From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: Pro Watch (1/3/00) Date: 03 Jan 2000 23:13:22 -0700 CougarFan.com Pro Watch - 1/3/00
 
 
National Football League

Week 16
 
Player Stats Result
Travis Hall, Atlanta 2 tackles W: Atlanta 37, Arizona 14
Lee Johnson, New England 8 punts, 290 yds, 36.3 avg. L: Buffalo 13, New England 10
Ty Detmer, Cleveland 15-26, 173 yds, 1 TD, 0 Int
1 rush, 8 yds, 1 TD		 L: Indianapolis 29, Cleveland 28
Spencer Reid, Indianapolis 1 tackle (special teams) W: Indianapolis 29, Cleveland 28
Played, but no stats:  Itula Mili, Seattle (backup TE); John Tait, Kansas City (starting Tackle); 
Larry Moore, Indianapolis (starting Center); Morris Unutoa, Tampa Bay (Long Snapper); 
Kurt Gouveia, Washington (backup Linebacker); Jason Andersen, New England (backup Center);
Did not play: Chad Lewis, Philadelphia (bye), Steve Young, San Francisco (concussion); 
Tim McTyer, Cleveland (injured-arm); Dustin Johnson, Seattle (injured); 
Evan Pilgrim, Atlanta (not active); Joe Wong, Miami (injured); 

Week 17
 
Player Stats Result
Travis Hall, Atlanta 1 tackle W: Atlanta 34, San Francisco 29
Lee Johnson, New England 5 punts, 185 yds, 37.0 avg. W: New England 20, Baltimore 3
Chad Lewis, Philadelphia 2 rec, 26 yds, 1 TD W: Philadelphia 38, St Louis 31
Played, but no stats:  Itula Mili, Seattle (backup TE); Spencer Reid, Indianapolis (special teams);
John Tait, Kansas City (backup Tackle); Larry Moore, Indianapolis (starting Center); 
Morris Unutoa, Tampa Bay (Long Snapper); Kurt Gouveia, Washington (backup Linebacker);
Did not play:Ty Detmer, Cleveland (bye); Steve Young, San Francisco (concussion); 
Dustin Johnson, Seattle (injured);  Joe Wong, Miami (injured); New England (backup Center); 
Evan Pilgrim, Atlanta (not active); Jason Andersen, Tim McTyer, Cleveland (injured-arm); 

 
National Basketball Association

 
Player
Shawn Bradley (C), Dallas Mavericks
DATE OPP RESULT MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF DEF TOT AST ST BL TO PF PTS
12/30 vs Raptors L 104-109 17 1-2 0-0 4-4 0 5 5 2 0 5 0 4 6
12/27 @ Lakers L 106-108 9 2-5 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 0 0 1 0 1 4
12/26 @ Kings L 111-118 15 4-10 0-0 0-0 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 8
12/23 @ Suns W 111-110 20 1-3 0-0 0-0 1 8 9 3 0 1 2 4 2
12/20 vs Heat L 89-92 37 4-9 0-0 3-4 1 9 10 0 2 6 2 4 11

Bradley currently ranks 4th in the NBA in Blocks per Game (3.03).

 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: Call's Court Date: 05 Jan 2000 18:06:27 -0700  
CougarFan.com Call's Court

Every Wednesday, assistant basketball coach Nathan Call answers your questions in a feature named Call's Court!  Email your questions to "callscourt@cougarfan.com" anytime during the week.  One person will be chosen each week to win a BYU basketball T-shirt! This week's winner is marked with **.

Email your questions today!  Remember to include your full name and hometown.

Question from Al Smith: In watching the team play it seems to me that at times Mekeli Wesley tries to put up a shot when he is doubled and even tripled teamed.  Wouldn't it be more effective if he passed the ball to the open man more often when he sees this happening?  Also, if both Montague and Neilson became more of an offensive threat and looked more for their shots this also would help with the double and triple teaming of Wesley.

Coach Call:  We are a good basketball team when we make the extra pass to the open player.  I think our team as been very unselfish this year and that is one of the reasons why we are 9-2.  As a coaching  staff we want our post players to be aggressive with the ball in the low post area.  We want the other team to try to double team our post players.  We are shooting the 3-pt shot extremely well, except for the UCSB game.  There have been times when we were double teamed in the post and we didn't make the pass out to the open teammate, but there have also been times when the post players didn't attack the basket and shoot the ball when they should have.  We will become a more effective offensive team when we can better recognize what the defense is giving us.  As a team we work on this everyday in practice.  We are improving, but as you have pointed out, we need to get better if we want to make it to post season tournament.
 

**Question from Rob Seolas: Many have commented on the role of shoe companies in college sports, especially basketball.  With Nike and others signing up kids on shoes in the junior highs, and then helping them to camps and events, the shoes and "gear" of colleges could (and many say do) make a significant impact on the recruitment of high profile high school players.  How has this affected the BYU program so far?

Coach Call: The BYU basketball team is a Nike Team.  Most of the basketball gear that we have in our program comes from Nike.  We really enjoy being a Nike team because they have quality uniforms, shoes, and basketball gear.  I think it helps in recruiting players, mostly because they like the shoes.  Recruits also know that Nike usually only deals with high profile teams.  Nike understands that there is a huge interest in BYU basketball around the country.  There are not too many teams that can travel out of state and have more people at the game than the home team.  We did that the last three road games (South Alabama, Florida Int., and Santa Barbara).
 

Question from Rick Roskelley: I think everyone who has followed Cougar basketball is very excited about the progress this team has made.  In my opinion the team still has a significant up side and that is dependent on Rivers getting in condition and returning to his level of play at the end of last season.  What does the coaching staff expect from Rivers and what are you doing and what he is doing to meet those expectations?

Coach Call: We need Silester Rivers to be in great shape because we are thin in the front court.  There might be a game where Mekeli Wesley or Eric Nielsen get into foul trouble and Silester has to play the entire game.  Fortunately, that has not happened yet, because Silester is not in top shape.  When a player misses preseason conditioning and some of the preseason games, it is tough to catch up to other players.  He has made progress but he is still not in the same condition he was last year at this time.  Silester is still our second leading rebounder and he makes the most of his time in the game.  He understands his time in the game is related to his conditioning and that his game will affect the type season we will have.
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: BB Post-game: BYU 77, UC-Irvine 66 Date: 05 Jan 2000 23:13:36 -0700  
CougarFan.com BB Post-game: BYU 77, UC-Irvine 66

Send your questions about this game or the team to Coach Nate Call at: callscourt@cougarfan.com
 
Game Recap

Terrell Lyday scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half to lift Brigham Young to a 77-66 victory over UC Irvine Wednesday night.

Lyday had 12 of his points during a five-minute span as BYU (10-2) went on a 15-3 run to break from a 46-46 tie with 11:39 remaining.

Irvine (6-4) opened the game with a 14-1 spurt, hitting its first six shots along the way, while BYU committed four turnovers before finally getting off a shot.

Zamiro Bennem had seven points for Irvine during the streak but didn't score again during the game.

After its slow start, BYU settled down and closed within 31-29 at halftime.

Mekeli Wesley, who had 18 points, pulled BYU even at 35-35 when he hit a 3-point basket from the top of the key with 18:07 to play.

The teams were tied six times thereafter until Lyday's 3-point basket with 11:21 to go gave BYU the lead for good.

Nathan Cooper added 14 points for BYU and Michael Vranes had 11.

Marek Ondera led Irvine with 20 points while Jerry Green had 16 and Sean Jackson 12.

BYU shot 64 percent in the second half and 53 percent for the game. Irvine hit 43 percent.

For quotes from players and coaches, see:
http://cougarfan.com/teams/basketball_m/news/2000/01-05b.html

Notes:

Wesley, Rivers and Lyday all have been out the last couple of days with the flu.

Matt Montague only played 10 minutes due to tendinitis in his Achilles tendon.
 
Box Score

 
1st Half 2nd Half Final Score
BYU
29
48
77
Irvine
31
35
66

 
Statistics

UC IRVINE (66)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Ondera          35  6-11   7-7   1-5  1  1   20
Jackson         23   3-6   3-4   0-2  0  4   12
Christ          24   2-4   1-4   1-7  1  3    5
Green           35  4-12   6-6   0-0  5  0   16
Bennem          26   3-7   0-0   0-3  0  3    7
Ethington       14   1-2   2-2   1-2  0  3    4
Edmond          22   0-1   0-0   0-1  1  5    0
Okoro            6   1-1   0-0   2-2  0  0    2
Jones           15   0-3   0-0   0-2  0  3    0
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 20-47 19-23  5-24  8 22   66
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.426, FT-.826. 3-Point Goals:
7-21, .333 (Ondera 1-3, Jackson 3-6, Green 2-6,
Bennem 1-2, Edmond 0-1, Jones 0-3). Team
rebounds: 3. Blocked shots: None. Turnovers: 17
(Green 4, Ondera 3, Bennem 2, Christ 2, Edmond 2,
Ethington, Jackson, Jones, Okoro). Steals: 5
(Christ 2, Green 2, Jackson).

BYU (77)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Wesley          28  6-12   5-6   3-6  2  4   18
E Nielsen       21   2-3   0-0   1-3  3  2    4
Vranes          34   3-7   5-8   2-5  5  3   11
Lyday           33   5-9 10-13   0-3  0  1   22
Montague        10   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
Rivers          11   2-2   1-2   0-6  0  3    5
Christensen     30   1-4   0-0   0-0  2  3    3
Roberts          2   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
Cooper          31  6-10   2-2   0-4  2  3   14
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 25-47 23-31  6-27 14 19   77
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.532, FT-.742. 3-Point Goals:
4-11, .364 (Wesley 1-1, Vranes 0-1, Lyday 2-4,
Christensen 1-3, Cooper 0-2). Team rebounds: 2.
Blocked shots: 1 (Wesley). Turnovers: 13 (Lyday
3, Vranes 3, E Nielsen 2, Montague 2, Cooper,
Rivers, Wesley). Steals: 7 (Vranes 3, Lyday 2,
Cooper, E Nielsen).
 
Other Scores of Interest

Wofford 51, Air Force 50
Cal State Fullerton 72, San Diego St. 66
 
Looking Ahead

Jan. 8: Utah State (Logan, UT), 7pm MST
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: News Recap (1/6/2000) Date: 06 Jan 2000 16:32:17 -0700 3D"CougarFan.com" News Recap  (1/6/2000)

Selected articles included here. See all the latest news at:  http://CougarFan.com
 
3D"Get
Click here for the
CougarFanzz Store!

Freshman QB Berry to Serve LDS Church Mission (BYUCougars.co= m)
See:  http://www.byucougars.com/football/releases/20000106_ftb_rel.htm= l

BYU freshman quarterback Matt Berry today announced he will serve a 24-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

=93I=92ve always believed serving a mission for the Church is the righ= t thing to do for me personally,=94 Berry said.  =93This is something = I have been looking forward to and believe it=92s important to serve the Lo= rd, as well as other people.=94

It is anticipated Berry will enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah around the end of January and return to BYU in time to partic= ipate in the 2002 season.
 

Young Should Return to Niners -- With Wife (Deseret News)
See:  = http://www.desnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,145017085,00.html?

Deseret News sports comnist Doug Robinson puts his money on Steve Youn= g returning to play for the San Francisco 49ers next season.  Although the 38-year-old All-Pro quarterback still hasn't received medical clearan= ce to play, the buzz is that he will return.  Even the Niners' skeptica= l head coach, Steve Mariucci, is starting to hope for the best. "Maybe I'm a little more optimistic because he's been feeling so good for such a lon= g time," Mariucci said recently.

Regardless of Young's football future, there will be one big change in his life:  In March, he will finally tie the knot, marrying 30-ye= ar-old Barbara Graham of Arizona.  A little over a year ago, Young baptized her a member of the LDS church, and they will be married in the Temple.

According to those close to Young, friends tried to set up Graham and Young 10 years ago, but she refused because she didn't want to deal with his fame and professional athletes.  Young and Graham are trying to keep their wedding low-key, which might account for the scant publicity it has generated so far.  The word on Graham:  Pretty, independ= ent and smart (she graduated magna cum laude).  People close to Young say she is already part of the family.
 

BYU Catches Windfall (ESPN.com)
See:  http://espn.go= .com/ncb/s/000104katzdw.html

Brigham Young missed out on its top two targeted recruits last season, but the Cougars could end up with both of them on the floor next season after each bolted from their current schools Wednesday.

Trent Whiting, a 6-1 point guard, transferred from Utah to Brigham You= ng while 6-8 forward Nate Knight left Kentucky for his home in Utah, at leas= t for the immediate future.  While most sources say that Knight's coll= egiate ball-playing days are over, he could land at BYU because the Cougars may be the only school willing to take him for one semester.
 

Feterik to Play in Florida - USA All-Star Game (Orlando Sent= inel)
See:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/automagic/sports/200= 0-01-03/SPTGRID03010300.htm

An all-star game whose inaugural was marketed around a local quarterba= ck is finding that Team Florida vs. Team USA will require one from the West Coast in Year 2.  Not to mention some rules bending.

With University of Florida quarterback Doug Johnson as the only senior quarterback around the country with any ties to Florida, organizers of the All-Star Gridiron Classic have recruited Brigham Young passer Kevin Feterik to quarterback the Florida stars against their counterparts from around the country.

The game pits college seniors from Florida (either from state colleges or formerly of state high schools) against those from around the country.

Team Florida has only 23 of 45 roster slots filled at the present time= .  A full listing of both teams is included in the article.  BYU offens= ive lineman Matt Johnson will play for Team USA.
 

Detmer Proves His Worth in Browns' Final Game (Akron Beacon Journal)
See:  http= ://www.ohio.com/bj/sports/browns/docs/008849.htm

Ty Detmer had just scored on an 8-yard touchdown run at Cleveland Brow= ns Stadium.  He rose, turned to the west end zone and hurled the footba= ll 30 rows into the stands.  When he did, he flung 14 games' worth of frustration up there, too.

Detmer waived a no-trade clause to leave San Francisco for Cleveland, because he thought he'd be able to play some this season.  He wound up starting two games.  The first was the season opener, the 43-0 debacle against Pittsburgh.  The second was the finale, a respectabl= e (if there is such a thing) 29-28 loss to the Colts.  In between, Det= mer did a lot of watching, as the Browns' season turned into letting Tim Couc= h grow.

Detmer never complained, but there had to be times when he thought he could have been playing in San Francisco, instead of sitting in Cleveland= .  However, he was happy to get a second shot at leading the Browns' offense= .  "I didn't want people in Cleveland to judge me off that one game," Detmer said.  Now they surely won't.
 

Other Articles featured at CougarFan.com
See:  http://CougarFan.com

  • Steve Young Named Connecticut's Athlete of the Century (Hartford Coura= nt)
  • Our Berlin Wall of Coaching Stability Might Finally Fall (Provo Daily Herald)
  • Men's BB Off to Great Start, but Real Tests Lie Ahead (Deseret News)
  • Next FSU Opponent?  BYU Cougars (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Hoop Cougs Have New Look For the New Century (Salt Lake Tribune)

 
Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: BB Post-game: BYU stuns UNLV 77-75 Date: 11 Jan 2000 00:12:37 -0700  
CougarFan.com BB Post-game: BYU 77, UNLV 75

Send your questions about this game or the team to Coach Nate Call at: callscourt@cougarfan.com
 
Game Recap

From ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/ncb/2000/20000110/recap/bawnaj.html

Terrell Lyday had 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead Brigham Young University to a 77-75 victory over UNLV Monday night in the opening game of the Mountain West Conference.

UNLV (9-4, 0-1) had a chance to tie the game at the end of regulation, but Dalron Johnson missed a 19-footer with a second left to give BYU (12-2, 1-0) the win.

Mekali Wesley had 17 points for BYU. Trevor Diggs led the Rebels with 20 points and Mark Dickel added 17 points and 10 assists.

The Cougars commanded the game throughout the first half, leading by as many as 12 points before taking a 42-32 halftime lead.

UNLV was able to catch up in the second half and eventually tied the game at 60-60 on a 3-pointer by Diggs with 6:11 remaining.

The Rebels then took a 66-65 lead with 3:44 left on a layup by Kaspars Kambala. But BYU scored the next five points on a basket by Wesley and a 3-pointer by Todd Christensen, bringing them up 70-66 over the Rebels with 3:04 left.

UNLV was able to cut the lead to 70-69 with 1:58 left, but Lyday hit a 3-pointer with 1:40 left to stretch the lead back to four points.

UNLV's Dickel hit two free throws with 46 seconds left to make it a 77-75 game.

Lyday was called for traveling with 16.7 seconds remaining on the clock, which gave the Rebels one last shot. However, Johnson was not able to make the basket.

UNLV Coach Bill Bayno missed the game due to a one-game suspension for missing a mandatory Mountain West Conference head coach's meeting on Oct. 21.

Notes:

Lyday also had 6 steals and 1 blocked shot.

BYU hasn't beaten UNLV in Las Vegas since 1981 -- when Danny Ainge was on the court.

At 12-2, BYU has the 15th best record in the nation.

BYU is now 3-4 all-time against UNLV.
 
 
Box Score

 
1st Half 2nd Half Final Score
BYU
42
35
77
UNLV
32
43
75

 
Statistics

BYU (77)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Vranes          29   3-7   1-4   0-4  1  2    9
E Nielsen       10   0-1   2-2   2-4  0  4    2
Wesley          36  5-11   6-8   1-4  1  4   17
Lyday           38 10-17   5-5  1-11  2  1   30
Christensen     20   3-6   0-0   0-2  2  2    8
Rivers          20   0-3   3-4   2-5  1  3    3
Montague        24   2-2   2-3   0-3  7  4    6
Cooper          22   1-2   0-0   0-1  1  4    2
D Nielsen        1   0-1   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 24-50 19-26  6-34 15 24   77
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.480, FT-.731. 3-Point Goals:
10-19, .526 (Vranes 2-5, Wesley 1-1, Lyday 5-10,
Christensen 2-2, Cooper 0-1). Team rebounds: 1.
Blocked shots: 3 (Wesley, Lyday, Rivers).
Turnovers: 25 (Rivers 6, Lyday 5, Montague 4,
Wesley 4, E Nielsen 3, Christensen, Cooper,
Vranes). Steals: 13 (Lyday 6, Vranes 3, Wesley 2,
Cooper, Montague).

UNLV (75)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Johnson         31  8-16   0-1   4-7  1  2   16
Stewart         23   2-7   0-1   2-5  3  5    4
Kambala         21   2-8   4-6   1-8  0  4    8
Diggs           38  5-12   6-6   0-1  2  1   20
Dickel          38   4-7   6-6   0-2 10  2   17
Popoola          1   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
Brotherson      20   0-3   5-6   0-1  0  4    5
Dotson          17   2-6   1-1   3-7  0  2    5
Richardson       9   0-0   0-0   0-1  0  1    0
Epps             2   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  0    0
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 23-59 22-27 10-32 16 21   75
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.390, FT-.815. 3-Point Goals:
7-15, .467 (Johnson 0-1, Stewart 0-1, Diggs 4-7,
Dickel 3-6). Team rebounds: 2. Blocked shots: 2
(Johnson 2). Turnovers: 21 (Kambala 4, Dickel 3,
Diggs 3, Richardson 3, Brotherson 2, Dotson 2,
Johnson 2, Stewart 2). Steals: 11 (Dickel 4,
Diggs 4, Johnson 2, Stewart).
 
 
Other Scores of Interest

Utah 70, San Diego St. 55
Wichita St. 80, Wyoming 71
Denver 84, Air Force 72
New Mexico 71, Colorado St. 70
 
Looking Ahead

Jan. 15: Utah (Provo, UT), 1pm MST [ESPN+]
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: Call's Court Date: 14 Jan 2000 13:51:40 -0700  
CougarFan.com Call's Court

Every Wednesday (we try...), assistant basketball coach Nathan Call answers your questions in a feature named Call's Court!  Email your questions to "callscourt@cougarfan.com" anytime during the week.  One person will be chosen each week to win a BYU basketball T-shirt! This week's winner is marked with **.

Email your questions today!  Remember to include your full name and hometown.

Question from Aaron White:  What will you have to do to beat the Utes?  It seems like the teams that give them the most trouble are teams that come down & shoot as soon as possible & hope they are hot.  If you come down & try to run clock with a delayed offense their defense usually destroys teams.

Coach Call: We will play the same way we have all season.  Sometimes a team gets caught up in trying to out smart their opponent and they change their offenses and defenses for one game.  It is difficult to run new plays or a new offensive style if you haven't practiced it.  We will make adjustments just like we have the entire year, but we want to play our game and not their game.  The key to the game will be rebounding and offensive execution.  They play great team defense and they make very few mistakes.  Our offense has been solid during the year, but we understand we need to be better against Utah. Playing a team like Utah makes you a better team.  Our players are up to the challenge and it should be an exciting game

Question from Larry Nau (Orem, UT):  We all know that basketball games are often won or lost at the free throw line.  I am sure that the team spends time practicing free throws but it seems like it's a mystery to some of the young men when they get to the line in the games.  How much time is typically being spent practicing free throws and what steps are used to help correct the problems of those who don't seem to be successful at the line?

Coach Call: We spend about 20 mintues every practice shooting free throws.  It is the most underated basketball skill.  Over 1/3 of a team's points come from the free throw.  The best way to help a player become a better free throw shooter is simple, shoot more free throws.  We are the #1 team in the Mountain West in free throw percentage.  Our free throw shooting has help us win a lot of games this year, but we can still improve.  Our coaching staff feels it is a big advantage for us.

**Question from Aaron Hemsley:  I know you are from Orange County, so why are you (the team) not recruiting in Southern California?  Every year Southern California supplies athletes to all the Pac 10 schools, a number of the Big 10 and Big 12 schools, and even some of the Big East and ACC schools.  So with all the LDS  (more LDS in So Cal than there are in Utah)  why is it that we do not have a pipeline into SoCal?

I appreciate the fact that the Y has recruited a couple of guys who are ranked high nationally this year, but I find it difficult to believe that all of the top basketball players just happen to come from a couple of H.S.'s in Salt Lake, UVSC and Snow J.C.  or are these Utah schools honestly national programs and Duke, UConn, Temple,  NCU  and etc. are visiting and creating long term relationships with?  (And the guard from FCC does not count.)  Personally, I'd like to see a few of the top players from Crenshaw, Mater Dei, Long Beach Poly, and etc.

It just appears to me as if the deepest and most fertile ground (where you have a large number of LDS)  in the nation is being ignored?    For example, is the kid from Provo really better than all the kids in Orange County?   Were other big time schools after him?

Coach Call:  This a great question because I am not sure everyone realize the amount of time and energy this staff has put into recruiting.  We want to recruit the best players in the country.  It doesn't matter to us where they live.  It has been a unique year because four top players in the state of Utah, are also consider some best players in the west.  We were very fortunate to land 3 out of the four and we still hope to add the fourth.  Our recruiting class is ranked #28 in the ESPN rankings (http://ESPN.go.com/recruiting/s/1999/1123/190045.html) and will go higher if we sign the fourth player.  I'm sorry I have to be vague about recruits but the NCAA prohibits us to comment about them.  The only school west of the state of Texas who is ranked higher than us is Oregon.  This year's BYU basketball class is ranked higher than Arizona, UCLA, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah, Gonzaga and many others.  We have been recruiting these players for two years because we knew how good they were.  We wanted to get the jump on the other schools.

Our first year at BYU we signed one player from Washington and one from Southern California.  I'm sure most people remember the player from Washington, Mark Bigelow, last year's WAC freshman of the year. The other player we signed was Daniel Bobik from Southern California, currently on a LDS mission.  We didn't sign any players from Utah that year.  The recruiting pools, like Southern California and Utah, go in cycles.  I am very familiar with Southern California and its basketball.  My brother is the head baseball coach at Mater Dei High School.  The head basketball coach at Mater Dei, Gary McKnight,
started coaching me when I was 10 years old.  I learned everything I know about basketball from him.

In fact, I will be in Southern California this Monday to watch his team play in the MLK Classic, along with other top teams from
Southern California.  Coach Rose just returned from a recruiting trip on the east coast.  He had a the opportunity to evaluate many division one prospects including a few LDS players in that region.  He also attended practice at DeMatha High School, which is consider one of the top high school programs in the country.

Even though, we had great success this year, we are still looking for next big-time recruit.  There is a good chance he might be California or maybe he lives in small town in Croatia.  We will go anywhere to recruit them.

Question from Ryan Christensen:  Although Mike Vranes is solid as a guard, his performance at the free throw line tonight (vs UNLV) was shocking.  It appeared he didn't even try to get the ball in.  Is better form a part of this young man's bright future?  Also, True or False, the seeming shortage of offensive rebounds (although comparable to UNLV's number) was due to a defensive focus on shutting down UNLV's fast-break game?  Keep up the good work, Coach.  12-2 is all I could ask for at this point.

Coach Call:   Mike has been a solid free throw shooter his entire life.  The coaching staff has been very concern about Mike's free throw percentage, probably too concerned.  We have put a lot of pressure on Mike to get better, but the best thing might be to leave him alone.  I believe Mike just needs to find his rhythm and block out all of the advice he has been receiving.  Sometimes a player thinks too much.  I feel this is the case with Mike this season.  He has been a 80% free throw shooter is entire career.

Our defensive focus against UNLV was to limit their fast break opportunities.  They score about 60% of their points in early offense or transition.  We felt, if we could take away that part of their game, it would frustrate them.  We made them score in their half court offense and tried to take the UNLV crowd out of the game.  They are used to seeing electrifying fast breaks that end in a dunk. Our players did a great job of executing our game plan.  Obviously, this took away from our offensive numbers but we were also shooting the ball well, so there weren't very many offensive rebounds anyway.
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: Call's Court Date: 14 Jan 2000 13:51:40 -0700  
CougarFan.com Call's Court

Every Wednesday (we try...), assistant basketball coach Nathan Call answers your questions in a feature named Call's Court!  Email your questions to "callscourt@cougarfan.com" anytime during the week.  One person will be chosen each week to win a BYU basketball T-shirt! This week's winner is marked with **.

Email your questions today!  Remember to include your full name and hometown.

Question from Aaron White:  What will you have to do to beat the Utes?  It seems like the teams that give them the most trouble are teams that come down & shoot as soon as possible & hope they are hot.  If you come down & try to run clock with a delayed offense their defense usually destroys teams.

Coach Call: We will play the same way we have all season.  Sometimes a team gets caught up in trying to out smart their opponent and they change their offenses and defenses for one game.  It is difficult to run new plays or a new offensive style if you haven't practiced it.  We will make adjustments just like we have the entire year, but we want to play our game and not their game.  The key to the game will be rebounding and offensive execution.  They play great team defense and they make very few mistakes.  Our offense has been solid during the year, but we understand we need to be better against Utah. Playing a team like Utah makes you a better team.  Our players are up to the challenge and it should be an exciting game

Question from Larry Nau (Orem, UT):  We all know that basketball games are often won or lost at the free throw line.  I am sure that the team spends time practicing free throws but it seems like it's a mystery to some of the young men when they get to the line in the games.  How much time is typically being spent practicing free throws and what steps are used to help correct the problems of those who don't seem to be successful at the line?

Coach Call: We spend about 20 mintues every practice shooting free throws.  It is the most underated basketball skill.  Over 1/3 of a team's points come from the free throw.  The best way to help a player become a better free throw shooter is simple, shoot more free throws.  We are the #1 team in the Mountain West in free throw percentage.  Our free throw shooting has help us win a lot of games this year, but we can still improve.  Our coaching staff feels it is a big advantage for us.

**Question from Aaron Hemsley:  I know you are from Orange County, so why are you (the team) not recruiting in Southern California?  Every year Southern California supplies athletes to all the Pac 10 schools, a number of the Big 10 and Big 12 schools, and even some of the Big East and ACC schools.  So with all the LDS  (more LDS in So Cal than there are in Utah)  why is it that we do not have a pipeline into SoCal?

I appreciate the fact that the Y has recruited a couple of guys who are ranked high nationally this year, but I find it difficult to believe that all of the top basketball players just happen to come from a couple of H.S.'s in Salt Lake, UVSC and Snow J.C.  or are these Utah schools honestly national programs and Duke, UConn, Temple,  NCU  and etc. are visiting and creating long term relationships with?  (And the guard from FCC does not count.)  Personally, I'd like to see a few of the top players from Crenshaw, Mater Dei, Long Beach Poly, and etc.

It just appears to me as if the deepest and most fertile ground (where you have a large number of LDS)  in the nation is being ignored?    For example, is the kid from Provo really better than all the kids in Orange County?   Were other big time schools after him?

Coach Call:  This a great question because I am not sure everyone realize the amount of time and energy this staff has put into recruiting.  We want to recruit the best players in the country.  It doesn't matter to us where they live.  It has been a unique year because four top players in the state of Utah, are also consider some best players in the west.  We were very fortunate to land 3 out of the four and we still hope to add the fourth.  Our recruiting class is ranked #28 in the ESPN rankings (http://ESPN.go.com/recruiting/s/1999/1123/190045.html) and will go higher if we sign the fourth player.  I'm sorry I have to be vague about recruits but the NCAA prohibits us to comment about them.  The only school west of the state of Texas who is ranked higher than us is Oregon.  This year's BYU basketball class is ranked higher than Arizona, UCLA, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah, Gonzaga and many others.  We have been recruiting these players for two years because we knew how good they were.  We wanted to get the jump on the other schools.

Our first year at BYU we signed one player from Washington and one from Southern California.  I'm sure most people remember the player from Washington, Mark Bigelow, last year's WAC freshman of the year. The other player we signed was Daniel Bobik from Southern California, currently on a LDS mission.  We didn't sign any players from Utah that year.  The recruiting pools, like Southern California and Utah, go in cycles.  I am very familiar with Southern California and its basketball.  My brother is the head baseball coach at Mater Dei High School.  The head basketball coach at Mater Dei, Gary McKnight,
started coaching me when I was 10 years old.  I learned everything I know about basketball from him.

In fact, I will be in Southern California this Monday to watch his team play in the MLK Classic, along with other top teams from
Southern California.  Coach Rose just returned from a recruiting trip on the east coast.  He had a the opportunity to evaluate many division one prospects including a few LDS players in that region.  He also attended practice at DeMatha High School, which is consider one of the top high school programs in the country.

Even though, we had great success this year, we are still looking for next big-time recruit.  There is a good chance he might be California or maybe he lives in small town in Croatia.  We will go anywhere to recruit them.

Question from Ryan Christensen:  Although Mike Vranes is solid as a guard, his performance at the free throw line tonight (vs UNLV) was shocking.  It appeared he didn't even try to get the ball in.  Is better form a part of this young man's bright future?  Also, True or False, the seeming shortage of offensive rebounds (although comparable to UNLV's number) was due to a defensive focus on shutting down UNLV's fast-break game?  Keep up the good work, Coach.  12-2 is all I could ask for at this point.

Coach Call:   Mike has been a solid free throw shooter his entire life.  The coaching staff has been very concern about Mike's free throw percentage, probably too concerned.  We have put a lot of pressure on Mike to get better, but the best thing might be to leave him alone.  I believe Mike just needs to find his rhythm and block out all of the advice he has been receiving.  Sometimes a player thinks too much.  I feel this is the case with Mike this season.  He has been a 80% free throw shooter is entire career.

Our defensive focus against UNLV was to limit their fast break opportunities.  They score about 60% of their points in early offense or transition.  We felt, if we could take away that part of their game, it would frustrate them.  We made them score in their half court offense and tried to take the UNLV crowd out of the game.  They are used to seeing electrifying fast breaks that end in a dunk. Our players did a great job of executing our game plan.  Obviously, this took away from our offensive numbers but we were also shooting the ball well, so there weren't very many offensive rebounds anyway.
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: News Recap (1/18/2000) Date: 18 Jan 2000 08:55:36 -0700 CougarFan.com News Recap (1/18/2000)

Selected articles included here. See all the latest news at:  http://CougarFan.com
 
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Saturday's Game Means One Thing:  Rivalry Back On (Utah County Journal)
See:  http://www.ucjournal.com/StoryLink.php3?id=1298912&c=1130302&s=8

Although BYU's men's basketball team added to its double-digit losing streak to Utah on Saturday, the game was very different than the others that have been played over the past few years.  The Utes came into the Marriott Center and played like a respected, top 25 team, and the Cougars hung with them just the same.

Coach Steve Cleveland wasn't taking any solace in the fact that his squad gave their arch-rivals a tough game.  "Two years ago this would have been a moral victory.  We came into the game to win," he said.  Still, it's obvious that the lopsided Utah victories are a thing of the past, and that it's just a matter of time until the Cougs knock the king off Bunker Hill.  Coach Cleveland summed up the state of the program by saying, “One indication of the strides we have made over the last two years was the celebration Utah had after the game.  I think that says something."
 

Former BYU RB Jenkins Enters NFL Draft (Arizona Republic)
See:  http://www.azcentral.com/sports/azcolleges/0113jenkins.shtml

Ronney Jenkins has informed school officials at Northern Arizona that he will forego his senior year with the Lumberjacks to enter this spring's NFL draft.  The former BYU star amassed 1,767 all-purpose yards this past season, fourth most in NAU history, and was named second-team All-Big Sky Conference.

"We encourage all of (our players) to complete their eligibility and graduate with a degree," NAU Coach Jerome Souers said.  "We understand, however, the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his family.  In that regard, we support his decision 100 percent and wish Ronney and family nothing but the best in the future."
 

Feterik Will Miss QB Challenge to Play in Gridiron Classic (Salt Lake Tribune)
See:  http://www.sltrib.com/2000/jan/01152000/sports/17932.htm

Quarterback Kevin Feterik will not compete against three of the nation's top quarterbacks in the Compaq College Football All-Star Challenge, but not because of the shoulder injury he suffered in the Y's 21-3 loss to Marshall in the Motor City Bowl last month.

The challenge has been moved back a day, from January 28 to January 29, and Feterik will be playing that afternoon in the Gridiron Classic in Orlando, FL.  He was to have gone against Marshall's Chad Pennington, Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton and Louisville's Chris Redman in a test of passing accuracy that will be televised on Fox Sports before the Super Bowl on January 30.

Feterik will join teammates Brian Gray and Matt Johnson in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii on Jan. 22.  The injury Feterik suffered against Marshall was not as bad as doctors had feared -- Feterik was knocked out of the game in the third quarter -- and he has been home in California working out.
 

Women's Basketball Cruises to Sixth Straight Win (BYUCougars.com)
See:  http://www.byucougars.com/basketball_w/results/20000115_wbkb_res.html

Rounding out the first weekend of conference competition, the BYU women’s basketball team dominated San Diego State, 60-37, to win its sixth straight game and remain undefeated in conference play.

Freshman guard Erin Thorn led the Lady Cougars with 18 points and four steals, while forward Jill Adams followed up a career-best 28 point performance against UNLV Thursday with 12 points, four blocks and five steals.  Freshman Jennifer Leitner also came off the bench to score 10 and pull down a team-high seven boards.

The string of six consecutive wins by the Cougars is the team’s longest since the 1992-1993 season.  At 12-3, BYU is also off to its best start since that season, a year in which the team went 24-5 to capture the regular season WAC title.
 

Jaron Dabney Latest Victim of Honor Code Problems (Salt Lake Tribune)
See:  http://www.sltrib.com/2000/jan/01182000/sports/18537.htm

Kick return specialist Jaron Dabney will be leaving school for the second time in his BYU career, this time for an honor code violation.  Following his freshman season, the native of Sealy, TX became academically ineligible and transferred to Blinn Junior College near his hometown.  Although Texas A&M, among other schools, showed interest in him, he returned to play at the Y out of a feeling of commitment.

Dabney is the fifth starter in the past year to have been either expelled, suspended, or forced to withdraw.  Of the other four, Junior Mahe and Tyson Smith are expected to be back in school and on the team next fall.  Ronney Jenkins transferred and played at Northern Arizona last season before declaring himself eligible for this year's NFL draft, while Heshi Robertson returned to school this past fall and completed his eligibility.
 

Cougar Hoops Listed as "On the Bubble" for March Madness (USAToday.com)
See:  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketba/skm/mbcol.htm

In this article, Mike Berman makes some mid-season predictions about which collegiate basketball teams will make their way into the NCAA tournament.  In his analysis of the Mountain West Conference, he says that Utah is a shoe-in for the tourney, and BYU would get in if the season were to end today.  He lists Colorado State and UNLV as the other possible tournament teams from the MWC.
 

Young Probably Will Be Cleared to Play (CBSSportsline.com)
See:  http://www.sportsline.com/u/ce/multi/0,1329,1894219_59,00.html

Steve Young's agent has told the San Francisco Examiner that we could see number 8 back on the field next season.  Though he has still not received permission to play, current indications are that Young will receive medical clearance before long.  However, the All-Pro quarterback will have to decide if he wants to go back to the game, and if so, whether he will return to the 49ers or opt to play for another team.

For the Niners to fit Young in under their salary cap, he would have to take a hefty pay cut, which he has indicated he's willing to do.  "Now, the risk is his," Steinberg said.  "Steve's decisions now are:  Does he feel like he wants another season or two?  What will the 49ers' protection be like next year?  We need to hear their plans, how they plan to protect him."

Another possible influence on whether Young will return to play is his upcoming marriage to Barbara Graham of Phoenix.  The two are planning to wed during the offseason.
 

Other Articles featured at CougarFan.com
See:  http://CougarFan.com

  • Coach Cleve: Look How Far We've Come (BYU NewsNet)
  • Cheers Must Sound Quite a Bit Better to Wesley this Time (Provo Daily Herald)
  • Hula Bowl Roster Includes Feterik, Gray, Johnson (CBSSportsline.com)
  • Cougars Getting Closer to Catching Majerus' Utes (Provo Daily Herald)

 
Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: Call's Court Date: 20 Jan 2000 00:23:30 -0700  
CougarFan.com Call's Court

Every Wednesday, assistant basketball coach Nathan Call answers your questions in a feature named Call's Court!  Email your questions to "callscourt@cougarfan.com" anytime during the week.  One person will be chosen each week to win a BYU basketball T-shirt! This week's winner is marked with **.

Email your questions today!  Remember to include your full name and hometown.

Question from George Shaw (South Jordan, UT): With Silester Rivers being the only Senior this year, I'm already thinking about next year's team.  Are you planning to recruit a J.C. player or two to fill in the middle or are the younger players coming along quick enough? Also, what players are returning from missions that could make an impact on next year's team?

Coach Call:  As a coaching staff we are focusing a lot of effort on this year's team while at the same time looking towards the future.  We are expecting a few true freshman along with Dan Howard to make an immediate impact on our inside play.  We are always evaluating Junior
College players and will recruit a player if he can help us without compromising our long term goals.  We have already signed one JC player, Travis Hansen, for next year and there is possible we could sign a JC post player.  Every coach has a different recruiting philosophy.  It is important at BYU to utilize all of the different recruiting options, because of the unique challenges we face with LDS missions.  Sometimes we don't know if a LDS player is going to serve a mission until after they enroll in school.  We want to be ready for any situation.   It is also difficult to know how long it will take a missionary to get back into top form after their mission.  Some players are ready to play the minute they step off the plane, while others take a few months.  We don't want to count on a missionary or a true freshman to lead or carry our team, but sometimes you get a surprise.

Question from Nate Price (Seattle, WA): We are not from Utah but were able to attend the BYU vs. UC Riverside game.  I noticed that Thurl Bailey, the former NBA player, was there. Before the game he was talking to BYU's coaches and several of the players.  He seemed to be well acquainted with everyone.  I was wondering if Thurl Bailey had offered his services as a volunteer with the team or if the coaching staff had invited him to assist with the team or with recruiting in any way?

Coach Call:  Thurl and Coach Cleveland have talked many times.  Thurl has offered to help us in any way he can.  We appreciate his interest in the program.  Thurl attended a few of our preseason games and practices because he was working with KSL and SportsWest as one of
their TV color commentators.  We really enjoy having him around, but Thurl has since accepted a job with KJZZ as a Jazz game analyst.

**Question from Rick Roskelley:  What is the progress of Dan Howard recovering from his injury?  Dan has the size and appears to have the ability to contribute on court.  How does he figure into your plans for next season and what will the team and Dan be doing to prepare him for next season?

Coach Call:  Dan's recovery has been on schedule.  He has started to run a little bit, but is still a few weeks away from being 100%.  We
aren't in any hurry to rush his recovery because he is definitely going to red shirt this year.  Although, we could use another big man this year, it will help Dan's progress as a player if he red shirts.  Dan has a nice shooting touch, runs the floor well, and he's a good passer.  He has a great feel for the game, but he needs to add a little muscle to his frame.  He is working extremely hard in the weight room.   Our biggest concern this year has been rebounding and controlling the paint.  We need someone like Dan to step up and be a dominating force inside on the defensive end.  We are counting on him next year along with a few freshmen recruits to make us a bigger and more physical team. How much Dan contributes next year will depend on how much time he spends in the weight room.  I like what I see from him so far.  He is very excited about the future of the team.  I keep telling him that Mark Bigelow keeps asking about him and is he going to be ready to dominate the paint when he returns home his mission.
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: BB Post-game: BYU 87, Wyoming 78 Date: 21 Jan 2000 00:51:49 -0700  
CougarFan.com BB Post-game: BYU 87, Wyoming 78

Send your questions about this game or the team to Coach Nate Call at: callscourt@cougarfan.com
 
Game Recap

From ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/ncb/2000/20000120/recap/wbkbaw.html

Mekeli Wesley and Terrell Lyday scored eight points each during an 18-2 Brigham Young spurt as the Cougars beat Wyoming 87-78 Thursday night.

BYU (13-3 overall, 2-1 Mountain West) led just 44-42 after Wyoming's LaDarion Jones scored with 16:54 left in the game. Wesley and Lyday then went to work to give BYU a 62-44 lead with 13:51 remaining.

Wyoming (11-7, 1-2) used a 17-5 run of its own to close within 67-61 with 8:25 to go. Josh Davis and Jones sparked that burst with four points each.

The Cowboys closed within 76-71 on Chris McMillian's two free throws with 3:11 to play, but Lyday got a basket and the Cougars finished by hitting 9-of-12 free throws.

Wesley led BYU with 34 points. Lyday added 22, 17 of them coming in the second half. Jones paced Wyoming with 26 points while Anthony Blakes had 19 and Davis 13.

Wyoming had a 43-32 rebounding advantage with Blakes, a 6-foot-2 guard, collecting 10. Wesley led BYU with eight rebounds.

The first half was a seesaw affair with six ties and nine lead changes. BYU took a 38-37 halftime lead on Todd Christensen's basket with three seconds left.

BYU led the entire second half.

The Cougars shot 52 percent in the second half and 49 percent overall. Wyoming shot 43 percent for the game.

Notes:

For player and coach quotes:  http://cougarfan.com/teams/basketball_m/news/2000/01-20b.html

Terrell Lyday has made a three pointer in 16 consecutive games, tying a BYU record set in 1990 by Andy Toolsen.

Mekeli Wesley's 34 points tonight was a career high.  Matt Montague's 7 points was his season high.

Tonight's attendance:  10,347

Seven-foot freshman center Dan Howard who injured his knee early in the season will take a medical redshirt this year.
 
Box Score

 
1st Half 2nd Half Final Score
BYU
38
49
87
Wyoming
37
41
78

 
Statistics

WYOMING (78)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Jones           34 10-21   4-4   3-7  3  3   26
Bailey          28   2-4   1-3   1-3  0  4    5
Davis           25   5-9   3-4   3-8  0  4   13
Blakes          38  7-15   4-4  3-10  2  1   19
Mcmillian       28   1-5   4-4   0-5  4  5    6
Mcfall          15   1-3   0-0   0-1  2  4    3
Lostetter        8   0-2   0-0   0-1  0  1    0
French          12   3-4   0-1   0-1  0  2    6
Mann            12   0-5   0-0   0-0  1  3    0
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 29-68 16-20 10-36 12 27   78
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.426, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
4-14, .286 (Jones 2-2, Blakes 1-4, Mcmillian 0-2,
Mcfall 1-2, Mann 0-4). Team rebounds: 7. Blocked
shots: None. Turnovers: 17 (Bailey 4, Mcfall 4,
Mcmillian 4, Blakes 2, Jones 2, French). Steals:
6 (Blakes 2, Bailey, Davis, Jones, Mcfall).

BYU (87)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
E Nielsen       21   0-1   0-0   0-1  1  4    0
Wesley          37 10-19 11-14   2-8  4  3   34
Lyday           36  6-12  8-10   0-3  1  0   22
Christensen     27   2-5   2-2   0-1  3  3    7
Vranes          20   2-7   3-4   2-5  3  4    8
Rivers          19   3-4   2-4   0-3  0  4    8
Roberts          1   0-0   0-0   0-0  0  1    0
Montague        23   3-3   1-3   0-4  3  0    7
Cooper          16   0-2   1-2   0-2  1  0    1
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         200 26-53 28-39  4-27 16 19   87
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.491, FT-.718. 3-Point Goals:
7-18, .389 (Wesley 3-7, Lyday 2-4, Christensen
1-3, Vranes 1-3, Cooper 0-1). Team rebounds: 5.
Blocked shots: 5 (Wesley 3, E Nielsen, Rivers).
Turnovers: 11 (Montague 3, Lyday 2, Rivers 2,
Christensen, E Nielsen, Vranes, Wesley). Steals:
4 (Lyday 2, Christensen, Montague).
 
 
Other Scores of Interest

Air Force 81, San Diego State 77 (3OT)
 
Looking Ahead

Jan. 23: Colorado State (Provo, UT), 7pm MST [SportsWest]
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: CougarFan Insider Subject: Free BYUCougarFan Email Address Date: 24 Jan 2000 08:28:49 -0700 CougarFan.com Free BYUCougarFan Email Address

Show your Cougar pride with an @BYUCougarFan.com email address!

CougarFan.com has partnered with BYUCougarFan.com to offer you free web-based email that identifies you as a BYU fan.  Each email address will end in @byucougarfan.com.  For example, CougarFan.com co-owner John Ahlander now has the email "john@byucougarfan.com".

BYUCougarFan email is accessible world-wide from anywere on the Internet.

CougarFan.com has also provided you a convenient login to your byucougarfan.com email right from the main CougarFan page.  Tell all your friends about this cool new service!

Sign up today at:  http://www.byucougarfan.com/index.asp?cougarfan
 

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: CougarFan Insider Subject: Basketball Rankings, Stats Date: 25 Jan 2000 08:33:44 -0700  
CougarFan.com Basketball Rankings, Stats
National Rankings

The Cougars received votes in both the AP and USA Today polls!  Furthermore, BYU is the highest ranked MWC team in the RPI ratings.*

BYU and Opponents
 
 
USA
Today
AP
Sagarin's
Comp. Rank
RPI*
 Result
BYU
39
44
34
22
  
Southern Utah
-
-
207
247
 W 92-64
Arizona
4
5
5
3
 L 62-86
Denver
-
-
282
229
 W 81-58
Arizona State
-
-
47
47
 W 78-67
Texas Southern
-
-
236
251
 W 76-61
Weber St
-
-
124
93
 W 66-53
South Carolina St
-
-
272
285
 W 76-43
South Alabama
-
-
165
171
 L 63-64
Florida Intl
-
-
150
125
 W 83-75 OT 
UC Santa Barbara
-
-
206
219
 W 57-48
UC Irvine
-
-
196
195
 W 77-66 
Utah St
-
-
87
83
 W 82-73
UNLV
-
-
52
73
 W 77-75 
Utah
19
19
29
33
 L 49-56
Wyoming
-
-
111
115
 W 87-78 
Colorado St
-
-
61
66
 W 68-47
Air Force
-
-
248
250
 Jan. 27 
New Mexico
-
-
119
108
 Jan. 29
San Diego St
-
-
274
227
 Feb. 3

* RPI = The RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is a measure of strength of schedule and how a team does against that schedule. It is used by the NCAA as one of their factors in deciding which teams to invite to the NCAA tournament and where to seed them.
 
 
National Statistics

Team Statistics for BYU
(National Ranking, Statistic)
 
Category
Rank
 Stat
3-pt Percentage 8 41.0%
Field Goal Percentage Defense 16 37.6%
Scoring 89 74.4 pts/g
Assists 79 15.5 ast/g
Field Goal Percentage 40 47.3%
Free Throw Percentage 64 70.9%
Rebounding 202 32.1 reb/g
Steals 134 8.1 stl/g
Winning Percentage 15 .824

Individual Statistics for BYU Players
Players in the Top 50 Nationally
 
 Player  Category
Rank
 Statistic
Mekeli Wesley Scoring 49 19.0 pts/g

Terrell Lyday leads the Mountain West Conference in steals with 2.2/game.  Matt Montague is second in the conference with 4.2 assists/game.
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "CougarFan.com" Subject: Call's Court Date: 26 Jan 2000 18:06:26 -0700  
CougarFan.com Call's Court

Every Wednesday, assistant basketball coach Nathan Call answers your questions in a feature named Call's Court!  Email your questions to "callscourt@cougarfan.com" anytime during the week.  One person will be chosen each week to win a BYU basketball T-shirt! This week's winner is marked with **.

Email your questions today!  Remember to include your full name and hometown.

**Question from Lane Maygren: I am writing about the ending of the Utah game.  At the end of the game, our Cougs went seven minutes without scoring, and ended up losing the game by seven, although it was much closer than that.  It was a two point game for over six of those minutes.  I was wondering if it was the coaches who told the players not to go inside to Wesley or did they choose to take bad perimeter shots those seven minutes.  With Althoff, Jensen and Mottola all with four fouls, one would think to attack the basket, especially with the success that Wesley had all game.

Coach Call:  Utah switched defenses in the last six minutes of the game.  Sometimes they were playing man-to-man, but most of the time they were playing a triangle and two defense.  The triangle and two defense is designed to keep three players in the paint to protect the basket.   The other two players were playing man-to-man on two of our perimeter players.  They went to this defense to protect their players in foul trouble.  It is tough to get the ball to Mekeli in the low post when they implement this defense.  We missed a lay-up, five free throws, and two short jumpers in the last six minutes.  I believe we only took one three point shot in the last seven minutes and Mekeli took it.  We worked all week in practice against this type of defense.  We still had great opportunities to score, we just didn't make the shots to win.

Question from Rick Roskelley:  With Nate Knight joining the program next December, what can you tell us about his game.  Will he play post?  Will his addition with the other new players allow you to use Wesley any differently than you are able to this year?

Coach Call:  Nate is a versatile basketball player that could play either the power forward position or the center position.  He is a great rebounder who always seems to get his hands on the ball.  He runs the floor very well and he is very active for a 6'10" player.  He has a decent jump shot from about 15 feet.  Nate has the ability to guard both a big center or a more mobile forward.  He will make us bigger, stronger, and deeper up front.  He is exactly what we need.

I don't think the addition of any new players will change the way we use Mekeli on the court.  Mekeli has developed his perimeter skills, so we let him do more things on the perimeter this year.  He has been adding new skills to his offensive game every year.  We encourage him to do the same this summer -- along with the other players in the program.  We have become a much more versatile team this year, thus we are harder to guard.

Question from ncranefly:  My question deals with coaching in general.  My daughter is 5 years old and we signed her up for basketball with a couple of friends (8 ft rims).  Me and a friend of mine are coaching.  I realize that they are at an age that bball can be difficult.  I was wondering what your advice was in what to teach the kids.  I want to focus on the fundamentals and enjoying the game.  Any ideas?

Coach Call:  There are many things a young person can learn about basketball.  The most important thing they need to know is: basketball is a physical skill, and like any skill, you have to practice it before you master it.  The more you try and fail at it
the better you are going to be.

Sometimes young players get discouraged because they don't play like Michael Jordan.  They don't realize that he failed many times before he became great.  He understood that if he tried dribbling behind is back enough times, eventually he would figure out how to do it.  It didn't matter how many times he failed at it, as long as he master it in the end.  After he learn this simple idea, he realized that he could learn any and all basketball skills.

We put too much pressure on young kids to not mess up at something, rather than trying to learn something.  Usually, kids give up if they can't do something because someone isn't happy that they couldn't do it.  I believe you need to focus on having fun while you teach them basic skills.  It is always good for kids to have some type of success.  So, I would start with easy basketball skills first, like passing and dribbling.  It is very easy for them to see improvement in these skills.
 
 
 

Copyright 1999, CougarFan.com

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