NEED INFO ON BYU!

All I have heard is they play good defense.

They sound very similar to us but I am curious how their front court will match up with our bigs.

Any big players that we need to look out for? Have they played anyone worth a crap all season?

Beat Louisville. Played MSU and UNC close.

BYU's one good big is Trent Plaisted. 6'11" white kid from San Antonio. Junior. He's athletic, but doesn't have the greatest BBall IQ, and is a bad free throw shooter. I've seen games where he takes over, and seen games where he has disappeared. He can be pushed off the block, and when this happens, he can't do anything.

Lee Cummard, MWC co player of the year. Plays the 3. Long and skinny. Range from all over the court, very good defender. 6' 7" shot blocker

Tavernari. Plays the 4 at 6'6". Not terribly quick or athletic, streaky shooter. Favorite shot is the 3, led BYU in 3-pointers made. Brazilian. He's crafty.

Burgess. Plays the 2. Good defender. Drives to the basket out of control. Has range at the 3. Doesn't seem to do much offensively but shoot 3 and turn over ball when driving.

Murdock. PG. Probably in the bottom quartile of PGs in the country. Senior. Can't shoot. Can dribble. Mediocre defender.

Fredette. Frosh from NY. Top 10 high school scorer in NY history. Coming into his own. Not quick, but can go to basket. 3 point range. Can create. Slow defender. PG.

Collinsworth. Can play positions 2, 3, and 4. 6'9" Frosh. Long, good defender. Limited impact on offensive side, except off. rebounds. Has been looking for his shot more recently. If wide open, will take 3s. Both he and Fredette or heady freshmen.

Miles. backup center. 6'11". Will struggle against a very quick athletic 4 or 5. Can make offensive moves off the block. Competent backup to Plaisted, but won't see much time if Plaisted avoids foul trouble.

BYU plays man-to-man. They switch on screens and pick and rolls. They are a good defensive team and help opponents, IIRC, to under 40% FG shooting.

They will struggle with teams that have quick good guards that can break down the D and kick outside to guys who can hit 3s.

BYU likes uptempo, but will also play half-court. It's an inside-outside game. Plaisted is the post threat. Tavernari, Burgess, and the others will look for the 3. Cummard is the only player who really has a mid-range game (also can hit 3s). Freddete is the only player who really can create going to the rim. Burgess will drive if he sees an open lane. Collinsworth and Cummard will look for offensive rebounds. Overall this is not a team that will kill you on the offensive boards.

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Beat Louisville. Played MSU and UNC close.

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All 3 essentially home games for BYU.

Louisville was without their #1 scorer Padgett.

UNC was without their stud guard Lawson.

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what's your point?

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I thought it was pretty obvious -- that just looking at their schedule and seeing the notable teams they beat or played close doesn't really tell the whole story.

Beating Louisville without Padgett is like beating Texas without Augustin.

I'm just pointing out that in most all of their notable games this year they were playing at a major advantage.

since when is a team that is all-white at an advantage?



(technically a starter is brazilian, and two guys on the bench are african-american)

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since when is a team that is all-white at an advantage?

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Welcome to basketball. Turn on a Duke game every now and then.

Duke ain't all white.

The majority of their players are, you ignorant moron.

What's up with BYU's recruiting Brazilians? Didn't they have Araujo (spelling..big man who is in the NBA now...can't remember who with). I think they had another one recently too. I know that the Mormons are active in Brasil, my Brazilian friends know the two guys on bicycles with white shirts and ties.

Maybe the Aggies should start recruiting down there too, I will volunteer to be the in country recruiting coordinator! OBA!

I don't know the entire story on the Brazilian connection. Tavernari went to high school in Las Vegas at the very end, and there was some Mormon connection there, I forget what.

I understand that Tavernari has converted to Mormonism. Arajujo married a Mormon.

Hopefully BYU will continue to be able to recruit from Brazil.

BYU's history with international bball athletes dates back to Kresimir Cosic.

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/66490

i would think a lot of it has to do with the raise in LDS members in BRazil. I served my mission down there, and even though they are known for their soccer they still play a lot of basketball (and vollyball). I think most of it has to with their connection to the mormon faith, not so much that BYU recruits a in brazil.