BYU vs. VA Tech

mizzoucoug wrote:
I think Austin should be the 3rd scoring threat. He has a good jumper and seems to be able to get it off at will ala Hartsock. Nobody else seems to be able to create a shot on the floor. If we want to open up another option I say we give Austin more iso's going forward. This could be a long-term fix, which we desperately need.

I think we saw how much Delgado can help us when he's playing well and in shape. BYU had the most success yesterday and built the largest leads when he was in the ball game. Austin should not start until he can prove that he'll spend most of the game on his feet and not laying on the ground grabbing arms, ankles, and fouling out.



This is my starting lineup

Carlino

Delgado

Haws

Sharp

Davies



and I would ask Carlino to defend his butt off and as soon as he gets tired , put in Calvert. Austin plays only when Sharp or Davies need a breather or are in foul trouble, until he realizes that he's 7 feet tall, can hold the ball above his head, and use his feet to keep from ending up sprawled all over the ground like a baby deer. Cusick and Zylstra exist for the purpose of preventing foul trouble or changing up when the other team goes on a run. Delgado is the future at the 2 and Calvert is a better playmaker and defender than Cusick. This needs to happen soon for the purpose of chemistry.



Sharp plays hard, plays smart and can defend in the WCC, with the exception of Elias Harris... who should be given a huge dose of Bronson Kaufusi when we play them in the MC. Austin needs to be told to concentrate on very few things when he's in the game and get good at those. I don't want him to think he's the 3rd scoring option, until he can pick up the importance of rebounding, boxing out, going straight up with offensive boards, and taking the ball to the tin, even if it means getting fouled and going to the line. His favorite player is Kevin Garnett.... so why is he so soft?

Agreed, I'd like to see Delgado at the 2 as well but how long will it take for Rose to realize that Delgado is a better option than Zylstra? Right now Cusick is buried on the depth chart anyways. So you're not a fan of Sharp at the 3 then? We are definitely going to need Delgado to help keep Pangos in check when we play Gonzaga

How can we expect any of our guards to be the 3rd scoring option when none of them EVER attempts to penetrate. Our offense simply does not make room for this--either that or they don't have the ability. If you cannot beat your man to the hole then you are just another Zylstra on the perimeter. IOW, if they don't double Davies then Delgado can do nothing.



The 3rd scoring option has got to be a big man who can score from close and I still think Austin is our best bet here.

beauso79 wrote:
Agreed, I'd like to see Delgado at the 2 as well but how long will it take for Rose to realize that Delgado is a better option than Zylstra?

Maybe Zylstra has more grit? No, but Rose is too good a coach to have players that he likes and to make oversights when it comes to talent and ability...

craigoscarson wrote:

I think Austin should be the 3rd scoring threat. He has a good jumper and seems to be able to get it off at will ala Hartsock. Nobody else seems to be able to create a shot on the floor. If we want to open up another option I say we give Austin more iso's going forward. This could be a long-term fix, which we desperately need.

I think we saw how much Delgado can help us when he's playing well and in shape. BYU had the most success yesterday and built the largest leads when he was in the ball game. Austin should not start until he can prove that he'll spend most of the game on his feet and not laying on the ground grabbing arms, ankles, and fouling out.



This is my starting lineup

Carlino

Delgado

Haws

Sharp

Davies



and I would ask Carlino to defend his butt off and as soon as he gets tired , put in Calvert. Austin plays only when Sharp or Davies need a breather or are in foul trouble, until he realizes that he's 7 feet tall, can hold the ball above his head, and use his feet to keep from ending up sprawled all over the ground like a baby deer. Cusick and Zylstra exist for the purpose of preventing foul trouble or changing up when the other team goes on a run. Delgado is the future at the 2 and Calvert is a better playmaker and defender than Cusick. This needs to happen soon for the purpose of chemistry.



Sharp plays hard, plays smart and can defend in the WCC, with the exception of Elias Harris... who should be given a huge dose of Bronson Kaufusi when we play them in the MC. Austin needs to be told to concentrate on very few things when he's in the game and get good at those. I don't want him to think he's the 3rd scoring option, until he can pick up the importance of rebounding, boxing out, going straight up with offensive boards, and taking the ball to the tin, even if it means getting fouled and going to the line. His favorite player is Kevin Garnett.... so why is he so soft?

Spot on with this one craigo. I support the following as we'll:

1- Carlino

2- Delgado

3- Haws

4- Sharp

5- Davies



Calvert at the point to spell Carlino

Austin to spell Davies/Sharp

Winder to spell Delgado

Haws can never leave the game ;)

Zylstra for someone in foul trouble

Cusick can focus on getting his degree if not already done 8)

GO COUGARS!

Great analysis Craig. Need to get Kaufusi ready for the four and Elias and for interior D. Hope he works out.

Backups need another couple weeks to work out as Craig outlines. Unfortunately BYu doesn't have the time for this. Gotta go NOW!



I still like a lineup of



Carlino

Haws

Sharp

Kaufusi*

Davies.



But Delgado does look promising. And Calvert is coming along. If Kaufusi works out this team could peak by end of conference play and look really strong by WCC tourney. Maybe I will begin to make soft plans to go to the WCC.



Ps. Will Ambrosino pan out? Does he look bad to anyone else? I know Arose had to get somebody with CC and SR out, but sheesh, doesn't look promising for him.

Cougs_Rule wrote:
Great analysis Craig. Need to get Kaufusi ready for the four and Elias and for interior D. Hope he works out.

Backups need another couple weeks to work out as Craig outlines. Unfortunately BYu doesn't have the time for this. Gotta go NOW!



I still like a lineup of



Carlino

Haws

Sharp

Kaufusi*

Davies.



But Delgado does look promising. And Calvert is coming along. If Kaufusi works out this team could peak by end of conference play and look really strong by WCC tourney. Maybe I will begin to make soft plans to go to the WCC.



Ps. Will Ambrosino pan out? Does he look bad to anyone else? I know Arose had to get somebody with CC and SR out, but sheesh, doesn't look promising for him.

Bronson hasn't played competitive hoops in 4 years. When and if he plays, people are going to say he looks slow (which he isn't) and a turnover machine (which he would be with significant time) simply because he hasn't played in so long. There's no way he'll start and likely will never start as a cougar; hoops takes very specific muscle memory and Bronson won't have it this year; however, he is strong enough, athletic enough, and smart enough that a couple forearm shivers to an opponent could get them off their game for 20-30 minutes; which is what I hope to see with Elias Harris vs. Kaufusi.



Ambrosino is a nice guy to have off the bench at the 4. He can hit 3s, will make his free throws, and is long enough to play a little D. He's just not good enough to get major minutes for a tournament caliber team (which I don't believe we are). I think he's an asset and good insurance as a 2 yr juco guy. He gives peace of mind to the coaches, knowing that should something happen to the other 3-4 guys (foul trouble, injury, etc.) that with everyone else they could still win the games they should win. Bottom line though, Jordan Loveridge should be the guy at the 4.... since he didn't come and we lost CC and Rogers, I'm pleased with the ambrosino insurance.



MizzouCoug mentions that our 3rd option (if a guard) needs to be able to penetrate. 1. Delgado is just starting to come around and look in shape and comfortable 2. Delgado can hit an open shot. 3. You're in trouble if you leave Haws open, and if you help with Haws then Delgado can get open shots (vice versa) we saw that last night in the 1st half. 4. I don't know yet if Delgado is incapable of penetration, but I do know that Cusick and Zylstra are not those guys 5. Nate Austin is just as capable of 5 fouls and 5 turnovers, as 5 points... he's not effective enough to have plays run specifically for him; and I believe he needs to focus on other things before worrying about becoming a scoring.



We're going to get lost on the road without a team personality and it's clear that Cusick and Zylstra are not the present or the future at the guard spots. Let Delgado figure it out and let Austin figure out how to be a big man before we ask him to be a 10-15 foot jump shot machine.

craigoscarson wrote:



MizzouCoug mentions that our 3rd option (if a guard) needs to be able to penetrate. 1. Delgado is just starting to come around and look in shape and comfortable 2. Delgado can hit an open shot. 3. You're in trouble if you leave Haws open, and if you help with Haws then Delgado can get open shots (vice versa) we saw that last night in the 1st half.

Any coach worth their pay (as those of us who watch know) will quickly discover that you don't need to double Davies or Haws to beat us. You simply have to play tough defense on them and not allow the filler players to get open 3's. That's what you do to a team with limited scoring options and no players who can break down a defense.



I wish we could find a PG who at least attempts to make things happen out there. If it's Delgado, fine.

Good chatting with you the other night Craig.



Byu's problem is not having a 3rd scorer. BYU's main problem is that it's 1st and 2nd option get in foul trouble, and can't contribute as being on the bench. IF those 2 are out on the court playing more than 35 minutes a night, we have a decent chance of winning, no matter the opponent. The problem is, they aren't. Then when they checkout early we have guys that should be 3rd or 4th in the box sheet being heavily leaned on. BYU is stocked full of shooters, and if the defense is cheating, any one of them (besides the guys listed below, and winder) should be relied on to knock down jumpers.



Depth chart is as people have mentioned, but I don't see Sharp at #3. He's a #4 definitely. He isn't quick enough to be a 3. My Ideal depth chart would have Austin at the 5 and Davies at the 4 spot, but neither one of them can stay out of foul trouble long enough for that to work.



Carlino is awesome. His court vision is unparalleled. He is a talented YOUNG kid, and he will be something special in the next 2 years. He needs to learn to finish at the hoop. His penetration is good, but if the dish out isn't there he ends up just chucking it up a lot of times, which isn't good. He plays the most uptempo out of anyone on defense or offense. BYU's strategy is to run people out of the game, and he stretches the court better than anyone on our roster.



- And for all you babies out there that complain about turnovers. A) he has cut them down and that will continue to happen as he gets a better feel for the college game and B) what team are you watching? BYU plays one of the fastest tempos in the entire nation, and that is going to lead to a lot of transition points, and YES, a healthier portion of turnovers. (See: Steve Nash in the Mike D'Antoni offense, for example.) Calvert should be backing him up, and should be the go to guy when/if Carlino needs to get pulled to slow things down.



Cusick gives you nothing at PG. I have been saying this for 2 years now. He passes to the wing two steps after crossing midcourt, and then he hides in the corner. At least Carlino and Calvert work the ball around, come back to the ball, and dribble to either side of the court with the ball (keeping the defense honest). And that is just offensively. Defensively he is the worst person on the court (unless Zylstra happens to be out there, then it is a race between the two.)



Zylstra is a bad defender and a streaky shooter. If he doesn't hit 2 out of his first 3 then he should sit the rest of the game, as he subtracts way more than he adds to the offense and especially defense.



Rose is starting to fade these guys out and others in their place, and that is the right move.

mizzoucoug wrote:

MizzouCoug mentions that our 3rd option (if a guard) needs to be able to penetrate. 1. Delgado is just starting to come around and look in shape and comfortable 2. Delgado can hit an open shot. 3. You're in trouble if you leave Haws open, and if you help with Haws then Delgado can get open shots (vice versa) we saw that last night in the 1st half.

Any coach worth their pay (as those of us who watch know) will quickly discover that you don't need to double Davies or Haws to beat us. You simply have to play tough defense on them and not allow the filler players to get open 3's. That's what you do to a team with limited scoring options and no players who can break down a defense.

There are very few teams out there that can "man up" to Haws.

Unless there Is no real post scoring threat, then defenses can focus on shutting him down, which is what happened vs Baylor, iirc.

It's what make BD and TH a great scoring duo--but they need each other.