Deseret News | BYU's Tavernari promises defense for Brazil, Cougars

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Dick Harmon: BYU's Tavernari promises defense for Brazil, Cougars

Elusive BYU NCAA Victory | 12:03 a.m. June 21, 2008

Maybe he could promise not to shoot 50 footers with 30 seconds left on the shot clock.

Have fun in the NIT or CBI next year byU fans.

Boylen will have the Utes in the Sweet Sixteen next year.

Go JT | 12:15 a.m. June 21, 2008

Bring home the gold, then another sweeeep of the Utes and another conference championship.

What a great time to be a Cougar fan.

Anonymous | 1:04 a.m. June 21, 2008

Pathetic Yewt trolls.

Take it to 'em JT.

I'd love to see a Brazil vs. USA matchup.

Of course USA will win but it would be a lot of fun to see JT and Rafa together. Hopefully we get to see a game with them.

Represent well !!!!!

Comments continue below

First time for everything | 1:33 a.m. June 21, 2008

Tavernari play defense? I guess if you count scoring a 3 pointer and your opponent getting a layup.

Woody | 1:42 a.m. June 21, 2008

Here we go again. It almost makes me sick how an article about JT and the first coment has the Utah smell. Let it alone Elusive. Just put your red clothes up for a few more months and then we'll see who ends up where. Boylen may be a good coach but you may have forgotten, he dosen't play. Go set in the gym for awhile and learn about the game. OUT

Justin | 3:50 a.m. June 21, 2008

Hey Tavernari, the main thing you need to work on this summer isn't your outside shooting or your defense; it's your ability to PASS THE BALL!

Hyrum Smith | 3:56 a.m. June 21, 2008

Utah in the sweet sixteen next year? To anyone who believes that, I have a bridge in S.F. I will sell you!

Boring. | 6:45 a.m. June 21, 2008

Please go away cougar-ettes. BYU beat sloppy teams last year. Call it luck. This year you will go right back to mediocrity. You are in Provo Utah and in the MWC. You will never be a big time team. Get over it.

USA | 6:52 a.m. June 21, 2008

The USA is going to own the Olympics. JT is going to get a real dose of what Trent is going to experience: talent, basketball skills, and basketball IQ. Oh, as for BYU basketball, we shall see how they handle the Utes after two seasons under Boylen. Luke will own the middle, it will be a great season for the Utes...Great time to be a Ute fan :)

just wondering? | 7:04 a.m. June 21, 2008

Hey Dick,
Are you trying to humiliate this guy?

Anonymous | 7:37 a.m. June 21, 2008

Lol. Tavernari promises defense....more like he promises to shoot every single time he touches the ball, no matter if he is 50 feet away from the basket. Kewgar fans, you're better off without this ballhog.

BlueBoy | 8:13 a.m. June 21, 2008

Glad to see JT's interested in being a better defender. It'll be interesting to see if BYU's lineup will allow JT to play the 2 spot. That'd be a tough one for other teams to defend.

BTW, Boylen was not impressive his first year. His comments to the media (every time I saw it) seemed very me-me, like everything revolves around him and not his players. Maybe that's why the team did so poorly compared to what people expected with a talented center having another year under his belt. Too bad, Utes. You got stuck with a bad one.

Rose, on the other hand, is BYU basketball's equivalent of Bronco. Let's hope BYU can keep these two coaches around a long time!

RockOn | 8:28 a.m. June 21, 2008

You get out of breath reading JT. Nice not to get the canned answers... with JT it's a stream of seltzer!

JT has the skills to make a big impact. We'll see if he's honed them come October. If he has and he can consistently play like he did against Louisville, and NC this could be a very good team with a chance to get a decent seed and hopefully win a game in the NCAA.

Just keepin' it real, dog. Go JT and have a great Olympics. That can't be a bad warm-up.

Hopefully | 8:43 a.m. June 21, 2008

I would love to see some J.T. improved defense this year.

It is hard to get on J.T.'s back about shooting threes because when he is on, he is incredibly on. We know that when the shot isn't falling it takes us out of games, but we then have to acknowledge, on the flip side, that when he is on it wins games.

But if there is one thing that the Suns/Nuggets/Warriors have taught us, it is that teams that rely on hot shooters don't win when it counts. I love all of the three teams listed above, but defense wins games, not offense (unfortunately--offense is more enjoyable to watch). And in a tournament like the MWC Championships or the NCAA tournament it is just impossible to stay really hot for an extended period of time.

Hopefully BYU will have all of its players learn to play better team defense and not rely on great individual D. The Celtics are a great example of how you don't need each guy to be amazing at D, just good team defense is crucial.

Until Utah ACTUALLY beats us in something let them talk all they want. Having Chris Miles scares me though.

Dick blows another one | 10:02 a.m. June 21, 2008

This story had no credibility when I saw who wrote it. Tavernari can shoot in streaks and plays defense like a scared kitty. He can promise to play defense all he wants, it doesn't change the fact he won't and/or can't. Defense is about desire, and with him you can tell he is only worried about him scoring points, he has no heart. BYU basketball has been on a plateau for a while, their program peaks by losing in the first round it seems like. The Utes are going to be a lot better next year, I think they will split, and thats disappointing as a Utes fan.

Brazil in the Olympics?!? | 10:45 a.m. June 21, 2008

From what I have read Brazil hasn't even qualified to go to the Olympics.

How many years has it been since BYU won an NCAA tournament game?!?
Maybe they'll be able to do something now that Plaisted is gone.

Tav's D | 11:00 a.m. June 21, 2008

JT's defense during non-conference play was pathetic and his offense was on and off. If you all remember, that's when Rose started Collinsworth for a few games to get the point accross to JT that he was going to have to play defense to start. Well, when JT came back his defense was much improved (steals) and he wasn't taking stupid shots on offense. He improved a lot last year and will be a major force on both sides of the ball this year as long as he remembers the lessons he learned. He's going to take a lot of pressure of of Lee. I liked Plaisted but Miles is going to be a better role player and brings that physical toughness that we need - he just needs to learn to control it.
3-Peat!

Ernest T. Bass | 11:18 a.m. June 21, 2008

Defense? Seriously? Unless someone gave him a dictionary with a bookmark (doubtful he could look it up), Tavernari has no idea what the meaning of that word is.
Keep shooting those 50 foot jump shots and losing in the tournament.
Sixteen, the number of games Utah has won in the NCAA tournament since byu has won a game in the tourney. SIXTEEN.
16.

Re: Dick blows another one | 11:24 a.m. June 21, 2008

What are you talking about? Dick didn't really have any analysis and wasn't saying that what JT said was going to happen. Most of the article was just long quotes from JT.

As for JT's comments I hope that he is improving his defense but he also needs to work on being more consistent. At the end of the year last year he was virtually nonexistent and hurt BYU.

Aggies rock! | 12:19 p.m. June 21, 2008

So glad Lee Cummard will be back next year. Cummard may win league MVP again, espcially if his thug of a wife is attacking fans. It will be much more fun to watch Utah's Luke Nevill drafted ahead of him in the 2009 NBA draft. BYU is not a school that sends players to the NBA. Ainge, Bradley, then who.........(Hansen was a joke, Araujo was even more pathetic, and Plaisted won't even get drafted).

Loaded with Two-Guards | 12:40 p.m. June 21, 2008

It will be very interesting to see how Rose runs this team with basically three very very good two-guards out there in JT, Cummard and Fredette. We definitely have the ability to spread out a defense when these three are on. I see JT and Fredette as being too good for defenses to focus on Cummard. That will allow Cummard to have another great season and average close to 20.

I loved the JT of the last half of the season when he settled down and played more within the team concept. Hopefully his experience with the Brazilian team will only enhance that desire. He is a writer and sports fan's dream with his quotes!! JT is the kind of player that could probably beat 80% of the shooting guards in the NBA in a game of HORSE. Now if he can get his defense and passing up he really can be an all-MWC type performer his last two seasons.

With JT's international experience, Cummards NBA tryout experience, and Fredette and Miles added experience - this team next year will be very good and very fun to watch. They may struggle against big teams but they will run and gun.

UNLV | 1:05 p.m. June 21, 2008

A...there won't be a 3-peat. There are three maybe four teams ahead of BYU this year.
Sorry to burst another Couger bubble.

Anonymous | 1:50 p.m. June 21, 2008

BYU REIGNS SUPREME!!!!

How many outright MWC championships is it now?

Keep it up cougars and JT.

Best of luck in the Olympics.

Utah has lots of foreign players don't they? How many are making olympic rosters this year? Serious question. I figure someone ought to be playing...

ewe-bies | 1:50 p.m. June 21, 2008

The ewe will be at the Sweet 16 if Boylen can buy them tickets.

BJ | 3:37 p.m. June 21, 2008

The next time he plays defense will be the first.

Eugene | 4:11 p.m. June 21, 2008

Boy, sounds like some very sore and immature Utah and UNLV fans!! Are you really that pathetic to have to say such evil things about another human being just because they wear BYU blue? When not playing BYU, I wish Utah and UNLV the best in all of their games and I am a diehard Cougar! Please take a look at your postings before clicking "Add your comment" and read it again to see if you come off with humanity or a mean pit bill!

prc | 4:24 p.m. June 21, 2008

Yewts! The sweet 16...In the NIT if you're lucky. All Boylen has done is run off the best player on his team {Weight) and made Luke Neville take a giant step Backwards. The guy claims to have class and then Rips the Wyoming coach with a profanity laced tiraid at the end of the game because his Yewts desided to QUIT and not play defense the whole 40 minutes. The only thing Boylen is going to get is FIRED!!! The sweet 16? Maybe in thet lame tourney you played in last year!

Byu has two olympians. Hoffa and jt. Good luck to them.

Yewts keep living on the pathetic dreams of Bogut and Smith? Are either one of them still in their respective leagues?

Ballin D | 7:22 p.m. June 21, 2008

Hey just to remind everyone that BYU is getting a player from the ivory coast who is compared to Allen Iverson but bigger in size if he lives up to his comparisons watch out.

Bracket Buster Bob | 8:10 p.m. June 21, 2008

UNLV will be top 25 pre-season & win it all.

Mark | 9:02 p.m. June 21, 2008

Two barely average seasons with an average coach and Utah is going to the Sweet 16? Sounds like loser-denial.

Re: Mark | 10:19 p.m. June 21, 2008

Sounds like another Kewgar fan that can't count. Boylen has only been at Utah for ONE season. Good effort though. ;)

re:Ballin D | 10:43 p.m. June 21, 2008

So now you have tashaun prince and Allen Iverson, hmm...you might as well compare fredette to Jordan and really have a fantasy.

Rhett | 1:51 a.m. June 22, 2008

don't think UNLV will win it all but they are the clear favorites to win the conference this year. BYU has been a good team the past few seasons but you can always count on a choke job in the post season from the cougs. I really think UNLV will begin their domiance of the MWC this year and it should continue for years to come. New Mexico also looks strong. BYU should be in the mix but it is unlikly they win another MWC title and even more unlikly that they win a tourny game. Good luck to everyone in the MWC

Leave it Alone | 12:26 p.m. June 22, 2008

The Plaisted comments will never die. BYU will be a good team without Plaisted but let's face some facts. They are not the same team without him. Give it a rest. Let the man be. He graduated, if he improves and has a NBA career give him some credit. At least he's giving it a shot and has a chance to be drated. Wish Tavenari the best in his representation of BYU and his country. That's a great honor.

jimbo | 4:19 p.m. June 22, 2008

Let me explain all this "utah in the sweet 16" talk. what they meant is that Utah is hoping to make it into the CBI again. There is only a 16 team field so they are automatically in the "sweet 16". Congrats Utes! I guess you might have another good gymnastics team again

Utes for life | 5:08 p.m. June 22, 2008

This is a response to PRC and all of the other Cougar fans who obviously know nothing about Olympic basketball. First of all, Brazil hasn't even qualified for the Olympics yet. They also failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2004. I don't want to be a buzz kill and say that their chances are slim (which they are) but to say that BYU now has two Olympians isn't true. I mean, I hope they do qualify and JT gets the chance of a lifetime by competing because it would be a great experience for him and Rafa.

Also PRC, you must not follow the NBA closely. Where is Bogut now? Last year he only averaged close to 15 ppg and 10 rpg and recieved some votes for the NBA's most improved player. I guess Rafa's amazing career (2.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg) wasn't a big enough flop for you. So it seems Bogut will be the only Olympian from either school competing in basketball this year as he captains Australia's national team. But again, best of luck to JT and Rafa.

Michelle | 7:18 a.m. June 23, 2008

Once again, we have examples of Ute fans having to define themselves by denigrating everything BYU. Could you just at least STAND FOR SOMETHING on your own?

Re: Elusive | 8:14 a.m. June 23, 2008

"Have fun in the NIT or CBI next year byU fans."

Sorry, but that CBI invite is already reserved for the Utes, who are already anticipating another thrilling season finale in the CBI.

BYU will just have to settle for another MWC championship, an NCAA berth, and finally winning an NCAA first round game.

Re: Victory | 8:23 a.m. June 23, 2008

"Boylen will have the Utes in the Sweet Sixteen next year."

A not so bold prediction, since there are only 16 teams in the BCI.

Still, the Utes will need a 3 or 4th place finish in the MWC to make their dreams of a return appearance in the illustrious BCI tourney a reality.

Ute against Boylen | 9:31 a.m. June 23, 2008

I have to agree with these Cougs for the first time in my life. Boylen is a horrible coach. I've been against him ever since his Wyoming fiasco. We need a new coach who will actually do good to the program and not bring it down. Coach Boylen needs to go!

Chodilicus | 11:13 a.m. June 23, 2008

The key to BYU success this year has a lot to do with Tavernari, imo. I think that the key is Rose being able to play JT at his natural position of SF. I want to see Cummard play the 2 and JT at the 3. However, with both JT and the POY Cummard returning along with most of BYU's other key players minus Plaisted, I find it hilarious that people somehow think that the two time defending champs won't be the favorites going into this year.

Who exactly does UNLV have returning that should scare the Cougars? I think that they will be good and as long as the MWC Tourney is on their home floor they will qualify for the NCAA Tournament. But as a BYU fan, winning the MWC again isn't even a question. The only question is how to take that next step and make some noise in the NCAA tournament.

I won't even humor the dilusional Ute fans with a response to their banter.

Go Cougars!

BYU Die-Hard | 12:48 p.m. June 23, 2008

I apologize on behalf of some of the Cougar fans posting.

"Who exactly does UNLV have returning that should scare the Cougars?"

How about their best player, Wink Adams, and 4 of 5 leading scorers. They also have a true center who was forced to redshirt last year. Before that, most expected him to be the newcomer of the year. They also have a transfer from Memphis that is eligible this year.

Without Plaisted, UNLV has got to be the favorite. BYU will be good, San Diego State should get better, and Utah should also be much improved (if Boylen doesn't get in the way of all that talent. Seriously, he lost them like 5 games last year).

If the conference can make some noise in the preseason and the CSU's, Air Force's and TCU's hold their own to keep RPI's from plummeting, this could be the best we have ever seen from the MWC.

And about JT's defense, it improved tremendously last year after he was benched as was evidenced by his shutting down Giddens in OT after Giddens had lit up Cummard before Lee fouled out. People who didn't see his improvement didn't watch or don't know basketball.

Rip | 3:04 p.m. June 23, 2008

Defence? Takes alot of illadvised shoots and misses most of them.

Geezer | 3:38 p.m. June 23, 2008

RE: Ernest Baas

And what have the Utes done lately? NADA

Tavernari's Mom | 1:13 p.m. June 30, 2008

Hey leave my boy alone!! he's done a wonderful job soo far, and he's good at everything he does!!

JT's little Asian genius | 6:47 p.m. July 8, 2008

All you haters on Tavernari need to stop trash talking. Anyone with eyes can see that he has major talent. Why do BYU haters even read these articles? I know why...cause you're scared! You know JT is going to kill it next season. It's not cool to rag on him just because he's good. Maybe all you Ute fans should focus on your own players. JT could out-shoot anyone of them. Long live the mighty cougars! Best of luck to you JT I'm rooting for you! Keep on living your dream!

Gustavo | 8:25 a.m. July 9, 2008

Oscar Robertson? That is Oscar Schmidt...

And I don't know about this media frenzy you are talking about. Brazil has not been in a Olympic Game since 1996, so people are not that crazy about their basketball team. Volleyball has taken the #2 spot from hoops long time ago.

But Tavernari is indeed a great prospect. He will be one of Brazil's top players in the next 10 to 15 years. And I also wouldn't be surprised if he can one day make it to the NBA.

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