A couple of thoughts...

[smokymountainrain]

5. I was hoping Chris Miles would continue to play like a clydesdale. He moves really well for a guy with his svelte girth. He looks silly when he tries to create from 17 feet, and he had an almost Drca-like move where he bounced, spun, jumped, and threw an underhand pass all at once, but I'm to the point where I can forgive him for kicking Andrew Bogut. I'm over it. Nate Cooper, on the other hand, should die of gonnorhea and roast in hell.

I may never understand ute fans disdain for Nate Cooper. That guy was absolutely brutal - if there are a group of fans that should hate Cooper it should be BYU fans. I know I couldn't stand him. Couldn't shoot, couldn't pass, couldn't play defense, horrendous athlete.

If I were a ute fan, he would be one of my all-time favorite BYU players in any sport. My hope would be that he never graduates and plays 40 minutes in every game. Sort of the same way I feel as a BYU fan about Jordie McTavish.

[myboynoah]

I may never understand ute fans disdain for Nate Cooper. That guy was absolutely brutal - if there are a group of fans that should hate Cooper it should be BYU fans. I know I couldn't stand him. Couldn't shoot, couldn't pass, couldn't play defense, horrendous athlete.

If I were a ute fan, he would be one of my all-time favorite BYU players in any sport. My hope would be that he never graduates and plays 40 minutes in every game. Sort of the same way I feel as a BYU fan about Jordie McTavish.

I think he went after Van Horn once. That Ute Fans hate him so makes him somewhat appealing. Yeah, I know that's messed up, but he's not hurting us anymore.

[smokymountainrain]

I think he went after Van Horn once. That Ute Fans hate him so makes him somewhat appealing. Yeah, I know that's messed up, but he's not hurting us anymore.

I guess I can see that - if they hate him, it does make it easier to hate him less. And as you mentioned, he isn't missing shots or turning it over for BYU now. Thank you - that was actually therapeutic.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I agree, but not only are you losing seniors you are losing your 4 best players overall.

Utah is not losing our four best players. Do you really think that Kepkay qualifies as one of the best players on the team.

I would rank the players as follows:
Nevill
Borha
Drca (despite his recent struggles)
Brown
Green
Kepkay

[Senioritis]

Just a quick question for all you prognosticators about where you had the Utes pegged for this year during March of 2008? Anyone care to share how they picked the Utes to have a real shot at winning the conference? Anyone?

The guy that Utah's going to miss is Nevill. He's pert near irreplaceable in the near term. I think that's due mostly to his stunning charisma, but that's just me.

Shaun Green is crafty, and he shoots real pretty when it doesn't matter too much. LB is now what like three guys on the roster will be when given a little seasoning. Kepkay is about 5' 6", and I will never forgive him for the layup against UNM when he was down 3. Never. That's Lance Rice running out the clock at Air Force territory, there.

This year's seniors struggle with quickness and athleticism. And when I say "struggle" I mean it like how Hillary Clinton struggles with her saddlebags.

The 2009-2010 Utes will look nothing like this year's group. They will not have games where freaking CSU looks like the showtime Lakers in the comparitive athleticism department. Trouble is, they won't win as much, either.

A 2009-2010 starting 5 of Drca, Cyphers, Brown, Watkins, and Washburn isn't going to strike too much fear into the heart of anyone. I guarantee they will compete, but they won't win as much. I also really like the thought of Hines as a 10 minute per game backup high energy guy and Shawn Freaking Glover as the freakishly athletic guy with crazy potential.

A 2010-2011 starting lineup of Henderson, Cyphers, Brown, Watkins and Washburn will cause significant groin shrivelling around the league. I understand none of those guys have done a damn thing yet. I do know that Boylen has taken a bunch of scrubs and competed the bejeezus out of things this year, so I like the thought of what he can do with guys that I couldn't take off the dribble.

Yeah, Utah's win total next year won't be great. I think they'll be better than all the knowers on here do, but we'll see. Shucky darn on that. I'm pretty sure Boylen sees the gaps that all you prognosticatin' fools see, with the signing of 2 JC guys in a class of 5. I don't expect a whole lot next year, but I think Boylen's setting things up for a pretty good bitch slap the next year.

There's my prognostication. I never say "wait until next year." I always say "wait until the year after next year."

And if that doesn't work, bust out the Sugar Bowl DVD.

[UtahDan]

A 2010-2011 starting lineup of Henderson, Cyphers, Brown, Watkins and Washburn will cause significant groin shrivelling around the league. I understand none of those guys have done a damn thing yet. I do know that Boylen has taken a bunch of scrubs and competed the bejeezus out of things this year, so I like the thought of what he can do with guys that I couldn't take off the dribble.

This is what has impressed me the most about him too, that he seems to be maximizing what he has. I don't think Giac every did that, but it was something that Majerus (rest in peace golden goose) rarely if ever failed to do.

In the games I have watched this year, we have always played defense and rebounded hard. At the college level that alone is the difference in a good half a dozen games every year and is nothing more than effort and coaching. Boylen is doing things the "right" way. The next step is to show he can do it again in a rebuilding year (next year) and the next step will be to show that he can take a group of upperclassmen to the dance and compete. I think there is reason to hope he can, but we won't know for another couple years.

[myboynoah]

Our prognostications, past, present and future, matter very little. Starting a balding Frenchman is just very, very bad form.

[cougjunkie]

This is what has impressed me the most about him too, that he seems to be maximizing what he has. I don't think Giac every did that, but it was something that Majerus (rest in peace golden goose) rarely if ever failed to do.

In the games I have watched this year, we have always played defense and rebounded hard. At the college level that alone is the difference in a good half a dozen games every year and is nothing more than effort and coaching. Boylen is doing things the "right" way. The next step is to show he can do it again in a rebuilding year (next year) and the next step will be to show that he can take a group of upperclassmen to the dance and compete. I think there is reason to hope he can, but we won't know for another couple years.

Wait a minute you think that Sweet 16 team could have been better?

Also look at the top college teams in the country, a dominant center goes a long way in college basketball. I give Boylen credit he lit a fire under Nevill and the big ugly has truly turned the corner. But even UNC Asheville made the tournament with 7'8 Kenny George and nobody else.

[UtahDan]

Wait a minute you think that Sweet 16 team could have been better?

Also look at the top college teams in the country, a dominant center goes a long way in college basketball. I give Boylen credit he lit a fire under Nevill and the big ugly has truly turned the corner. But even UNC Asheville made the tournament with 7'8 Kenny George and nobody else.

Yes I do indeed. I think it could have been much better had in played defense as in previous years. We had arguably the best collegiate player in the country that year. Obviously he has not been the best pro of that class, but you are right, a dominant college center goes a long way. In fact, that is often enough to get you deeper than the Sweet 16. I think that team had unrealized potential. We have a good center this year, but not a dominant one.

You are also correct that Nevill is not really replacable. That is why I give Boylen credit for this year and say that the next two years will be more telling.