Deseret News | BYU basketball: Cougars hope to learn from loss

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BYU basketball: Cougars hope to learn from loss

George | 7:01 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

They learned alright.
They learned that they are not quite as good as they thought they were.

Whatever George... | 7:26 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

I was at the game and it wasn't just luck that BYU was hanging with the #17 team in the country. They are for real, as your team will find out later this year.

They gave away the game in the last two minutes, and did a bad job of getting off a shot in the last 9 seconds. Even then it took the refs several minutes to decide who won the game.

Go Cougars! Beat Wake!

Hoosier Coug | 7:36 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

George, what they learned was that they can play toe-to-toe with the big dogs, even away from home. They learned that they are probably the best team in the Mountain West as they begin the transition into conference play. What we have all learned, George, is that you are either a pre-teen who has nothing better to do with their time than post idiotic comments on things you do not know anything about or someone with the same mental capacity.

Apparently, what they got from the loss was confidence and respect from those who watched the game.

BTW, I don't believe they are a top 25 team yet, since they have not proven they belong there. However, I believe they have the potential.

Comments continue below

What a contrast... | 7:41 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

with Boylen's reaction to a pretty similar situation in Logan! I'd say the contrast between the two coaches (Rose and Boylen) couldn't be greater.

I disagree | 7:47 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

I disagree...no matter how you look at it, these are the facts:

1. They played a top 20 team on what amounted to their home court.
2. They controlled the game right until the end.
3. They were homered by the officials, forget about the last play.
4. Replay that game 10 times, I think they go 5-5.

Arizona State is good. They have two NBA caliber players on that team. To me this shows how good BYU is, right now...and I think they will only improve through the season.

Re: George | 8:02 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

Probably the opposite. Any team that can go on the road and take a No. 17 team right down to the wire and lead all but the final 9 seconds of the second half must be a pretty good team. I think BYU is disappointed by losing, but encouraged by knowing they are every bit as good as the No. 17 team in the nation. Remember, their main goal is first to win conference and then win some NCAA games. Saturday's game has to give confidence they can do both.

Az Dave | 10:06 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

The teams actions at the end of the game were great examples of the church to non members who attended. Thanks

Re; AZ Dave | 10:22 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

You are absolutely right! I know tons of people that go to sporting events looking for examples of behavior on how to pattern their lives. I bet that is precisely the reason all of those non-members were at the game...they were investigating the church based off the basketball team's play. What a sad day for the church, both the football and basketball teams lost and so there goes our membership for the next couple of months.

Examples | 10:27 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

Because everyone on the team is a member? Just make sure you are always being a good example to the non-members Dave.

This team needs to learn to be more unselfish like Cummard. Re-watch the end of the game, or the entire game, and you will see Jimmer and JT need to learn it's not about them all the time. Cummard doesn't not show up in big games, he tries to get everyone involved. Jimmer and JT try to win it themselves.

Qwest | 10:46 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

No cheesy slogans BYU and you'll do just fine..No stupid T-shirts.. Just basketball...At least make it your 3rd priority....

JT | 10:44 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

I JT learned that some four letter words are very discernable on TV. I understand the frustration. It happens to everyone.

I loved the game. Except the final score. That #13 for ASU was a beast. He had his way. I thought the fouls went his way a lot of the time, but he took the ball to the hoop and made the officials make a decision.

Smeagol | 11:22 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

Re:Housier Coug- BYU is not the best team in the MWC, it is UNLV. The same day BYU lost to a really overrated Az St. team UNLV killed AZ. and I beat anything that AZ finishes higher in the PAC-10 than Az St. In basketball it's not so much about rankings as in football. It's about performance

Re:other people-a loss is a loss, until you actually beat a top team, have yet to due so, there is major doubt about the quaility of BYU. Remember ASU only beat IUPI by 1 point at home, I'll say it again ASU is vastly overrated

And the BYU basketball team is similar to its football team...prideful, arrogant and self-righteous. Even while they drop F bombs and refuse to shake the hands of the other team. And their wifes getting violent with people in the crowd because her husband got worked in the game. Pure class BYU.

cougarblue | 12:25 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

I love that fact that Yewts just spend all day on Deseret News and post idiotic comments. You would think they have something better to do.
Last time I checked, Utah was 6-5 and lost to USU, who lost to BYU.. I am sure that ASU is ranked for a reason. If they weren't a top 25 team, then Why do the rankings tell me otherwise.
I don't know that anyone can really say who is a better team in the MW until they play eachother. Although, I will say, the only 2 half decent teams UNLV has played they lost to, including a 18 point loss to Cal. They beat Arizona but AU has 3 losses compared to ASU's 1 loss... plus ASU has a top 25 ranking.

2 things I do know...
1-BYU is better than Utah
2-Utah lost to SW Baptist

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahaha

Best of the MWC | 1:27 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

It would have been nice to hang on to the win against ASU, but, this is a fairly young BYU team that is still learning to play together. They're getting better every game.

As for who the best teams in the MWC are, it's probably SDSU, UNLV and BYU in that order, but conference play will settle that soon enough, and BYU could very well be the best team in the conference by tournament time.

One thing that is certain is that the best MWC team isn't Utah. All that Utah has proven with their "tough" SOS is that they're not even close to the best in the MWC. In fact, the Utes will be lucky to finish in the top 5 in the MWC.

TC | 3:25 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

This BYU team is exciting. Reminds me of Ainge,Roberts, and Durrant.

Metal Bubba | 5:09 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

SDSU is the best team in the MWC? Didn't they lose by 7 AT HOME to ASU?

pjbunnell | 5:29 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

Something I noticed and I've seen it before - When the game gets real tight with not much time left, the BYU players begin to play tentative - meaning they don't play with the aggressiveness that they exhibited earlier. Its probably a natural human thing but I see other teams where it doesn't seem to happen as much as with BYU.
BYU is very exciting to watch and as a long time fan and graduate of BYU, I love to watch them play

Seattleview | 10:42 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

It looks like my post was rejected. Apparantly simulated curse words are not allowed. I originally said...

Oh no, here we go again BYU plays close to a ranked team (for now anyway) and they think they can play with anyone in the country as per quote from Mr "never pass up a shot" Tavernari. It is this hype that makes them sound so rediculous.

BYU has a team built around 3 point shots which will good enough to contend for the conference championships but will most likely finish 3rd. UNLV will kill them as will one other team.

BYU should stop talking and simply rely on what they do.

Re: Seattleview | 12:14 a.m. Dec. 24, 2008

I agree, we heard this exact same story last year after a close loss to highly ranked UNC. Well, we found out that UNC was as advertised, but the cougars, well one and done and living on "almost."

Arizona was one of the top teams in the nation in 3pt shooting, if not the top. UNLV's guards shut them down from 3pt range. Arizona shot a bismal 1 for 4.

I pick UNLV as the best in the MWC, although Wink got hurt tonight, so who knows now.. New Mexico and SDSU will be good and prob will take down the cougars this year.

re: Seattle | 10:49 a.m. Dec. 24, 2008

"UNLV will kill them [BYU] as will one other team.

BYU should stop talking and simply rely on what they do."

spoken like a true hypocrite!

UNLV | 4:47 p.m. Dec. 24, 2008

BYU the best team in the MWC? Don't make me laugh. I have a broken rib and it hurts to laugh.

yeah man | 8:25 p.m. Dec. 24, 2008

I learned Herb Sendek loves BYU

BYU is not clutch | 12:33 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008

pjbunnell is absolutely correct. BYU always clams up at the end of important games against big opponents and ends up losing. We are the least clutch team in the history of NCAA.

Every year we play well sometimes win the mountain west conference, get invited to the tourney, play a good team, are winning for most of the game and then start playing not to lose at the end of the game and lose. Thats what happens. If you play not to lose you do.

To: Best team in the MWC | 5:38 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008

UNLV would get worked at ASU! Yes
just as the "experts" there in Vegas
have said"BYU Best team in MWC" !!

Fair and Balanced | 6:31 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008

Aggie Fan weighing in here . . . I think the most disappointing thing about BYU was the four letter tirade by at least two BYU players.

Other than that I will side with BYU fans. BYU is that good and I really expect them to win in the tourney this year. Sure they only beat us by five points but I really think BYU's guard line is the best I have seen there in quite some time.

I am not an idiot fan who can't see the forest for the trees either. The better BYU does ultimately the better USU does as well, so for that reason I hope the Cougars AND Utes both have great seasons and I really think BYU in particular will. ASU's speed overwhelmed them a little at times but BYU's fundamental skill level is higher than it has been in years. Best of luck Cougars.

Go Aggies!

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