uteman. Reread the article. The Utes haven't done diddley-squat.
Neil | 8:33 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
To comment number one. Are you joking. I have seen Utah's home schedule. Montana Tech, Dixie College, NW College of the Nazarene. I haven't followed Utah much. What quality teams have they deafeated? Certainly not one in the top ten.
True Blue Cougar Fan | 8:42 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
uteman are you for real? Santa Clara and Washington are real basketball powerhouses -- NOT. Let's wait for the real vedict on the court. Way to go Cougs with the win over Louisville!!!!
uteman | 8:44 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
You just can't accept the fact that the Cougars are better than your Utes. Are you from planet Loserville?
Climbing the latter | 8:45 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
I don't see BYU beating NC tonight, but stranger things have happened. It'd be awesome to see that kind of upset, but even if BYU can just give NC a close hard-fought game, and then win out up to the Mich St. game and win that one, and if Louisville rebounds and goes on another win streak of their own, then BYU should definitely find themselves at least in the top 15, if not the top 10.
Mowgli | 8:52 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Congratulations, you guys, for giving Uteman the attention he (or she) was looking for.

The win over Louisville in a neutral site does raise the question as to how far this Cougar team can go. They shot well at times, but for most of the game were shooting well below their average. On a good shooting night? At home?
byu ascendancy | 8:59 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
dynamite game cougars!!! poised, controlled, no-choking, gotta love it. fun game tonight vs. unc.
i hope we take the utes apart today in provo. go byu!!!
Anonymous | 9:09 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Utah fans - Wheeeeeeeeeeere are youuuuuuuuuu?
Gopher | 9:15 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Uteman's ("Ute" and "man" in the same sentence is an oxymoron) comment was a come-on. No one, not even a U grad, is that dumb.
Pathetic | 9:15 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
You guys that let Uteman fire you up are pathetic. Go kiss your wife or something. The guy accomplished what he hoped for when you all responded that way. C'mon everybody knows he was just rattling some chains and you all took the bait. I give the guy some props for getting under your skin.
Eugene | 9:21 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
All this dumping on the poor Uteman. . . let's turn support to where it is needed. The Cougs have an outside chance against UNC tonight and all of this banter will be heightened after the game. A BYU win would be HUGE with demands of top ten status and anything less would be BCS-like politics as usual. A BYU loss will open the doors to the Utemans of the world again. Either way the Cougars should be ranked when all is said and done unless UNC blows us out! A BB win against UL and the Tar Heels as well as beating the Utes in football would be a Christmas dream come true for all "Y" faithful.
Too sensitive! | 9:25 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Stop being so sensitive about what Uteman said. It is OBVIOUS he is simply trying to get a rise - and all these posts are buying right into it.

We know what BYU just did and don't have to justify it to ANYONE. I could care less how Uteman or any other Ute fan feels about BYU. What is important is how I feel - and I feel great now, and will feel on top of the world by the end of the day!

Go Cougars!
ATTN: | 9:38 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
UTEMAN IS NOT A UTE FAN...HE IS MOST LIKELY A BYU FAN WHO FEELS THE NEED TO TRY AND MAKE UTAH FANS LOOK STUPID BY POSTING RIDICULOUS STUFF. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT OUT BY NOW.
Ute Fan | 9:42 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
Great win BYU! I didn't see the game, but I watched the UNLV-Louisville game. For moments during the first half of that game, I thought that UNLV had a chance to knock off Louisville. Louisville looked pretty awful in the UNLV game. Either the Big East is way over-hyped, or the MWC does not get the credit it deserves (or, I suppose, it could be both).

Either way, a great win for BYU and for the conference. Now if Coach Rose could only convince Bronco to win some meaningful non-conference games . . . .
Red Blood/ Blue Blood | 9:49 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
I bleed red all the way,but a good win is a good win,and i think that was a pretty good win for the cougars.

GO UTES!!!!!!!!
to "uteman" responses | 9:57 a.m. Nov. 24, 2007
All right Cougar fans calm down now. I'm a Cougar fan and I immediately got the joke when I read the "uteman" post at the start of the comments. It most likely was posted by another Cougar fan who was making fun of how the yoots always claim to be better than BYU even when they have a worse record.

I also watched the game on KBYU and it was great to get to see a game on tv. The Cougars looked good against a talented Louisville team. Their guys looked big, too, generally bigger than our Cougars. When I saw them I thought uh-oh we're in trouble. But we've got some shooters, good ball handlers, and guys that are pretty quick.

I'm not getting my hopes up for a win tonight against North Carolina. Of course, anything can happen and they weren't expected to beat Louisville.

GO COUGARS!!!

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Jae C. Hong, Associated Press

BYU's Jonathan Tavernari drives past Louisville's Earl Clark in Friday's game.

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