Best observation I read

[Goatnapper'96]

about this debacle compares the second half against TCU to the second half against Utah State in football.

Honest question for you long time BYU fans or even those of you who don't like BYU, can you ever remember a worse BYU choke job?

[il Padrino Ute]

I saw the last 2 minutes of the game, so I can't comment.

I seem to remember BYU choking against Ralph Sampson and Virginia in the tournament back in '80 or '81, whichever year that Ainge made his game winner against Notre Dame. Unless I'm not remembering it correctly, the Y had a double digit lead at the half by playing zone, but Arnold decided the Y could go man-to-man in the 2nd half with Greg Kite on Sampson.

Sampson ate his lunch and led Virginia to a win.

[Goatnapper'96]

I saw the last 2 minutes of the game, so I can't comment.

I seem to remember BYU choking against Ralph Sampson and Virginia in the tournament back in '80 or '81, whichever year that Ainge made his game winner against Notre Dame. Unless I'm not remembering it correctly, the Y had a double digit lead at the half by playing zone, but Arnold decided the Y could go man-to-man in the 2nd half with Greg Kite on Sampson.

Sampson ate his lunch and led Virginia to a win.

I thought that year ended in the Omni?

[CardiacCoug]

I personally can't remember a more unexpected choke job.

With BYU up 13 at the half I was sure this one was in the bag.

And this is accurately described as a choke job, unlike the Wake Forest and ASU games, because it felt like it was all psychological. The team lost any confidence in taking it to the rim or pushing the ball in transition.

And Cummard needs to handle and shoot the damn ball. Wink Adams asserted himself in the second half and Cummard disappeared and left it to JT to jack up low percentage threes. That was pathetic.

[il Padrino Ute]

I thought that year ended in the Omni?

I don't remember where it was played, but Atlanta sounds right.

I seem to remember BYU beat Notre Dame in the sweet 16 then lost to Virginia two nights later.

[CardiacCoug]

Oh yeah. The 1990 NCAA Tourney game against Clemson ended in a terribly choked missed lay-up by Marty Haws. But that was a single shot, not a collective loss of fortitude, shit-your-pants effort by the entire team like tonight.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

about this debacle compares the second half against TCU to the second half against Utah State in football.

Honest question for you long time BYU fans or even those of you who don't like BYU, can you ever remember a worse BYU choke job?

How is this different than the MWC championship game last year or the year before? I will stop being surprised by BYU blowing big games until they win at least 1.

[Goatnapper'96]

Oh yeah. The 1990 NCAA Tourney game against Clemson ended in a terribly choked missed lay-up by Marty Haws. But that was a single shot, not a collective loss of fortitude, shit-your-pants effort by the entire team like tonight.

I really want to like Tavernari, even though he is not my style of player, but that piss poor effort on that rebound was just maddening to me.

[il Padrino Ute]

A quick check and I'm amazed I got the games correct:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_NC...all_Tournament

[Goatnapper'96]

How is this different than the MWC championship game last year or the year before? I will stop being surprised by BYU blowing big games until they win at least 1.

This game was in Provo. Both of those games BYU ended up losing a competitive game to better teams. I don't think this UNLV team is as good as either of those two teams and I think this BYU team is better.

Now, as for big games if this game was a big game I would think BYU beating top 25 UNLV squads the past two years would also have qualified for big games. The fact of the matter is BYU hoops has a ceiling that is low enough that we can all just wait until they lose and then say they never win a big game.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The loss of composure was embarrassing. You would think someone could have stepped up.

[SeattleUte]

BYU teams seem to struggle with the same phenomenon as Air Force. They start out great, but wear down as the season goes on.

Hey, DI sports isn't the be all and end all for a school.

[Donuthole]

Hey, DI sports isn't the be all and end all for a school.

Agreed. We all know the end all be all is research prestige.

[TripletDaddy]

I don't get the mtn. Sounds like it is better that I don't get the mtn.

[SeattleUte]

Agreed. We all know the end all be all is research prestige.

What I love about you guys is that you think it is the be all and end all. I hate debating and experiencing sports with guys who don't think it is in their heart of hearts. On nights like this it's like the world came to an end. It's never, "Oh well, it's just a game." It's actually quite refreshing.