West Coast Conference 2011-12

[Commando]

Random question for my Cougar Cohorts:

Is Matt Carlino the only non-Mormon player on the team? Also, does anyone know the primary reason(s) he elected to transfer to BYU when he doesn't share in affiliation? Just curious. . .

Thanks in advance.

Carlino was never LDS or a BYU guy, but grew up surrounded by BYU guys and former BYU athletes who convinced him to give the cougars a look once he was set on transferring. Jimmer sealed the deal for him; he liked the team, school (UCLA was a bit debauched for his taste allegedly), and Rose well enough, but he really liked the idea of being able to do his thing like Jimmer and have the potential to rise to the Olympian heights he's always dreamed of. The guy eats, drinks, and sleeps basketball.

[higherroad]

Carlino was never LDS or a BYU guy, but grew up surrounded by BYU guys and former BYU athletes who convinced him to give the cougars a look once he was set on transferring. Jimmer sealed the deal for him; he liked the team, school (UCLA was a bit debauched for his taste allegedly), and Rose well enough, but he really liked the idea of being able to do his thing like Jimmer and have the potential to rise to the Olympian heights he's always dreamed of. The guy eats, drinks, and sleeps basketball.

Great post & answer. Thanks. Nice to see he's succeeding so early in his BYU career -- excited to watch our true Freshman PG, Kevin Pangos, & Matt Carlino match-up vs one another a few times this season. Very similar players with nearly identical stat-lines:

PG Carlino : 13.9 ppg, 4.9 apg to 2.8 TO's, & 3.0 rpg. 1.9 stls to boot. (shooting 47% FG)

PG Pangos : 14.2 ppg, 3.5 apg to 1.6 TO's, & 2.5 rpg. 1.1 stls to boot. (shooting 45% FG)

Talk about a terrific battle it'll be...

[MartyFunkhouser]

Coach G is entering his 5th season with GU. He joined the staff in 2007 immediately after being 'laid off' by Utah. He did win a MWC title & Sweet 16 during his 3 yr tenure with the Utes.

Coach Donny Daniels(UCLA's Asst Head Coach & lead recruiter for 10 seasons) joined our staff last season as well. We're already seeing his recruiting efforts pay dividends. He was responsible for signing & recruiting players such as Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday, Darren Collison, Arron Afflalo, Russell Westbrook, & Trevor Ariza. Sure, its UCLA, yet he didn't see eye-to-eye with Coach Howland and left to join our staff.

Our Asst Head Coach of 13 yrs, Leon Rice, left us last season to become the Head Coach at Boise St(MWC), he's turning around that program as we speak...

Just a brief rundown of Zag Coaches since we were on the topic...

You don't need to give me a rundown on the former Ute Zag coaches. Please don't say that Ray Giacoletti was "laid off" at Utah. He got his ass fired for sucking. He didn't go to the Sweet 16 and win a MWC title, Andrew Bogut went to the Sweet 16 and won a outright MWC title. Majerus deserves more credit for that Sweet 16 than Giacoletti because the only reason the players knew how to play the game was the years of great coaching by Majerus.

Donny Daniels is a fantastic assistant coach. It is too bad that Jim Boylen is such a dumbass, because the rumor out there is that Daniels was ready to come back to Utah last year but Boylen wanted his incompetent assistants instead.

I really feel bad for Daniels having to slum it in Spokane. He isn't a meth addict, so it isn't like Spokane has much to offer him.

[Eddie]

You don't need to give me a rundown on the former Ute Zag coaches. Please don't say that Ray Giacoletti was "laid off" at Utah. He got his ass fired for sucking. He didn't go to the Sweet 16 and win a MWC title, Andrew Bogut went to the Sweet 16 and won a outright MWC title. Majerus deserves more credit for that Sweet 16 than Giacoletti because the only reason the players knew how to play the game was the years of great coaching by Majerus.

Donny Daniels is a fantastic assistant coach. It is too bad that Jim Boylen is such a dumbass, because the rumor out there is that Daniels was ready to come back to Utah last year but Boylen wanted his incompetent assistants instead.

I really feel bad for Daniels having to slum it in Spokane. He isn't a meth addict, so it isn't like Spokane has much to offer him.

Wow...who saw that coming? MP going off on Gonzaga about coaching?

Tell us again, MP - why was it that Hill decided to hire Giac? Who recommended him?

[higherroad]

For those interested(I know there's at least one), the Zags @ St Mary's game is on ESPN2 at 8pm PST. Tune in to "scout" your future Conference Championship rivals in action. Could be a tough game for the young Zags on the road.

[cougjunkie]

For those interested(I know there's at least one), the Zags @ St Mary's game is on ESPN2 at 8pm PST. Tune in to "scout" your future Conference Championship rivals in action. Could be a tough game for the young Zags on the road.

Win-win game for BYU. They will sweep the Zags and beat St. Marys at home so the result of this game does not mean much. The Zags would technically have a leg up on the conference if they win at St. Marys. But either way BYU is winning out.

[higherroad]

The Zags would technically have a leg up on the conference if they win at St. Marys. But either way BYU is winning out.

That's why they play the games. . .BYU has struggled thus far on the road in the WCC, and the Zags have yet to play on the road. St Mary's has had this game circled on the calendar since October so I expect them to be fired up, plus students are back in full force. When you guys played them at the Two-Car Garage, it was old folks & BYU fans in attendance.

[cougjunkie]

That's why they play the games. . .BYU has struggled thus far on the road in the WCC, and the Zags have yet to play on the road. St Mary's has had this game circled on the calendar since October so I expect them to be fired up, plus students are back in full force. When you guys played them at the Two-Car Garage, it was old folks & BYU fans in attendance.

Struggled on the road? They are 1-1.

[TripletDaddy]

That's why they play the games. . .BYU has struggled thus far on the road in the WCC, and the Zags have yet to play on the road. St Mary's has had this game circled on the calendar since October so I expect them to be fired up, plus students are back in full force. When you guys played them at the Two-Car Garage, it was old folks & BYU fans in attendance.

Are they going to wear those t shirts you were talking about the other day? If so, Game over Zags.

[higherroad]

Are they going to wear those t shirts you were talking about the other day? If so, Game over Zags.

I like your style, TD. lol

I heard they won't be wearing "Beat the Zags" this yr, yet "RUN SMC" this game. Hurts our chances even more.

Oh, the horror!

[CardiacCoug]

Sacre looks about like I remember him from last year -- he's a 7-footer who plays more like he's 6'5".

[Donuthole]

As ugly as John Stockton's jumper was, David Stockton's is exponentially uglier.

[jay santos]

I'm glad I'm watching this game. (don't get too excited HR, I'll be asleep in 15 minutes). I learned St. Mary's is in the Bay area. Always thought it was SoCal.

[jay santos]

I got up today and was curious about the score of the game. Was kind of surprised to see no posts in this thread, no posts from higherroad, and none from any Gonzaga fans after the first few minutes of the game. Very interesting. Higherroad had a ton to say when we lost to St Mary's on the road. Why wouldn't he have anything to say last night?

[Surfah]

I got up today and was curious about the score of the game. Was kind of surprised to see no posts in this thread, no posts from higherroad, and none from any Gonzaga fans after the first few minutes of the game. Very interesting. Higherroad had a ton to say when we lost to St Mary's on the road. Why wouldn't he have anything to say last night?

I watched most of the first half. I was surprised by the final when I saw the box score this morning. Mostly because I didn't think that many points would be scored especially after the first 5 minutes which were ugly.

Also I noted that Gonads was outrebounded which I know was something they thumped their chests about.