BYU Vs Dixie State Red Storm

[Shaka]

What does D2 Dixie St's frontcourt average in terms of height? About 6'5" like most other D2 schools? I'm sure being coached by somebody over 5'10", who had some skill, helps, but lets see what he does against a real team. I hope I'm wrong about Noah.

They have a few six eight guys.

I was impressed with Dixie last night. I'd wager they will soon be taking the UVU path and will try and get a few sports into D1. I will make a prediction that eventually they will have the premier baseball program in the state.

[jay santos]

They have a few six eight guys.

I was impressed with Dixie last night. I'd wager they will soon be taking the UVU path and will try and get a few sports into D1. I will make a prediction that eventually they will have the premier baseball program in the state.

[Shaka]

It's all about the weather! It's nice place to play ball. Facilities aren't bad either.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wonder what Shaka is smoking?

[LiveCoug]

I wonder what Shaka is smoking?

How much would it really take to become the best baseball program in the stat? BYU, UU, UVU aren't that good, are they?

[Jeff Lebowski]

How much would it really take to become the best baseball program in the stat? BYU, UU, UVU aren't that good, are they?

Ha. I missed that.

[LiveCoug]

Ha. I missed that.

Ahh... You guys read that as "basketball"? Makes sense now.

[jay santos]

Ahh... You guys read that as "basketball"? Makes sense now.

Yeah, I thought he said basketball. My bad.

[Shaka]

Pulled a fast one on you guys!

[Donuthole]

They have a few six eight guys.

I was impressed with Dixie last night. I'd wager they will soon be taking the UVU path and will try and get a few sports into D1. I will make a prediction that eventually they will have the premier baseball program in the state.

FYI, they already have the premier baseball program in the state. I'll bet in the last 10 years they've had more guys drafted than BYU and Utah combined. Maybe that has changed since they went D2, but when they were a JC they were fielding a much better team than either BYU or Utah on an annual basis.

[UtahJazzFan88]

They have a few six eight guys.

I was impressed with Dixie last night. I'd wager they will soon be taking the UVU path and will try and get a few sports into D1. I will make a prediction that eventually they will have the premier baseball program in the state.

Stuck in the Great West Conference like UVU? Dixie State's going to be a popular school in the future, everyone I know (I'm 19) says they want or want to got to Dixie because it's in St. George.

[Shaka]

FYI, they already have the premier baseball program in the state. I'll bet in the last 10 years they've had more guys drafted than BYU and Utah combined. Maybe that has changed since they went D2, but when they were a JC they were fielding a much better team than either BYU or Utah on an annual basis.

My nephew played for them a couple years ago. They had a good squad.

[KillerDog]

We have some problems on defense. I can't tell much from that game other than that Zylstra has finally started doing in games what he's been doing in practice.

Davies -- Still thinking a bit too much but developing. I really wish he was more explosive.

Hartsock -- Surprisingly played back to the basket like he did in HS. I really like his ability to score more than he did last year. I really like his game. He lacks lift but he works with what he has.

Harrison -- Still adjusting to the speed.

Abuou -- Offensively inconsistent. Hasn't figured out that he doesn't have to adjust every shot. If someone could convince him to go strong and finish strong he would hit shots but he changes every shot.

Zylstra -- Finally playing in games how he has played in practice. He's no point guard and seeing him at PG scares me but he's shooting the ball well and playing with confidence.

Rogers -- Can really score. Still can't defend. You could say this about everyone on the team except Abuou though.

Cusick -- Better than I thought he would be. That isn't saying much.

We are in trouble on perimeter D. We will play a lot of match up zone to let our length make up for our foot speed. We have guys who can score and lots of solid size. Everyone will try and use ball pressure on us but I expect we pass over most full court pressure until Carlino gets out there. We should be OK but we won't be good until we get Carlino.

[myboynoah]

We have some problems on defense. I can't tell much from that game other than that Zylstra has finally started doing in games what he's been doing in practice.

Davies -- Still thinking a bit too much but developing. I really wish he was more explosive.

Hartsock -- Surprisingly played back to the basket like he did in HS. I really like his ability to score more than he did last year. I really like his game. He lacks lift but he works with what he has.

Harrison -- Still adjusting to the speed.

Abuou -- Offensively inconsistent. Hasn't figured out that he doesn't have to adjust every shot. If someone could convince him to go strong and finish strong he would hit shots but he changes every shot.

Zylstra -- Finally playing in games how he has played in practice. He's no point guard and seeing him at PG scares me but he's shooting the ball well and playing with confidence.

Rogers -- Can really score. Still can't defend. You could say this about everyone on the team except Abuou though.

Cusick -- Better than I thought he would be. That isn't saying much.

We are in trouble on perimeter D. We will play a lot of match up zone to let our length make up for our foot speed. We have guys who can score and lots of solid size. Everyone will try and use ball pressure on us but I expect we pass over most full court pressure until Carlino gets out there. We should be OK but we won't be good until we get Carlino.

This is the KD I like.

But I've still got you on probation.

[Goatnapper'96]

We have some problems on defense. I can't tell much from that game other than that Zylstra has finally started doing in games what he's been doing in practice.

Davies -- Still thinking a bit too much but developing. I really wish he was more explosive.

Hartsock -- Surprisingly played back to the basket like he did in HS. I really like his ability to score more than he did last year. I really like his game. He lacks lift but he works with what he has.

Harrison -- Still adjusting to the speed.

Abuou -- Offensively inconsistent. Hasn't figured out that he doesn't have to adjust every shot. If someone could convince him to go strong and finish strong he would hit shots but he changes every shot.

Zylstra -- Finally playing in games how he has played in practice. He's no point guard and seeing him at PG scares me but he's shooting the ball well and playing with confidence.

Rogers -- Can really score. Still can't defend. You could say this about everyone on the team except Abuou though.

Cusick -- Better than I thought he would be. That isn't saying much.

We are in trouble on perimeter D. We will play a lot of match up zone to let our length make up for our foot speed. We have guys who can score and lots of solid size. Everyone will try and use ball pressure on us but I expect we pass over most full court pressure until Carlino gets out there. We should be OK but we won't be good until we get Carlino.

A few things:

1.) You are still a pussy.

2.) Let me be the first to give you huge kudos wrt Brock Zylstra. He reminds me of an LDS classmate I had at West Point known affectionately as "Sweet Richie B." Sweet Richie B was a bit of a local hero who hailed from a corner in Winslow, AZ. Now that I have spent some time down memory lane, I am not sure I think BYU can be "good" with Brock Zylstra as a starter, but I think they can be a NCAA tourney team. I think they can be good with Brock as a backup. Regardless, you took a lot of crap about jumping on the BZyl train and it is time I gave you props for being the first to jump aboard - a year early but he is surely showing the skeelz you saw.

3.) I don't think this team can be good until the following three things happen:
1.) Carlino gets elgible and some experience. I am not sure I think that can happen this year.
2.) Harrison gets more experience and begins to be the type of player who can influence a game on both sides of the court. As you pointed out, BYU defense sucketh. Abouo can cover on the ball - however at present he is the only decent on the ball defender. The rest sucketh. I think that Carlino will be adequate with experience. I think Harrison can become a good defender. At his best I see Harrison as a kid who can defend like Jackson Emery, shoot the outside jumper like Emery but still take it hard to the hole like my favorite Cougar hunter of all time: Ron Jeremy. In essence I am thinking Harrison could basically be like Michael Jordan if Jordan had been a white mormon boy. All levity aside, I don't see BYU being a good team until Harrison is good. I think he could start reaching good next year and should be good his junior and senior. I believe Rose knows this and Demarcus is going to see a lot of minutes to develop this year.
3.) Chris Collinsworth finds himself athletically and gets explosive. Chris is not going to be the same racehorse he was as a wiry 215 lb freshman, but I think by next year if he can stay healthy he will regain much of his explosiveness. I see him being a serious glass cleaner as a junior and a senior. Once again, something I do not see totally developing this year.

To be honest I think we can see some serious signs of good play next year, perhaps a team good enough to win a NCAA tourney game. If Collinsworth regains his explosiveness, I salivate of him playing on the backside of an experienced Davies, coached by the greatest Holy Father of back to the basket coaches ever seen in Provo, wreaking havoc after teams are forced to double Davies and on the offensive boards. Especially if Demarcus develops an outside jumper, which I expect he will, playing on the perimeter alongside proven shooters Haws and Rogers. Carlino will be no slouch either. Next year has real potential. But I still maintain it will be the following year when the starting backcourt is the three juniors of Carlino, Harrison and Haws.

For this year I still think making the tourney will be a good year and I don't see this squad able to win a game. The will just lack the experience and quickness to defend and will be easily disrupted on offense by teams that can apply pressure. I expect they will play such a team in round 1. I am struggling to see BYU win a good game until the road matchups against St Mary's and Gonzaga - which I believe to be the 2nd half of WCC play. I just think BYU will be too young to beat Oregon, Baylor, Va Tech or Utah State. I think Wisconsin is going to pound us.