The official BYU vs #6 Baylor Bears thread.......

[San Juan Sun]

Good Things About This Game

We have a new PG

Davies played like a beast. Hopefully a good omen for the future.

Harrison had a nice half.

Zylstra's minutes are sure to go down.

[woot]

Anyone have thoughts why the assist% was so low this game? It seems like BYU averages like 70% (made-up statistic), but this game they had 13 on 32 FGs. I'm sure the tons of offensive boards had a big effect.

[Surfah]

We have two timeouts? And we get the ball in the front court with 4-5 seconds and don't call one? Boneheaded play by Chuck there.

We could have used Rogers today. And Zylstra should spend a lot of time on the bench.

Effing 3 pointers killed us. And turnovers effing sucked. Even worse is about half of those turnovers were just stupid passes out of bounds.

Good game though. That was a lot of fun. BYU needs to dominate the WCC and maybe win it to get into the tourney because they needed this marquee win. I think by the end of the year if Rogers back to full speed this team could be dangerous in the tourney.

[DU Ute]

Just caught the last 5 minutes, but the Cougs looked good.

[Eddie]

Oh, what could've been.

First my vent: I've defended Zylstra all season - but are you kidding me? I don't know what might've happened with someone else playing, but it seems like they could've done just as well on offense at least. Did he do anything besides turn it over and throw up wild shots? OK - he hit a 3...after it missed badly but happened to get a couple of lucky bounces to go in. I knew we were in trouble when Dave McCann immediately made some dumb comment about him getting on a role and expecting the next one to go in. Really? After that horribly lucky shot? He was also bailed out once and got to the FT line - but wow, tough game.

What is it about BYU's defense that makes it so that they give guys career days shooting the 3? Do they just not notice when some guy is going off for multiple 3's and recognize that maybe he isn't the guy to sag off of?

Finally, while I get that BYU's style of play is to run it back and forth and take any "good" shot, they sure could've benefited from keeping themselves from getting out of control here and there.

The good: I think BYU's got a chance to be pretty good. Get Carlino fully integrated and Rodgers back, and I like their chances to win some games. I liked Davies play - very aggressive and great play against a great front court.

I like this team, I really do. It's just frustrating to watch it slip away by making the same mistakes that cost BYU during their other two losses...Zylstra failing to recognize his ability and the team failing to guard a hot 3 point shooter.

[Eddie]

Anyone have thoughts why the assist% was so low this game? It seems like BYU averages like 70% (made-up statistic), but this game they had 13 on 32 FGs. I'm sure the tons of offensive boards had a big effect.

It seemed like BYU had some success with Abuou driving, and Davies backing down. There just weren't as many catch and shoot opportunities like there normally is. BYU also hit a number of follow up shots on offensive rebounds, which won't give you an assist.

But you're right - it seemed like there weren't as many assists as I'm used to.

[smokymountainrain]

Never has a loss felt so much like a win. For Carlino to come in at put up 18 on 50% FGs against a top 5 team in his first game is ridiculous. Exceeded all of our expectations. I wonder if Jimmer ever scored 18 in his freshman season. And if he did, it certainly wasn't against team the caliber of Baylor. Will Carlino improve and have similar success as Jimmer, that is the big question, but he couldn't have started his career in more impressive fashion. I'm in awe of what he did today. Get him for four years, no frickin mission.

[FMCoug]

Carlino is a competitor. First game and he plays like that but he just seems upset about the loss.

[Eddie]

Never has a loss felt so much like a win. For Carlino to come in at put up 18 on 50% FGs against a top 5 team in his first game is ridiculous. Exceeded all of our expectations. I wonder if Jimmer ever scored 18 in his freshman season. And if he did, it certainly wasn't against team the caliber of Baylor. Will Carlino improve and have similar success as Jimmer, that is the big question, but he couldn't have started his career in more impressive fashion. I'm in awe of what he did today. Get him for four years, no frickin mission.

While I share your enthusiasm for Carlino, I don't know that I would compare him to Jimmer as a freshman.

I've read articles in which Rose has said that in retrospect he should've turned Jimmer lose much earlier in his freshman year - even saying that when he finally did it was too late in the tourney game that BYU lost that year.

He went on to say that what he learned from that he would practice with Carlino - giving him the keys and turning him lose from the beginning.

I imagine that Carlino, having had a RS year, may be a little ahead of where Jimmer was as a freshman - but we'll never know what Jimmer might have done.

[Blueintheface]

Fun game that they let slip away again with bad perimeter defense. I really like this team though. Dave Rose has taken a bunch of decent players and turned them into a dang good team. I'm shocked by Carlino's performance and very excited. Jimmer didn't play like that his freshman. Just sayin.

Fully integrated this team could win the WCC.

[MarkGrace]

Anyone have thoughts why the assist% was so low this game? It seems like BYU averages like 70% (made-up statistic), but this game they had 13 on 32 FGs. I'm sure the tons of offensive boards had a big effect.

I swear I saw a number the other day and your guess seems like it's in the the ballpark. The number was outrageously high.

[cougjunkie]

I agree with SMR tough loss but I am giddy right now. Carlino was great, damarcus showed flashes with his 8 points and jordanesque dunk. Davies just playedagainst 2 lottery picks and looked like a man. Hartsock had his sneaky 15 and chuck fnished at the rim. We also were great on the glass.


I think we keep getting better and sneak in as an 11 or 12.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Rats. So close. Too many turnovers and Baylor shot lights out in the second half. Oh well.

Nevertheless, a terrific atmosphere and a very fun game to watch. At one point my wife turned to me and asked it is too late to buy season tickets.

[jay santos]

Fun game.

Warmups looked a little intimidating when half their team looked like they were jumping two feet above the rim.

Rose is one of the most brilliant offensive coaches in the country.

A big reason we lost the game was Abouo stuck on the bench the second half. He was dominating.

Our rebounding edge was amazing, but really it just looked like we wanted it more. Baylor didn't box out and half the time didn't even look like they went that hard to the defensive boards.

How is #1 listed at 6'11 and Davies at 6'9 when he looks 8 inches taller?

Davies and Hartsock can hang with anyone. Throw in Abouo and that's got to be the tallest playing short front line in the country.

Carlino. Wow, what a stud. No one will win our hearts like Jimmer, but this kid is going to be fun to watch. He immediately takes us from a #40ish team to a 25ish team.

Not having Rogers hurt us. Harrison played well, but especially second half we needed some oomph from that position we didn't get when Abouo had to sit.

I don't see us losing more than two games the rest of the regular season. Very bullish on this team right now. Get Carlino integrated into the team better, get Rogers back, get Davies playing again, and this team is ready for an NCAA run.

[PaloAltoCougar]

A fun game to watch, made more so by the fact this team will only get better as Carlino and the rest of the team get used to each other. I don't want to pile on Zylstra, as I like his effort, but man, we have problems if he gets more minutes than anyone else on the team, as was the case today. Let's not let this happen again...