Deseret News | A new outlook: Tavernari has matured during time at BYU

Reader comments
A new outlook: Tavernari has matured during time at BYU

JT looks great!!! | 11:53 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I have watched the exhibition games and I have noticed a slimmer JT. He looks in much better shape. It seems like he jumps with ease and is quicker- this should pay off big time for the team. If Miles comes around, we could be looking at a top 20 team.

Shoot it | 1:54 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

My advice to Jonathan is shoot it when they pass it to you as soon as you can. Every time you get your hands on the ball, shoot it. From 30' or 45' out, just shoot the darn ball. I don't care if you shoot 9%, just keep shooting it. Hey, if you on the bench and get a loose ball, shoot it. I don't care it you have a hot game, shooting at 19%, just keep shooting.

Top 20 | 6:24 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

LOL Just like your boys were going to be National Champs this year as a football team. I swear there's something in that green and carrot jello!

Comments continue below

uties | 6:30 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I see the uties are out in force. They are jealous that the Courgars keep winning the conference. It looks like the trophy will be in Provo again this year. It is because of players like T

Flatlander | 7:17 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Since when did losing all those first round NCAA games become a jinx. The MW is never more than a three team conference in any sport so the Y gets to see how good it really is only at tournament time and of course they lose. then the excuses come, we did not get a good seed, we had an off night we struggled on the road or the team was nervous playing in the gib dance. Well good teams win and lesser teams lose its not a jinx.

The Truth | 8:30 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

We all know that there are no U fans, just BYU haters. Wouldn't is be nice to have competitive teams in BOTH basketball AND football? Oh wait, BYU does.

Utah, however, has to choose one or the other. You either get a good basketball team with Majerus and a terrible football team or a good football team with Meyer and Whittingham and a terrible basketball team. But keep hating on BYU because we'll be occupied winning the conference year after year.

re; Ananymous | 8:31 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Ya, it's tough when an athletic team like Utah wins the conference last year, the tournament and has history of winning tourny games. Last year they lost to a better Arizona team. BYU stinks

Ernest T. Bass | 8:31 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

He has been so great and fun to watch in the NCAA Tournament. I really think that he has a chance to go to the NBA and perform like Michael Jordan.

Cougarf@n | 8:33 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

JT has been a great player for BYU and I'm excited for his senior campaign. Yewts can't stand him because of what he's done to their sorry program the last few years, so you can't take anything they say about JT too seriously. If I were I yewt, I'd hate the way he's dominated my team (winning five of the last six) the last three years.

As for the NCAAs, Yewts have no room to talk after last year's meltdown against a much lower seed. Nothing BYU has failed to do at the NCAA's since JT's been on the team has embarrased the MWC like that.

loose moose | 8:38 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

awwweeeee. The mighty ute fans are tearing a nice young man down again. Guess ripping apart some hard working guy like JT is the only way they can feel better about themselves. Pretty pathetic ute fans, pretty pathetic.

uh | 8:41 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Did a favored UofU team not lose its first round game last year, and is not the team up north looking like a middle of the pack MWC team this year? If BYU is ubathletic, what does that make the yewties?

boise coug | 8:47 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I have been as frustrated with some of JT's ill-advised shots in the past as anyone. But he has also won several games for us when he gets on a role. The bottom line is the guy has a ton of talent and I love his new team first attitude. We have an extremely talented team and JT is a big part of that. We all mature as we go through life and it is good to see some of the ways that JT has. He will be paid to play ball for a good ten years so I hope he just enjoys his senior ride and brings home that 4th championship. And at least one tourney victory would make Cougar fans so very happy...

We will see | 8:52 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

how mature he is on Dec. 2 when he has to play in The Spectrum for the first time in his life.

Anonymous | 8:53 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Some of you guys from Utah have nothing else to do. Get a job. Maybe you can't get a job after being a Utah graduate. I don't know. Bass is commenting every time I get on here. Maybe you should find something else to do. Crochet.

Anonymous | 8:59 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

That Ernest T. Bass is such a kidder. He's such a good satirist, too. I could see him competing with Jonathan Swift. We need more Ernest T. Basses in the world.

CA Coug | 9:20 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Ute smack is pretty common and typical of ankle biters. I've never been to the Utah site, but I hope that Cougar fans don't try to out do Ute trolls. Although, being sillier than a Ute blogger is a big challenge.

no worries | 9:36 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I've always enjoyed the enthusiasm JT brings to the game. I've watched him in pre-game warmups and he's always been very cordial to opposing players.

This improved version of JT looks like the real deal.

JT will let his play do most of his talking this season.

Much to the chagrin of our little brothers up on the hill, I foresee JT having a GREAT senior season and being a key player in helping BYU win a fourth straight MWC championship.

Blahhhh | 10:28 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

GAG. Seriously. Get over yourself dude. He is the fakest person anyone in the BYU athletic department has ever met. He just puts on a big show. Just listening to him talk makes you throw up in your mouth.

BYU FAN | 10:38 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

JT is so good in so many ways it blows my mind!! This has to be the year the COUGS win it all and have the #1 pick in the draft come out of BYU....Oh wait!! I am a huge BYU fan and I don't care if BYU loses every game this year cuz it will be considered a successful season because JT wont be coming back!!!!!!! There are a handfull of games last season that i can count right now the cougs lost because of JT. Weather it was his LAZY D, poor shot selection, or lack of boxing out and rebounding. This article should have been about JIMMER. Good luck in your life and future JT. We all hope you end up somewhere where there are no TV's, newspaper, or people that care about BBall so we don't have hear about you. AMEN.

Anonymous | 10:51 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I've never heard of this guy till I read this story ... hope he does well.

Anonymous | 11:12 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

What's that thing on his chin?!

LV COUGIE | 11:15 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I just hope this means JT is really ready to share the ball and NOT shoot us out of games, which has happened on occasion. I also like JT's enthusiasm but he needs to be more team oriented on both sides of the ball. I also hope the weight loss helps him play a little better defense with his feet. He has very quick hands but needs to move his feet to shut off dribble penetration. I certainly would not trade JT for the much less talented Ute players at the 3 or the 4 despite his quick trigger finger. I predict BYU will be very good in conference again, but our lack of really good inside play will likely limit our ability to go deep in the tourney...again.

Anonymous | 11:54 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

His defense is like swiss cheese, full of holes.

Fickle fans and goofy uties | 12:13 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Fact: JT has more ability than anyone on the Ute team-Watch and see.
Fact:JT wants to improve as a player and team mate. Give him a chance to show it.
Fact:There is so much satire and negativity, both Utes and Cougars, that it drips from the page.
Looking at what BYU has accomplished with Dave Rose there is not much to complain or be negative about.
To all the complainers and negative people, please get off your parents couch in the basement and go outside and see the real world.

BYU Fan | 12:26 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Give some specific examples of how JT lost a game for BYU. Since they only lost a "handful" of games the whole season.

Kramer | 12:52 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

"That JT guy for BYU...he's out there and i'm lovin every minute of it Jerry."

Re: BYU Fan | 1:07 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I kind of doubt you watch BYU basketball, but your post is a nice summary of the negative exaggerated view Utah fans have of Tavernari. Anyone who has actually watched BYU play in the last three seasons has seen a player that's improved every year, especially in the intangibles like defense, assists and rebounds. I'm excited to see him play now that he's trimmed up a bit and had some experience playing with NBA level talent.

He's been a great contributor on a consistently good team. I really can't think of many games where his poor play alone cost BYU the game (especially after his first couple of years), but I can think of several times where his shooting either kept BYU in games or extended BYU's lead. The game a couple years back where BYU beat #8 Louisville comes to mind.

I don't know that JT has any kind of legitimate shot at the NBA, but he's extremelly marketable for European leagues as an american trained brazilian and he'll be playing professionally somewhere. I'm happy he's been on the team and he's definitely improved each year.

AK Cougar | 1:22 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Good article about JT and I hope his heart is in the right place on this team. He is a great player and he will enjoy a turn of being the goto guy. Other players will also as the opposing team has weakness that the coach finds to exploit.

One Cougar looking forward to a really good BYU BBall season.

TO: SHOOT IT | 1:28 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I'm thinking Tavi is open right now....and he should shoot it!

StriplingWarrior | 1:38 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

JT would play a lot better if he were white like the rest of our team.

JOE | 1:41 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

To BYU Fan at 10:38..

Don't claim to be a BYU fan and make a stupid statement like "JT lost a handful of games for us last year." did you even watch the team last year??
Tell me which game he lost as they only lost a handful and he played great in all the losses.
Also to say he has bad defense, he was top 5 in the conference in steals and top 10 in rebounds.

JT has played for three straight seasons and BYU has won three straight conference championships. Sounds pretty good to me.

Anonymous | 1:44 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I can't wait until he plays in the NBA.

RE:Ernest T. Bass | 1:53 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Ernest T. Bass | 8:31 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
He has been so great and fun to watch in the NCAA Tournament. I really think that he has a chance to go to the NBA and perform like Michael Jordan.

It has been so great and fun to read your posts in the Deseret News. I really think you have a chance to go on TV and perform like Jerry Seinfeld.

MATURATION | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

He used to wait a half second before launching;

Now, it's more like one and a half.

JT | 2:26 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Don't know why there was an article written on this guy. I am not a fan of either school, in years past when I have seen him play I did not like his attitude really turned me off of BYU basketball. Just don't like to watch guys like that play.

Re: BYU Fan | 2:39 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I couldn't agree more about JT. I think its funny how you have obviously offended all the team managers on BYU's team haha(joe, RE:BYUfan, and BYUFAN) I worked at the BYU basketball camp this last summer and so I know exactly what type of people made those comments haha. I watched EVERY game last year and the one that stands out the most is the wakeforest game. All he had to do was box 1 guy out and BYU would have won. Instead his guy got the rebound and scored with about 1 min left in the game. It completely changed the outcome of the game.

BYU Basketball | 3:06 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Best program on campus! hands down. Dave Rose is a legit coach on the national level.

You don't see BYU's Bball team gettin scrapped at home.

Bronco needs to take note.

Re: Joe | 8:19 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

At least that guy you tore down thinks realistically. As Shoot It says, the opposing teams want him to keep chucking up threes. 34% is not good enough to shoot 10 times a game. Thats six or seven lost possessions.

Re: BYU basketball | 8:22 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

See Wake Forest game. Loss at home. Then there is Utah State and its 34 game home win streak. Thats winning at home. Can't wait for whinny Dave to have to come back to Logan.

MesaBYUFan | 10:02 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I have never seen a more arrogant player on a BYU team than JT. Last year at the ASU game I watched JT spend the WHOLE game screaming for the ball, possession after possession. And yet, his field goal percentage is awful. I hope this change is genuine. JT needs to be a real team member if BYU really wants to win the MVC. I am surprised that Coach Rose has put up with him this long.

Chel | 12:02 a.m. Nov. 13, 2009

I think JT has matured a lot. He has definitely had a lot of growth since his Freshmen year. I guess I sort of understand why he has haters out there, but he really is a good player. He really is a genuinely nice guy if you get the chance to know him. I'm happy for how much he has grown and progressed and his marriage to a beautiful girl. I wish JT the best for his senior season. I won't wish him luck, because he doesn't need luck, he makes sure to prepare himself so that luck isn't necessary for a good performance.

Currently | 12:01 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

You are the MWC Champs in Football. Nope UTAH is!
You are the MWC Reg. season AND Tournament Champs. Nope UTAH is!
You currently are the winners of the Las Vegas Bowl. Nope Arizona is!

So you are the Champs at???? WISHFUL THINKING!!!

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.