For this team to win we have to pretty much play the perfect game, no margin for error.
Last night they played hard all game, which was appreciated.
Meanwhile, GM Wes Wilcox is working hard: Utah begins work on next season’s roster as Runnin’ Utes close out this year’s campaign – Deseret News
The Utes rallied in the second half when they worked harder on defense. First half, Arizona State, a bad team, shot 53 percent, on our floor. By end of the game that was down to 39 percent for the game.
As BYU is learning, college basketball isn’t all about good players or having the best players or player. Last year’s national champion Florida’s best player was a senior picked no. 18 in the NBA draft. Connecticut has been similar.
This is a sad comment about the reality of today’s game: “That’s another reason I think you need a general manager or even a front office because the communications with agents is crucial”. A lot of resources spent on dealing with agents. It’s probably been like that for a while, but we can no longer live in denial.
In college basketball, it’s still largely about coaching. And Kevin Young has yet to prove he is a good college basketball coach.
Rick Majerus had many teams with less talent than what BYU has now, and he almost always exceeded expectations (he slipped a bit post-1998-99, though).
I have to wonder if the Crumbl Cookie donor & other NIL weight-swingers are vexed about the 3 game losing streak. Paying Dybantsa $7M & getting Wright & others on board - seems like Elite 8 is the floor with all that money.
That’s a lot of NIL per player to lose to a team Utah had a chance to beat (Okie State).
(Is Kevin Young still wearing those yoga pants out there? Maybe he’s not the guy.)
Which players on this team do we hope will return.
Okonkwo - senior
McHenry - senior
Faye - 6’9” Senior expected to be contributor, injured in preseason,but might have medical RS
Brown - 6’3” Jr - great offensively, dribbles too much, poor defensively
Dawes - 6’9”Jr solid all around player
Hays - 6’10”Jr expected to RS, but pressed due to Faye injury, lacks strength
Patrick 6’6” Jr wing. Showed decent outside shot before injury
Traore - 6’6” Jr wing, Inconsistent in every aspect
Huang - 6’ 2” So guard, walkon
Jackson - 6’5” So guard, redshirt, who knows
Abbey - 6’0” Fr guard, plays hard, needs to improve shooting from outside
Langarita - 6’5” Fr guard, who knows
McHaney - Fr 6’10” center, redshirt, who knows
Sanders - Fr 6’8” wing, needs strength but has skills to play at Utah
Traore - Fr 6’9” Forward, who knows
2026 Signees: Styles Clemmons 3* 6’2” pg Georgia; Simeon Sugaturaga. 6’5” guard Orem, Zati Loubaki 6’9” PF JUCO
2024 Signees on missions: Jaxson Johnson 4* 6’8” Alta, David Katoa 6’4” SG Utah Prep
This roster needs a lot of work. We need bigger, stronger more athletic player at every position. A lot will depend on what we can find in portal. I would say guys we want to keep are Brown, Dawes and the freshmen. Also keep Patrick. I wonder if they will try for a redshirt for him.
I did this while getting a pedicure. In addition to growing hair in my ears, my toe nails are unruly.
Not a fan of the 6’6" Traore. No defense and is a turnover machine with his poopy passing skills.
I wish we could find an enforcer type, mean as hell with long neck hair and ear hair, runs crooked and wears goggles.
Along with what you said.
We need a “Buster Matheny” type. 
Here’s hoping you can keep those rampant nose hairs under control !
He’s actually making far fewer turnovers in recent games, but shooting is hot/cold.
The collection of underclassmen on this roster isn’t winning many games next season either. Utah needs upgrades everywhere.
Utah and Kansas playing right now in Lawrence. Could be very, very ugly. Utah was up 14-12 nine minutes in. Now it’s starting to slip away. I suspect Utah loses by 25. I really, really do believe in Jensen as a coach. But I am not sure this team wins another game this season.
only down 6 with 11 minutes
Not expecting to win but they look better than they have recently
Down 15 now. Decent effort. Not enough talent.
Beat by 12 on the road by a much more talented team. Never buckled, fought the whole way, great effort.
Not a moral victory, but these guys have nothing to be ashamed of.
What I expected to be a tough year is just that. Alex wants to build a program. The two best players who can return for their senior seasons are TB and KD. Both will have opportunities for $$ and teams with better chances to make runs in the tournament next year. To build a program you need to retain talent. Can he retain these two?
As Seattle indicated, Utah lost some players from last years roster who could have helped significantly this year. Did Alex try to get them to stay but was simply unsuccessful? I think players go to schools where they can play a significant role, get paid and compete for championships. Other things being equal, both Morgan and Alex need to be able to sell the ability to compete for championships in order to retain players. Can they get guys like KD and TB to stay?
The more I watch Keita at BYU, I’m not sure I miss him too much at Utah. He’s pretty worthless on offense. He hasn’t improved at all. Way to go, Young.
agreed
he has incredible NBA type athleticism but his points per game have gone down as his minutes have increased.
Alex is largely credited with Rudy Gobert’s development. It’s too bad Alex (or another big man coach) didn’t get a chance to work with Keita?
I refuse to watch BYU, so I’m just speculating, but Keita’s ppg may be a function of the scorers surrounding him.