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Vol. 36, Issue 28 – February 15, 2016
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Debating BYU Sports
Let me state my political neutrality up front. I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans in local, state and national elections. I even voted for myself as an independent in a high school election.
I could save CNN, CBS, ABC and NBC a lot of money. They don’t need an “Election Central” studio set and a cadre of commentators. Forget exit polls and precinct predictions. Just calling me and asking me who I voted for would suffice.
My preferred candidates never win, including myself in high school where I finished a distant third in the voting for the most likely to succeed cafeteria worker.
I also watch the presidential debates for both parties. They are the ultimate reality television shows. But even better than political debates are BYU Sports debates among the Cougar fan base.
In case you haven’t noticed, here are the most prominent Cougar Sports debates taking place now:
Tayson Hill vs. Tanner Mangum: Idaho only has 4 electoral votes when it comes to the Presidential race, but the Gem State controls the destiny of BYU football for the next few seasons.
Nick Emery vs. T.J. Haws: Who will be the better player at BYU? Emery is surging in the polls after last week’s 37 and 31 point performances. Haws is about to come home from an LDS mission and he has the grass roots movement of great high school play on which to base his campaign. If this turns out to be a brokered Cougar convention, don’t discount Elijah Bryant out of the race. There are those in the coach’s backroom who think he is the best player on the team right now.
Dave Rose vs. a New Coach: Tippecanoe and Tyler Too was the winning slogan in the 1840 Presidential election. Dave Rose rode Tyler (Haws) to consecutive winning seasons. He is poised to ride the rest of the Lone Peak legacy and another Haws horse (T.J.) for several more winning seasons. Whether you like his half-court offense or lack of such, Rose is more secure than any Democrat in the Cook County Machine of Chicago. We should start calling him Dave “Daley” Rose.
Big 12 vs. BYU: This campaign will absolutely be determined in the back rooms of the LDS Church and the Big 12 Presidents. The Presidents hold BYU’s fate of joining a P5 conference in their hands. Politicking is already in full force with Cincinnati promoting itself behind the scenes. BYU’s hole card is the LDS Church and their intent on making BYUtv a global force. If the Big Boys say no, the Church will up the ante and money to keep BYU sports and football in particular relevant. BYUtv needs the programming and BYU athletics needs the money. It’s a no lose deal when all other league options disappear.
Sitake vs. Trump: The Republican Presidential candidate wants to build a $8 billion wall to protect our border. New BYU coach Kalani Sitake proposes to build a wall of big tough Polynesians at the line of scrimmage to protect Tanner Mangum and quarterbacks that follow after him. I’m voting for Sitake.
Shaka vs. Block U: This one is a slam dunk. BYU’s new “Shaka” hand sign that is being brought by new coach Sitake and his staff versus the block “U” hand signal that the University of Utah has adopted to represent their respective sports programs. One was shoplifted from the University of Miami and the other actually has some historical background to it. Click here to see the history of the Shaka.
For more video evidence to back up either side of the debates, see and click below.
Cougar Clearasil
San Francisco and Santa Clara Pop Pimples for BYU
The two biggest pock marks on BYU’s NCAA post season complexion this year were the two losses to Pacific and Portland. They were BYU’s prominent pimples on the nose. No makeup could hide the hideousness of the two unexplainable losses.
Thanks to wins on the road at San Francisco, 114-89, and Santa Clara, 96-62, BYU was finally able to pop those pimples and now has two weeks for them to dry up before the WCC tournament begins in Las Vegas.
Even dried, the two unexpected losses will leave a scab that unless BYU can cover up with a WCC tourney championship, will keep the Cougars out of any post season play that matters.
What did matter, regardless of the downgrade in competition, is how well the Cougars played against the Dons and Broncos. Specifically, how well Nick Emery played. Dave Rose had pleaded for some player to step up his game after the loss to Pacific. Emery took him at his word.
All the freshman guard did was score 37 against USF and 31 against Santa Clara. The 37 points broke the scoring record for a freshman that had been held for decades by Danny Ainge. Emery also tied the school record for threes made with 10. He was 10-12 for the night and tied the record previously held solely by Chase Fischer. Click here to see Emery’s 10 three-point makes.
Speaking of Fischer, he held up his end of the story in the two wins. He hit for 22 against the Dons and put up another 22 against the Broncos.
Next up for BYU will be WCC doormat San Diego. BYU will get the Toreros in back to back games. The first will be this Thursday in San Diego with the return engagement two days later in Provo. Thursday game will tip at 9 pm MST and be shown live on ESPNU. Saturday’s game is set for a 7 pm tip and can be seen on BYUtv.
West Coast Standings - Men
TEAM | CONF | OVERALL |
12-2 | 20-6 | |
11-3 | 20-4 | |
10-4 | 19-8 | |
9-6 | 16-10 | |
7-7 | 14-11 | |
5-9 | 11-16 | |
5-9 | 9-17 | |
5-9 | 7-17 | |
4-11 | 11-15 | |
3-11 | 8-17 |
Thursday Women Can Clinch Title Thursday
A revenge win Thursday night in the Marriott Center will clinch the regular season championship for Jeff Judkins and his women’s basketball team.
The last loss for BYU was before Christmas when they fell to San Diego on the road in the league opener for both teams. The Lady Cougars came up short 78-65. Since then, they have reeled of 14 straight victories.
Wins 13 and 14 came at the hands of San Francisco and Santa Clara in the Marriott center this past week. It was a 65-62 thriller on Thursday as BYU overcame a 14-point deficit with just six minutes remaining in the game. BYU held off a late comeback by Santa Clara, but prevailed 70-63.
As usual, BYU was led by their big three of Lexi Rydalch, Kalani Purcell and Mackenzie Pulsipher. Rydalch had 27 against the Dons with Purcell adding 17 and Pulsipher 13. Against Santa Clara, it was Pulsipher with 25, Purcell with another 17 and Rydalch 12.
Purcell was unstoppable on the boards in both games. She hauled in 17 rebounds against USF and matched up against Santa Clara pulled down 20. Yes, that is not a typo. She had 20 rebounds against the Broncos.
Next up for BYU is a rematch with San Diego in Provo. Tip is set for 7 pm MST and will be broadcast live on BYUtv.
West Coast Standings - Women
TEAM | CONF | OVERALL |
14-1 | 22-4 | |
11-4 | 21-5 | |
10-4 | 19-6 | |
10-4 | 19-6 | |
9-5 | 17-9 | |
6-8 | 15-10 | |
5-10 | 9-17 | |
4-10 | 11-14 | |
2-13 | 6-20 | |
1-13 | 3-22 |
Christie Staying in New Jersey, BYU Leaving Garden State with 2 Wins
Chris Christie removed himself as a candidate for President last week and is returning to New Jersey to his day job of Governor.
While Christie stayed, BYU left New Jersey last week with two wins for the Men’s volleyball program. The Cougars defeated Princeton 25-22, 25-19 and 25-22 Friday night. The next night against New Jersey Institute of Technology, BYU did the same, defeating NJIT 25-22, 25-19 and 25-19.
Both games allowed coach Shawn Olmstead to get lots of playing time for the entire roster. BYU is now 10-2 on the year and 6-2 in MPSF play.
In softball, BYU opened their season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. The Cougars came home with a 3-2 record with wins over San Jose State, 8-0; Wisconsin, 5-4 and Creighton, 4-0. The losses were to Tennessee 15-3 and Notre Dame 4-2.
Missionary Update
According to an inside source (a dumpster diver outside of the Church Office Building), he tells us that he knows where my wife and I we will be called to serve. After exhaustive review of our missionary papers, he says the committee determined that my wife was so sweet and I was so sour, that the only place they can place us is where Chinese is either spoken or eaten. His best guess is Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan or Bismarck, North Dakota, where the China Star restaurant is well known for its sweet and sour pork and short stack of pancakes. We shall see and should know in at least two weeks…HB
Television Timetable
BYU vs. San Diego (M Basketball)
Thursday, February 18 at San Diego
Tipoff: 9:00 pm MST
TV: ESPNU
BYU vs. San Diego (W Basketball)
Thursday, February 18 at Provo
Tipoff: 7:00 pm MST
TV: BYUtv
BYU vs. San Diego (M Basketball)
Saturday, February 20, at Provo
Tipoff: 7:00 pm MST
TV: BYUtv