HB Arnett’s

801 372 - 0819

hbarnett@fiber.net

1391 West 800 South – Orem, Utah 84058

Vol. 34, Issue 35 –March 31, 2014

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UConn 70 BYU 51

Women Basketball Team Gets in First Blows, but UConn Eventually Blows Out Cougars

BYU made a game of it early, but in the end the Huskies of UConn were still the lead dog in the game, tournament and nation.

Give Jeff Judkins and his Lady Cougars credit. They never had the “deer in headlights” look against the top seeded team in the country.

BYU trailed by just 1 at the intermission and early in the second half actually held a 3 point lead. From then on the Lady Cougars were game to the end, but UConn just had too much actual game and showed why they are the dominant women’s team in college basketball.

BYU was led by seniors Kim Beeston and Jennifer Hamson. Beeston scored 16 and Hamson added 9 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.

The Cougars end their season with an outstanding 28-7 record. Now we will see if they can keep up the momentum next season and find a way to attract actual paying customers to their games.

While BYU women’s soccer and volleyball are proven draws, BYU women’s basketball isn’t. It may not be fair, but it is reality. This may be the trick to turn the tide, but don’t expect it to happen any time soon.

It will take at least 5 straight seasons of outstanding success for a following to develop. But for at least the last three weeks, that following was real among BYU sports fans who appreciated what the Lady Cougars did.

Taysom and Tim

SPRING FOOTBALL GETS PASSING GRADE

BYU’s passing game will be better than it was last year if spring football practices are any indication. Throw in two more game changers at wide receiver in the fall with the arrival of Devon Blackmon and Jordan Leslie and it is possible that BYU might be back in the passing business.

Possible yes, but not likely.

As the headline indicates, BYU’s passing game this spring projects well for improvement next fall. But a passing grade is just ordinary. It is not great.

BYU’s passing game will be better, but it won’t be extraordinary for the next two seasons. That’s my opinion and I stand by it.

We have to love the fact that Bronco Mendenhall is constantly spouting how Taysom Hill’s completions percentages have improved. That certainly is true. He certainly is a better thrower now than he was last season. And why shouldn’t he. He has been under the tutelage of special QB throwing coaches and even a pitching coach to help with his mechanics.

But if we don’t expect Kyle Collinsworth to have a night and day change in his free throw shooting abilities from one season to the next, why do we expect Hill to do the same?

At this point in a college career, you basically are what you are throwing the football and shooting free throws.

If Cougar fans are longing to see the Cougars’ offensive strength be the passing game, they will have to wait two more seasons for Tanner Mangum.

Tim Tebow won two national championships at Florida. He led the SEC one season in passing efficiency, but he was a very ordinary passer. He was an exceptional athlete, however.

As much as Taysom Hill has improved as a BYU quarterback throwing the ball, he might even get better yet in his senior season. In my opinion, however, he will never be considered an elite BYU throwing QB.

Who cares? Like Tebow, he is an elite athletic quarterback that can potentially take BYU to heights of success they have never seen in quite some time. But, it seems like BYU football fans won’t validate a BYU qb unless he makes it in the NFL. Hill will make the NFL, but he won’t make it as strictly a thrower. He will be like Tim Tebow or Jake Locker.

Again, Hill’s passing game will be improved, but it won’t be elite. The good news is that with the offense BYU is running now, you don’t need and NFL caliber thrower.

Hill’s passing improvements certainly has got Bronco Mendenhall’s attention. He emphatically said after last Saturday’s scrimmage that BYU is a very good team right now and should get better with the addition of some game changing athletes arriving in the fall.

We mentioned two of those changers in Blackmon and Leslie. Defensively look for incoming freshmen linebackers Fred Warner and Tyler Cook to also make a difference.

But again, in my opinion, BYU is doing Hill and the program no favors by trying to tie itself to the glory years of BYU’s passing game.

Those days may be resurrected with Tanner Mangum showing up from his LDS mission, but for the next two seasons, BYU should ride Hill and his unique skill set for all its worth now.

Again, my opinion, but the BYU fan base and the Cougar ticket sellers and PR machine, are wasting their time trying to make Hill compete with Jim McMahon, Steve Young and Ty Detmer, et al.

He will never have their passing skills, but those quarterbacks can’t match Hill’s other quarterback skills.

I know there will be plenty of Cougar faithful that gladly will point out Hill’s passing game numbers in Saturday’s scrimmage.  What’s not to like. Hill completed 19 of 27 passes for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns. Now when he can produce those numbers against a legitimate Division I defense and not an intra squad defense made up of ones and twos, then we might really have signs of improvement.

There is no argument that he will be an improved thrower, he will just never be an elite BYU throwing quarterback.

Who cares, Hill will more than likely be judged as BYU’s most successful quarterback ever if he delivers BYU as a national championship contender in the next two seasons.

You don’t have to have an elite passer or passing game to be a national contender. That is proven every season. What you have to have, however, is an elite quarterback. BYU has that in Hill even though he will never be an elite thrower.

Once again, despite Hill and other offensive stars like Jamaal Williams and a bevy of new receivers, BYU will go only as far as their offensive line will take them.

The word from coaches coming out of spring is that this group will be better.  There is no doubt about that assessment. The doubt is whether better will translate to good enough to enhance the offensive components around them.

We shall see and should know all we need to know when BYU heads to Texas in early September.

Defensively and on paper Bronco appears to have all the pieces in place. He has corners, more depth on the defensive line than he has ever had and outside linebackers who are NFL quality, according to the head man. He is referencing Alani Fua and Bronson Kaufusi.

BYU will continue to practice this week and wrap up their 15 NCAA allotted spring practices. The scrimmage held Saturday was staged as to not interfere with LDS General Conference next weekend.

Spring Depth Chart

Offense

QB – Taysom Hill, Christian Stewart

Running Back – Jamaal Hill, Algernon Brown, Adam Hine

Fullback – Paul Lasike, Iona Pritchard

Wide Receivers – Colby Pearson, Kurt Henderson, Nick Kurtz, Michael Davis

Inside Receivers – Devin Mahina, Terenn Houk

Offensive Line -  Top 9: Edward Fusi, Brayden Kearsley, Michael Yeck, De’Ondre Wesley, Ului Lapuaho, Tuni Kanuch, Ryker Mathews, Terrance Alletto, Solomone Kafu

Defense

Defensive Line – Top 6: Graham Rowley, Travis Tuiloma, JonRyheem Peoples, Kesni Tausinga, Marques Johnson, Remington Peck

OLB – Alani Fua, (waiting for hs signee Fred Warner)

OLB – Bronson Kaufusi, (waiting for hs signee Tyler Cook)

ILB – Manoa Pikula, Jherremya Leuta-Douyere

ILB – Zac Stout, Austin Heder

Corner – Trenton Trammell, Robertson Daniel

Corner – Jordan Johnson, Robertson Daniel

Safety – Craig Bills, Kai Nacua

Safety – Robertson Daniel, Dallin Leavitt, Jordan Preator

Punter – Scott Arellano

Kicker – Vance Bingham, Trevor Samson

The complete 2014 BYU Spring Football Roster is listed below

BYU Locks Up Championship and Number 1 Seed for Upcoming MPSF Volleyball Tournament

No. 2 BYU volleyball beat No. 9 UCLA 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-21) on Senior Night to clinch a share of its second consecutive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular-season title Saturday night at the Smith Fieldhouse.

With the win, the Cougars clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. With four conference games remaining, this is the earliest a team has claimed the MPSF Championship. The Cougars will host their quarterfinal matchup in the conference tournament and should they advance, will host the semifinals and championship as the highest remaining seed.

Once again, Taylor Sander, BYU senior star showed why he is an elite player at the college level. Against UCLA he led BYU (18-4, 18-2 MPSF) with 23 kills and three blocks. Josue Rivera had 11 kills, and Tim Dobbert contributed 10 kills and seven blocks, a new career-high. Devin Young had seven blocks and Tyler Heap had 48 assists.

Next up for the Cougars will be two matches against Hawaii in Honolulu this Friday and Saturday. BYU then concludes the regular season the following week with road matches against UC Santa Barbara and UCLA.

Television Timetable

Baseball

BYU vs. Pacific

Thursday, April 3 at Provo

First Pitch: 6:00 pm MDT

TV: BYUtv

	Name	Height	Weight	Position	Class	Hometown
42	Michael Alisa	6-1	220	RB	Senior	Laie, HI
70	Terrance Alletto	6-3	292	OL	Junior	Parker, CO
1	Ross Apo	6-3	207	WR	Senior	Arlington, TX
23	Scott Arellano	6-1	190	P	Senior	Santa Ynez, CA
17	Chris Badger	6-0	197	DB	Sophomore	Provo, UT
37	Tanner Balderree	6-3	230	DL	Freshman	Sherwood, OR
19	Trevor Bateman	5-9	178	DB	Junior	Palm Desert, CA
27	Khalil Bell	5-8	168	WR	Sophomore	Marietta, GA
20	Craig Bills	6-1	205	DB	Senior	Provo, UT
46	Kevan Bills	6-3	245	LB	Junior	Provo, UT
38	Vance "Moose" Bingham	5-10	170	K	Sophomore	Draper, UT
76	Jordan Black	6-6	350	OL	Sophomore	Draper, UT
24	Algernon Brown	6-1	219	RB	Sophomore	Magna, UT
93	Josh Carter	6-5	296	DL	Senior	Tucson, AZ
26	Nate Carter	5-9	185	RB	Junior	St. George, UT
30	Marcus Case	5-9	190	RB	Freshman	Springville, UT
26	Nick Clearwater	6-2	205	DB	Freshman	Provo, UT
4	Robertson Daniel	6-1	198	DB	Senior	San Jose, CA
15	Michael Davis	6-2	180	WR	Sophomore	Glendale, CA
54	Parker Dawe	6-3	284	OL	Sophomore	Pleasant Grove, UT
18	DJ Doman	6-0	193	DB	Sophomore	Lindon, UT
69	Tim Duran	6-3	301	OL	Senior	Puyallup, WA
49	Jordan Egbert	6-3	225	LB	Sophomore	Orem, UT
86	Chase Frei	6-5	215	WR	Junior	Santa Clara, UT
89	Travis Frey	6-2	187	WR	Sophomore	Bountiful, UT
5	Alani Fua	6-5	215	LB	Senior	San Fernando Valley, CA
50	Edward Fusi	6-0	317	OL	Senior	Corona, CA
10	Billy Green	6-2	206	QB	Sophomore	Woodway, WA
82	Brad Heap	6-3	215	TE	Sophomore	Mesa, AZ
41	Austin Heder	6-1	241	LB	Sophomore	Pleasant Grove, UT
13	Kurt Henderson	6-1	180	WR	Junior	St. George, UT
4	Taysom Hill	6-2	221	QB	Junior	Pocatello, ID
28	Adam Hine	6-1	202	RB	Junior	Santa Clara, UT
98	Toloa'i Ho Ching	6-1	230	LB	Freshman	Sandy, UT
11	Terenn Houk	6-4	213	TE	Junior	Enumclaw, WA
96	Adam Ingersoll	6-4	230	DL	Sophomore	Boise, ID
6	Jordan Johnson	5-10	185	DB	Senior	Springfield, MA
67	Kyle Johnson	6-4	295	OL	Sophomore	Sandy, UT
99	Marques Johnson	6-2	308	DL	Senior	Los Angeles, CA
23	Garrett Juergens	5-10	185	DB	Sophomore	Houston, TX
87	Mitchell Juergens	5-10	180	WR	Sophomore	Houston, TX
73	Solomone Kafu	6-2	315	OL	Senior	Rio Linda, CA
78	Tuni Kanuch	6-2	325	DL	Freshman	South Jordan, UT
90	Bronson Kaufusi	6-7	263	LB	Junior	Provo, UT
25	Teu Kautai	6-1	220	LB	Junior	Arlington, TX
55	Brayden Kearsley	6-4	295	OL	Sophomore	Aloha, OR
83	David Kessler	6-2	205	WR	Sophomore	Rancho Cucamonga, CA
97	Theodore King	6-2	252	DL	Sophomore	San Jose, CA
9	Nick Kurtz	6-6	205	WR	Junior	El Cajon, CA
71	Ului Lapuaho	6-7	230	OL	Freshman	West Valley City, UT
33	Paul Lasike	6-0	227	RB	Senior	Auckland, New Zealand
48	Tomasi Laulile	6-3	270	DL	Sophomore	Westlake, CA
61	Quinn Lawlor	6-4	278	OL	Senior	Orem, UT
2	Dallin Leavitt	5-11	198	DB	Sophomore	Portland, OR
1	Sam Lee	6-0	186	DB	Junior	Brandywine, MD
5	Alex Leonard	6-2	195	WR	Freshman	Fort Collins, CO
43	Jherremya Leuta-Douyere	6-0	236	LB	Junior	Garden Grove, CA
84	Devin Mahina	6-6	247	TE	Senior	Ontario, CA
51	Brock Markham	6-2	196	LB	Freshman	Banks, OR
10	Mitch Mathews	6-6	206	WR	Junior	Beaverton, OR
72	Ryker Mathews	6-6	309	OL	Junior	American Fork, UT
28	Jordan Miller	6-4	184	P	Junior	Henderson, NV
34	AJ Moore	5-9	195	RB	Sophomore	Murrieta, CA
2	Hunter Moore	6-3	180	QB	Freshman	San Marcos, CA
12	Kai Nacua	6-1	205	DB	Sophomore	Las Vegas, NV
25	Luke Nelson	6-1	190	WR	Sophomore	Issaquah, WA
35	Joey Owens	6-3	220	LB	Sophomore	Pleasant Grove, UT
32	Shad Pace	5-11	180	WR	Sophomore	Yorba Linda, CA
3	Colby Pearson	6-0	190	WR	Sophomore	Blackfoot, ID
44	Remington Peck	6-4	250	DL	Junior	South Jordan, UT
94	JonRyheem Peoples	6-4	339	DL	Freshman	Rigby, ID
22	Manoa Pikula	6-1	235	LB	Junior	South Jordan, UT
7	Skye PoVey	5-11	200	DB	Senior	Ogden, UT
11	Jordan Preator	6-0	180	DB	Freshman	Plain City, UT
39	Iona Pritchard	6-0	232	RB	Senior	South Jordan, UT
45	Adam Pulsipher	6-2	230	LB	Freshman	Temecula, CA
66	Brian Rawlinson	6-6	280	OL	Freshman	Oologah, OK
36	Drew Reilly	6-1	183	DB	Junior	Valley Center, CA
39	Matthew Relei	6-1	227	LB	Sophomore	Sonora, CA
53	Jared Richardson	5-11	226	LB	Junior	Idaho Falls, ID
92	Graham Rowley	6-4	280	DL	Junior	Waialua, HI
85	Bryan Sampson	6-4	210	TE	Sophomore	Pleasant Grove, UT
27	Trevor Samson	5-11	172	K	Senior	Fresno, CA
27	Michael Shelton	5-8	170	DB	Freshman	Raleigh, NC
7	Christian Stewart	6-2	201	QB	Senior	Orem, UT
22	Cody Stewart	6-3	185	WR	Sophomore	Mesa, AZ
10	Zac Stout	6-1	217	LB	Senior	Moorpark, CA
74	Brock Stringham	6-6	290	OL	Senior	Highlands Ranch, CO
80	Matt Sumsion	6-8	240	TE	Freshman	Springville, UT
62	Logan Taele	6-2	251	DL	Junior	St. George, UT
64	Kesni Tausinga	6-1	285	DL	Freshman	South Jordan, UT
31	Sae Tautu	6-3	245	LB	Sophomore	Alpine, UT
19	Brett Thompson	6-3	220	TE	Senior	El Dorado Hills, CA
88	Eric Thornton	5-10	180	WR	Junior	Meridian, ID
3	Trenton Trammell	6-0	190	DB	Junior	Oakland, CA
91	Travis Tuiloma	6-2	320	DL	Sophomore	Topeka, KS
56	Kalolo Utu	6-1	300	DL	Senior	Upolu, Samoa
30	Michael Wadsworth	6-1	205	DB	Junior	Orem, UT
58	Peter Welsh	5-11	205	LB	Freshman	Bakersfield, CA
57	De'Ondre Wesley	6-7	330	OL	Senior	Pleasant Hill, CA
21	Jamaal Williams	6-0	200	RB	Junior	Fontana, CA
77	Michael Yeck	6-8	292	OL	Senior	Keller, TX
21	Jake Ziolkowski	6-0	190	DB	Sophomore	Island Lake, IL