Deseret News | BYU basketball: This Marriott a heartbreak hotel

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BYU basketball: This Marriott a heartbreak hotel

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code | 10:34 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

BYU is winning...that beating they put on the Sally Struthers school of massage was amazing. Keep scheduling weak schedules and keep winning but it is like the big 6th grader that pushes down the 1st grader...NO HONOR AND NO RESPECT.

Zoobie 55 | 10:53 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Does anyone remember the old tradition BYU B-ball had in the old Smith Fieldhouse and early years of the Marriott Center? (Big Mac for anyone offended) The BYU fans would stand and chant "Let's Go" until BYU scored at the very beginning of the game. I remember the first time I went to a BYU b-ball game. I wasn't a student at the Y then, but was extremely impressed with the enthusiasm. During the Frank Arnold years (74-77 I think) one of his teams asked Coach Arnold for this to be stopped because it made them try to hard. (translation- the team was poor that year and they were looking for excuses) Before this geezer goes the way of the wind I'd love to see that tradition brought back. It would only make the Marriott Center an even tougher place for visitors. (and more exciting for Y fans)

Y Grad Y Dad | 10:48 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Really, some of my fellow BYU fans embarrass me. Talking trash to the Aggies? What's next, kicking kittens? At least the Utes haven't wandered in yet.

Comments continue below

Have some respect Cougs | 10:54 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I am a huge Cougar fan but I hate some of the arrogance of the fans. I was at the BSU game this year to personally witness the Cougar meltdown against a WAC team for the second year in a row. I am glad we didn't have to risk the same thing at Utah State. Utah State is a good program and has beaten us their fair share over the years. We don't want to play them on their court for the same reason Michigan State and others don't want to play us on ours - because their good. There are two or three USU players that BYU simply misjudged and would make great Cougars. Go Cougs but have some respect!!

Re:Yo Whitney | 11:01 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Actually BYU's last home loss was to Loyola Marymont not Lamar.

How come all the Aggie fans brag about their home record and at the same time criticize BYU for not playing anyone when their non-conference schedule includes Southern Utah, Montana-Western, Austin Peay, Santa Clara, Prarie View A&M, UVSC, Northern Arizona, and Oral Roberts. Their non-conference schedule at home is the exact same as BYU's.

Whitney right? | 11:04 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

BYU fans have to be truly myopic to believe teams won't come into the Marriot Center because of...fear? Give me a break.

That's simply ludicrous. The reason teams won't play in the MC is because BYU doesn't have the national reputation elite teams are looking for. The reason Michigan St. and Oklahoma St. come to play at Energy Solutions Arena is merely a ploy to make more money in an NBA arena.

That's why BYU can't put together a strong non-conference schedule in football, either. Teams such as LSU, UGA, Ohio St., Michigan, etc. don't view BYU as relevant enough nationally to schedule a home and home.

Get over yourselves.

Sneaky Jimmy | 11:09 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Cosic in the Marriot Center paved the way for Euro basketball players to play in the USA. Look at the NBA now. Cosic was Magic Johnson before Magic Johnson. He could play point guard or center. It's too bad that BYU doesn't make a comerative DVD of the glory days and use it as a fund raiser

SEC Rules | 11:14 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

If BYU wants some respect then they need to get out of the MWC and play in a real conference. MWC is a glorified division two conference.

If it makes you feel better... | 11:10 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Wake Forest is coming out to Provo next year. Will that make your cut for a "quality" team?
One reason the MC does not sell out consistiently has to do with a greater number of sports and entertainment choices than existed in Provo in the 1970's when the Jazz did not exist and BYU was the only thing going on. The Yewts sold out a lot more back then, as well.

To the Truth Does Hurt | 11:17 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I am measuring respect by votes for the top 25. BYU is ranked 25th, which shows they are getting respect. Perhaps not as much as they deserve, but it is respect. Much more than what your team is getting.

Hey USU | 11:19 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Arent you the team that was ranked a couple of years ago and didn't even get an at large bid. Didn't you end of playing in the NIT. I seem to remember that Hawaii came in and smoked USU at the "impossible to win at" Spectrum. What a storied program. Hawaii crushed you guys that year, so much for the awesome record, it looks like it did a lot for you that year.

haunyocker | 11:24 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The biggest change since Rose took over,is that it appears to me is that the Marriott has a team that plays both halves with equal tenacity. They may not be as equally successful halves, but the intensity is there on both sides of the break. Some teams in the past, even successful one, seemed to play a half a game. And some times it was enough to win. But Rose teams play hard buzzer to buzzer better than every team in the MWC. "NEVER GIVE UP" "NEVER GIVE UP" "NEVER GIVE UP!" to quote a certain WWII politician. The ROSE Cougs NEVER GIVE UP...especially at the Marriott.

Rich | 11:30 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Of course BYU wins most of their home games because NCAA referees give most of the close calls to the home team. That's what happens in every home arena across the country. If you're halfway good, you'll win most of your home games because you'll get 10 or 12 favorable calls that would have gone the other way on the road. That's why some schools, such as North Carolina, insist on bringing referees from their own conference, who certainly want their conference to do well on the road. If BYU or Utah were to win a couple of national championships in a row, they, too, could book games with anybody they pleased and could probably insist on bringing their own refs if playing a weaker team.

To lezoave | 11:48 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Michigan State didn't "refuse" to play in Provo, just like BYU didn't "refuse" to play in East Lansing last year. MSU always does a "home and home" on a neutral floor with a team and their "home" game is at the Palace of Auburn Hills where the Pistons play.

CJem | 11:52 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Basketball, like other college sports, is for entertainment, and for money for the school. The games are played by talented individuals who devote much time and effort to be able to play. Reference has been made to Cosic, who was a joy, ie, entertaining, to watch. It is normal for fans to cheer for their team, but it is funny when fans pin their own self-worth to the success of their team, or speak of how "we" beat "you" referring to other fans, or put down the fans at another school based on the performance of their team. That attitude is too often carried over into the religious debates that appear on these pages, the idea that "I" am better than "you" because "my" beliefs are better than "yours," as though religious belief is a competitive sport.

The truth does hurt Utah | 12:04 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I BYU gets no repect nationally then what does that say about the teams that loose to BYU? What about Utah?

top of conferance vs bottom half. Remember BYU has played some good teams on thier home courts. And each of them is still ranked NC Mich State. and Louisville.

Who cares where they played them the played a close game each time and got respect for it.

Utah fans get a life. You once had a great Football team and a Great Basketball team, just not any more.

Henry Drummond | 12:09 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I was there the day they dedicated the place. A little known fact is that it wasn't called the "Marriott Center" originally. It was called the "Marriott Activity Center". Everyone called it the Big Mac because the outside looked like the box the Big Mac came in back then. When pleas from the administration to stop calling it the Big Mac failed, they pried the "Activity" out of all the signs. You can still see on the sides of the building where it had been.

Incidentally speakers including General Authorities have commented on how intimidating the place is because of the size and the compaq "pit" construction.

to: 20 point beating | 12:34 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

and hey BYU fan- Go back to elementary school people. If BYU has won 45 in a row at home and they play ~15 home games a season that means that they haven't lost at home in over 3 years. I don't think that your beloved aggies beat them 2 years ago by 20 points. Maybe 4 or 5 years ago, however.

And to Danny Roe:
Enough of the beloved rebel smack talk about their tough home schedule. Guess what- BYU has played more ranked teams than your rebels have, they just haven't all been home games. They've been neutral site and road games, but playing 3 top-10 teams at some point this season, is much better than your couple of top-25 oppponents.

USU fans- give it up- you'll always be 2nd or 3rd fiddle in this state.

truth be told | 12:42 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I forgot Aggies existed...you may have upgraded your schedule by not scheduling USU but a loss to those teams, which you lost to all of them besides the one team that didn't have any of its players playing at the time, looks a lot better than to USU. We all know that BYU didn't want that because them in the spectrum this year wouldn't have been pretty.

to Zoobie 55 | 12:58 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Be careful what you wish for. Are you sure you want all the fans standing and chanting until the Cougars' first points? Because from what I've seen that wouldn't be well received by the old timers at the MC who seem to always be yelling at everyone around them to sit down. Or did you mean that would be the only time during the game people would be allowed to stand up?

A tradition I'd like to see is for all the old timers to stand up and cheer with the rest of us. I do and I'm not that young anymore myself.

Re: The truth does hurt Utah | 1:16 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

We as Utah fans understand our athletics (football, basketball) are in a small drought. I think reasonable Ute fans would acknowledge that. But no matter how much better BYU is than Utah it doesn't mean your national reputation will be heightened, and it certainly doesn't mean elite teams are sitting, balled up in their gymnasiums scared to death at the prospect of entering the Marriot Center.

This isn't about Utah v BYU. It's about the fact that this conference (no matter what team is tops) doesn't get respect, and never will get respect on a national level expcept for the rare undefeated football season or entrance into the sweet sixteen.

You can glorify your one-and-dones in the NCAA tourney or your paltry Las Vegas Bowl trophies, but as long as your playing the patsies in this conference you mean nothing to the national media. That's the truth that hurts. And believe me it wouldn't be much better as an independent either.

aman | 1:13 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

To say that this streak is insignificant because nobody good has played here is to say that Utah State stinks. I suppose that's a point well taken. Maybe the Cougs haven't beat anybody in Provo. Hopefully we'll quit scheduling those insignificant WAC and Big West teams and get some real competition in here.

To Truth Be Told | 1:19 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Yeah, because you guys really put a beating on Southern Utah at home.

Oh wait, they were in the game to the end. Trust me. I was there.

Anonymous | 1:35 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

no one cares about utah state!

Zoobie 55 | 1:51 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Maybe times have changed to the point where the "Let's Go" chant won't work. Most of the students stand up the whole game now anyway. (The Let's Go chant was accompanied by the BYU band drum section and was awesome) I'm 55, but would love to see it restored. When BYU scores anyone can sit down. (Maybe those 80 and above could be excused)

3 Years Ago | 1:51 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

It was Jaycee Carrol's freshman year that USU smoked the cougars in the Marriott Center by 20+ points. That was the year they smoked them twice. Then again the next year. BYU finally got one last year, by far their best non-conference win of the 45 game home win streak, according to Brad Rock.

df | 2:06 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

byu rules

bringing the light to provo | 2:21 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I just want to point out how touchy BYU fans our when you point out facts that prove they aren't as good as they think they are. Sounds like a problem that often occurs down in there little so called happy valley. Enjoy your bubble in Provo. Because that is what your team is! The difference between a Ute and Cougar fan is that Ute fans aren't warm weather!

bringing the light to provo | 2:30 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Good point df

I like Utah State | 2:48 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

because my Dad went there and they have nice colors; but I like BYU much more.

I felt bad when Utah State did not get invited to the Dance when they were 25-3 and ranked 24th. What an injustice.

I felt even worse when they got blasted by Hawaii in the first round of the NIT on their home floor. Ouch!

I felt really bad when the Ag's lost a close one in the first round of the NCAA tournament a few years ago (Spencer Nelson's senior year). Spencer had a great career but did not show up in that game. It was very sad.

Stew Morrill is a very good coach and I hope he can continue to field competetive teams up there in Logan.

I wish the Ag's had beaten Utah this year; Utah is really bad.

JimBobDandyMcFly | 2:49 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The Big MAC needs to have suites built into it to be able to bring in the MWC tourney and generate revenues. this would decrease the size of the seating several thousand seats of course but only 3 games have generated more interest than 12K fans and only after the team was in 1st place. basketball is just not that popular anymore. also the yellow chairs need to go. they are too small. no leg room.
as far as home court winning streak, some fo the same can be said of UNLV at the moment. they are unbeatable on their home court right now. can you say UNLV wins another MWC tourney? i can.

To: The Truth Does Hurt | 2:44 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

BYU is at least the 25th most respected team in the country right now. Anybody showing that kind of respect to the Aggies? Nuh-uh.

not so good.. | 3:28 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

BYU did have a pretty bad season not too many years back..but their only win still came at the hands of utah state! we own you!

GOOOOOO UTES!!!! | 3:34 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

GGOOOOOOOOOOO UTES!!!! BYU & USU GIVE ME BREAK!!!! OUR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WOULD KILL THE CEWGS!!!!!!

Whiney | 4:02 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

They need to make the seats more comfortable. There is no leg room. They also need to dis-allow Utes and Aggies from attending games there. They are just annoying. Both unrealistic hopes...but thought I'd just complain.

Forget the suites | 3:59 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Lets fill er up and play some ball! That why the college game is so much better than the pro game no suites, no fireworks, no BS, Just Basketball.

oldtimer | 4:15 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The reason the NCAA doesn't use the MC anymore is because of fan attendance or lack there of. In the old days, (Roberts, Ainge, etc.) as stated earlier, we filled the MAC every game!

What does it cost a student to go to a game now?

FILL IT AND THEY WILL COME!

anonymoose | 4:33 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Urban Meyer left Utah for Florida and has a national championship. Tony Ingle went to Kennesaw State and he has a national championship. BYU's 45 game streak is the closest BYU will ever get to a national championship, and if it wasn't for the BCS they would still be playing Football in the holiday bowl every year!

byu DOES get national respect | 4:43 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Obviously "The Truth Does Hurt" you have not followed the past week in college basketball rankings. Yeah, BYU is not respected nationally, which is why, even after LOSING to SDSU, they still moved into the top 25 in the country!! I think this shows they are getting respect!! To USU posters: We are sick of whining Aggie fans-- no one cares about USU, but the people from Logan. The end (pretty good short story huh?!). In BYU's 1 win season last decade, the team they beat was USU, now that's funny!

goo utes! | 4:50 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

hey smart Aleck! goooo spells GU as in icky stuff
I guess your comment means that your men's team is so pathetic this year that they would even would get creamed by your women's team since BYU beat you TWICE this year!
who has better conference record -duh I think it's BYU and they have played and BEAT utes twice

go post on sites talking about the utes and leave your poor spelling and trash talk were it belongs in west valley high school gyms.
SO give it up with the trash talk until your team can back it up.
GO BYU!!!!

Kay Nelson | 5:00 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

The answer to why BYU is unbeatable at home is simple. The Lord blesses them to.

The only team .... | 5:14 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

... really having an off year this year are the Utes. They really have no room to talk. 45 wins in a row at home is impressive (BYU), 9 season with a at least 20 wins (USU) is impressive. Aggies had some bad losses early but playing okay now. To really figure out who is better the teams have to actually play against each other. ESA would be awesome in my opinion. I guess next year we can go all out and talk when BYU plays USU in hoops and football. Pretty sure the Aggies will win in hoops, the football game should be at least entertaining.

Re: Kay Nelson | 5:18 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Are you kidding me? Doubt the Lord cares who wins as long as there is sportsmanship during the game. Get over yourself!!

to kay nelson | 5:27 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

omg-i hope you are trying to be stupid, because if you are serious, you are embarassing everyone associated with the Morman religion. Seriously, you were kidding right ?

BYU fan | 5:56 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

I decided we need to start with an opening prayer to bring some love and the LORD does care if WE BYU COUGARS Win! Roar

To responses to Kay Nelson | 6:23 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Of course he is kidding. It is a bit of a BYU inside joke. You would have had to watch this last year of BYU football to understand.

to Kay | 6:18 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Apparently the Lord doesn't care about women's basketball...

To Gooooooo Utes!!! | 6:23 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

Good one Ms Ute.

Especially since BYU beat Utah twice this season already. Are you calling your own Men's basketball team girlymen, or are you just trying to say that of your two basketball teams, your women's team is better? Your comment doesn't make sense.

Are you kidding me? | 7:13 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

All right, USU fans. Your team's pretty good and you have an intimidating arena. But don't assume that anyone outside of Cache Valley cares at all. Come down to the city, go up to anyone and tell them you're an Aggie fan, they'll laugh and thank you for telling them a funny joke.

As far as why the NCAA doesn't have tournament games in the Mariott Center, I assumed it was pretty obvious. BYU's a private campus and the University isn't going to let the circus surrounding the NCAA's anywhere near it. Secondly, Provo's too far away from the airport in SLC, travel is too much.

And, no, I don't think the Lord cares about women's basketball.

to oldtimer | 9:45 p.m. Feb. 29, 2008

To answer your question "how much does it cost a student go to a game now?" the answer is $1. Oh wait, sorry, that's just at the U...

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Vocal BYU fans pack the Marriott Center during the recent UNLV game. The arena is a safe haven for the Cougars and unfriendly territory for opponents.