Vanquish The Foe - The Ultimate 2016-17 BYU Basketball Preview: Player profiles, predictions, analysis, schedule and moreBYU sports. Messin' with Texas since 1987.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50093/vanquish-fav.png2016-11-11T10:30:01-08:00http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/rss/stream/130698292016-11-11T10:30:01-08:002016-11-11T10:30:01-08:00CougarCast: 22 BYU basketball question for the 2016-17 season
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<figcaption>Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Listen to this podcast to get warmed up for Cougar hoops!</p> <p id="CyhZkd">BYU basketball is back!</p>
<p id="RISTsE">To get ready for the season, Keith and Tosh ask and try to answer the 22 biggest questions about the 2016-17 BYU basketball season. </p>
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<li id="7nHOOM">What is Nick Emery’s villian status? (1:40)</li>
<li id="pmJA5f">Is Nick Emery going to get to the free throw line more this year? (6:30)</li>
<li id="ZpaQzD">How much trouble is Eric Mika going to have with fouls? (9:55)</li>
<li id="3QJsHQ">Where will BYU replace Kyle Collinsworth’s rebounding? (11:50)</li>
<li id="6m4MVp">Will Kyle Davis find chemistry with another front court teammate? (13:30)</li>
<li id="TO2c4R">How mad is Steven Beo at Keith? (14:55)</li>
<li id="bY2NgZ">How much will Davin Guinn be used in the Cougars rotation? (18:00)</li>
<li id="loRdN8">Who is the best compliment for Eric Mika at the 4 spot? (20:25)</li>
<li id="JdEACP">Can Colby Leifson pick up where Zac Seljaas left off? (21:45)</li>
<li id="0ieYfi">How will the young BYU legs hold up to the grind of the season? (23:50)</li>
<li id="9h47lp">Does Zach Frampton cry each time he’s left out by the “Lone Peak 3” nickname? (25:25)</li>
<li id="8uFBJo">How many Eric Mika Alley-oop jams will he have per game? (26:30)</li>
<li id="rECb1O">Does BYU have a lockdown perimeter defender? (29:55)</li>
<li id="IuwTq3">Will TJ Haws have hair on his senior day? (31:00)</li>
<li id="bjWhbk">Is Jamal Aytes going to find health and a role on the team? (32:20)</li>
<li id="yRpJGV">How will lead the team in blocks? (35:15)</li>
<li id="tKs8bg">How many crowd thrilling trick shots will TJ Haws makes after the whistle? (36:05)</li>
<li id="qzBoNN">When TJ Haws and Elijah Bryant share the floor who is where? (37:35)</li>
<li id="QMuZWw">How healthy is LJ Rose going to be? (39:15)</li>
<li id="wnnpfl">Without a true road game in non-conference play, will the Cougars be ready for the road slate in the West Coast Conference? (40:40)</li>
<li id="oLlsoQ">Will BYU finish better than 3rd in the West Coast Conference? (41:35)</li>
<li id="uO7FRc">What will be the BYU Cougars post-season destiny? (45:45)</li>
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<h2>About the Show</h2>
<p id="RRuq9h">2002 Daily Herald Utah County Name of the Year Award Winner Tosh Mackintosh and Keith Shirts are two friends who bond over BYU Sports. Obsessed, passionate, and opinionated, they chop it up over BYU Hoops and Football.</p>
<p id="aF8pwO">Here are a few iTunes reviews of the show. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougarcast-byu-sports/id695432607?mt=2">Please add yours.</a></p>
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<p id="0CAtBL">Email the show: CougarCast@gmail.com</p>
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https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/11/11/13589862/cougarcast-22-byu-cougars-basketball-question-for-the-2016-17-season-nick-emery-dave-roseKeith Shirts2016-11-11T07:00:04-08:002016-11-11T07:00:04-08:00BYU Basketball Player Preview: Yoeli Childs looks to make an instant impact
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<figcaption>Source: <a href="http://BYUCougars.com">BYUCougars.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>The freshman forward has all of the physical tools and skills to develop into a great player at BYU.</p> <p id="dyZqxH">BYU lost one of their most versatile players in program history after last season Kyle Collinsworth exhausted his eligibility. One player who will look to fill his production void is Yoeli Childs, a true freshman who averaged over 18 points and 10 rebounds per game last season for Bingham High School en route to the Utah 5A State Championship. Despite being the #53 recruit in ESPN’s Class of 2016 rankings, Childs hasn’t been surrounded with the same amount of hype and expectation as return missionaries T.J. Haws and Eric Mika. That was until Wednesday night’s exhibition game, when he did this on his way to a double-double:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"OH NO!!"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BYUHoops?src=hash">#BYUHoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash">#GoCougs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCTop10?src=hash">#SCTop10</a> <a href="https://t.co/hj3Lrc1tSF">pic.twitter.com/hj3Lrc1tSF</a></p>— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) <a href="https://twitter.com/BYUCougars/status/796575304282034176">November 10, 2016</a>
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<p id="FzMkQS">What’s most impressive about that put-back throwdown (or as BYU play-by-play voice Greg Wrubell called, a “Yoe-down”) was how far away from the rim the ball was when the rebound landed in his hand. Offensive rebounds are nothing new for Childs, who grabbed almost 3 of them per game during his last two seasons of high school. He also shot 42% from beyond the arc on about four attempts per game. However, he has a very unorthodox release, where the ball is placed in the middle of his body instead of on the right side. It remains to be seen if the long ball will be a consistent part of his repertoire at BYU, as he did not make any three pointers in either exhibition game. </p>
<p id="prxOoB">Watching his high school highlight film, Childs showed the ability to score in transition, facing up and attacking the basket with explosiveness around the rim, and a decent mid-range game off the dribble. He also utilized a strong jump hook in the post from 6 to 8 feet out. He has a very complete skill set that should give him the ability to play multiple positions on offense.</p>
<p id="5NeZa0">After averaging 8.0 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game in those two exhibition games, Childs looks poised to be the first player off the bench at either the small forward or power forward positions. Interestingly enough, he did see some time at center in the game against BYU-Hawaii, but that likely won’t continue once Corbin Kaufusi returns to the basketball team. If he continues to outplay Jamal Aytes and works to add strength to his frame, he appears in line for at least 10-15 minutes per game this season. Down the road, he could very easily become the starting power forward next season after Kyle Davis has graduated.</p>
https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/11/11/13593274/byu-basketball-preview-yoeli-childs-haws-mikaJames Pigott2016-11-08T06:30:03-08:002016-11-08T06:30:03-08:00BYU Basketball Player Previews: Corbin Kaufusi looks to make quick transition from Football to Hoops
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Mississippi Valley State at Brigham Young" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lcTeh3W5G3NJcRvUhVYP32WE8Ag=/0x0:2817x1878/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51728087/usa-today-8952219.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nov 25, 2015: Corbin Kaufusi blocks the shot of Mississippi Valley State guard Kylan Phillips. | Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Kaufusi will be spending at least the next four weeks on the football team, and could have difficulty making up for lost time in a loaded BYU center position.</p> <p id="oQ33NG">After committing to play football at BYU out of high school, Corbin Kaufusi grew almost three inches on his LDS mission. When he returned to Provo in the summer of 2014, he stood at 6’10, and realized football might not be his best option at that height. As a result he ended up filling the void Eric Mika left at center on the basketball team, when Mika left for his own mission, after an excellent 2013-14 freshman season. </p>
<p id="GVEq5J">During his first season of basketball in 2014-15, Kaufusi didn’t initially see too much playing time. However when Nate Austin suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in December, and Luke Worthington proved to be ineffective, Kaufusi ended up as the starting center for an NCAA Tournament team. It was quite a remarkable development. In mid-July of 2014 he was a member of the BYU football team. Just six months later, he was the starting center on the basketball team.</p>
<p id="KGBw30">After averaging 5.8 PPG and 6.5 RPG over the final six games of the season, he held onto the starting position to begin his sophomore season (ahead of a healthy Austin). While the two centers split time and the starting position, Kaufusi recovered from a mid-season slump to regain his starting spot during conference play. His final numbers from his second season as a Cougar were very solid: 16.1 MPG, 5.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG. He also led BYU with 2.9 blocks per 40 minutes.</p>
<p id="pSQREB">This past summer, he returned to the football team, where he’s recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, 17 total tackles, and 1.5 sacks as a defensive lineman. He will likely return to the basketball team after the Poinsettia Bowl Game on December 21. When he does, he could find it difficult to win back the playing time he had as a freshman and sophomore. One of the main reasons he joined the basketball team in the first place was because Eric Mika was going to be away from the team for two years. Mika has shown no post-mission rust, recording 23 points and 12 rebounds in 22 minutes in BYU’s exhibition victory last Saturday. The remaining minutes at the center spot went to sophomore Braiden Shaw (10), and freshman Payton Dastrup (7). </p>
<p id="MsFfBV">If Kaufusi becomes a part of the rotation on the basketball team, it will likely be because he’s more athletic than Dastrup and Shaw, and can provide an energy spark with his post defense, shot-blocking, and tip-ins on the offensive boards. What remains to be seen is how he can adjust to the physicality changes from football to basketball (something his older brother Bronson had a difficult time doing when he played both sports for BYU in 2012-13). He has been practicing with the basketball team at least once a week during these past few months, so his adjustment curve might not be as large. Kaufusi has gained 40 pounds since April, per Jay Drew of the Salt Lake Tribune, so it will be interesting to see if he has all of the explosiveness he had on the basketball court last season.</p>
<p id="8leT2M">If Corbin Kaufusi rejoins the basketball team following the Poinsettia Bowl, his first game would be right after Christmas. The ideal scenario would be for Coach Rose to ease him back into the rotation in the first two conference games against Santa Clara and LMU, so he’s completely ready for the marquee contest at Saint Mary’s on January 5th. If he is able to readjust well, he could be playing 10-15 minutes as a backup to Eric Mika by the end of January. </p>
https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/11/8/13500866/byu-basketball-player-previews-corbin-kaufusi-football-to-hoops-basketball-mikaJames Pigott2016-10-31T12:55:56-07:002016-10-31T12:55:56-07:00Dave Rose announces 2016-17 BYU Basketball captains
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<figcaption>From left to right: Kyle Davis, L.J. Rose and Nick Emery. | Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo, via byucougars.com</figcaption>
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<p>Seniors Kyle Davis and L.J. Rose along with sophomore Nick Emery will lead the team this upcoming season.</p> <p id="gAb8JH">BYU Hoops Coach Dave Rose announced captains for the 2016-17 season Monday morning. <a href="http://byucougars.com/m-basketball/rose-names-captains-2016-17-season">He said in a release</a> that the team has selected seniors Kyle Davis and L.J. Rose, along with sophomore Nick Emery to lead the squad.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dave Rose announces that seniors Kyle Davis, L.J. Rose and soph Nick Emery have been selected by teammates as captains for 2016-17 season.</p>— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) <a href="https://twitter.com/gregwrubell/status/793111470032642048">October 31, 2016</a>
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<p id="aQjCvK">While Davis (one of only two seniors on the team and the only senior returner), and Emery (one of few returners with a lot of playing experience) are pretty obvious choices, Rose comes as a little bit more of a surprise. Emphasis on ‘a little bit’, because he is the second of two seniors on the team, after all, <a href="http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/7/26/12291614/coach-rose-officially-announces-addition-of-l-j-rose-byu-basketball">and as a grad transfer</a>, has plenty of experience playing college ball. </p>
<p id="rD2pDE">“I’m looking forward to the leadership our captains can provide to our team,” Rose said. “These three guys were selected by the players, and bring a lot of experience and passion.”</p>
<p id="SeOtI0">This is probably an appropriate time to point out that the makeup of this 2016-17 group is: two seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and six freshmen. </p>
<p id="OrN8G0">Leadership, at least the upperclassman type, is somewhat hard to come by, so we think choosing the two seniors as captains is a good call.</p>
<p id="dJFiBn">While Corbin Kaufusi, Jamal Aytes and Davin Guinn are technically a year ahead of Emery, we can see the logic behind that choice as well. As we mentioned earlier, Emery is the returner with the most playing experience of that bunch, and plays with a lot of passion and fire. Ask Brandon Taylor. LOL.</p>
<p id="duNT0X"><a href="http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/10/21/13364332/byu-basketball-boom-recap-emery-mika-haws">We’ve seen some good stuff out of Davis and Emery</a> in the scrimmages and exhibition game. While Rose has been sidelined through all of that, we hope to see him back soon, and are anxious to see firsthand what he brings to the table, especially after this vote of confidence the team has expressed in him. And then there’s this, of course:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A man resourceful enough to score a beard card at BYU is a man who can lead. <a href="https://t.co/PGYF18iEZ6">https://t.co/PGYF18iEZ6</a></p>— Geoff Johnston (@geoffjBYU) <a href="https://twitter.com/geoffjBYU/status/793121441801576449">October 31, 2016</a>
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<p id="rfuslC">BYU Basketball has one remaining exhibition game against BYU Hawaii on Nov. 9 then will take on Princeton to open the season on Nov. 14. </p>
https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/10/31/13480770/dave-rose-announces-2016-17-byu-basketball-captainsMary Blanchard2016-10-17T06:03:02-07:002016-10-17T06:03:02-07:00Kyle Davis prepares to fight for playing time in a crowded BYU frontcourt
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga at Brigham Young" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bQaNigY5Ej2uAw1LHtBg2c1s1AM=/0x0:2524x1683/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51380571/usa-today-9144528.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The senior power forward will look to keep his starting spot against a talented crop of players up to six years younger than him.</p> <p id="vveyEx">By many accounts, Kyle Davis had a very productive and consistent junior season for BYU after showing flashes of potential at his first two schools, Southern Utah and Utah State.</p>
<p id="5Ca7np">Davis averaged 11 rebounds per 40 minutes played, equaling Corbin Kaufusi’s output despite being three inches shorter, 25 pounds lighter and significantly less athletic than fellow big man. In addition, he gave BYU a reliable low-post scorer that they had desperately needed since Eric Mika’s departure for his LDS mission, scoring in double figures in 28 of 37 games. He also posted the third best defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of any player on the team, behind only Kyle Collinsworth and Kaufusi.</p>
<p id="MyXIGF">Despite all of these positive contributions, his playing time steadily decreased as the season progressed. BYU simply was not as successful on offense when Davis shared time with Kaufusi or Nate Austin. Coach Dave Rose gave freshman sharpshooter Zac Seljaas more and more playing time, essentially playing a four-guard offense with only one post player. As a result, Davis saw fewer minutes, and a greater share of those minutes came as the center. It was most notable that in the last two games against Gonzaga, Davis played 15 and 13 minutes, while Seljaas played 33 and 32 minutes.</p>
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<figcaption>Kyle Davis’ playing time gradually decreased as conference play rolled around last season</figcaption>
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<p id="hNJ7lB">While Seljaas has left on his LDS Mission, BYU restocked the frontcourt with returned missionary Eric Mika (2013-14 WCC All-Freshman Team) and two four-star freshmen (6-foot-8 Yoeli Childs and 6-foot-10 Payton Dastrup), in addition to the return of Kaufusi, Braiden Shaw and Jamal Aytes. With so much talent on the roster, competition for minutes at the frontcourt positions should be fierce.</p>
<p id="1GK9Ub">This creates some significant questions surrounding Davis and his role as he heads into his senior season, including:</p>
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<li>Now that he isn’t the only effective low post scorer on the roster with Eric Mika’s return, will Dave Rose be comfortable playing them together? <a href="http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/4/12/11394882/byu-basketball-kyle-davis-eric-mika-co-exist-in-2016-17">(I wrote about this topic back in April</a><a href="http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/4/12/11394882/byu-basketball-kyle-davis-eric-mika-co-exist-in-2016-17">.</a><a href="http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/4/12/11394882/byu-basketball-kyle-davis-eric-mika-co-exist-in-2016-17">)</a> </li>
<li>Will a talented freshman small/power forward (namely Yoeli Childs) chip away at his minutes the way Seljaas did last year?</li>
<li>Kaufusi will still be playing football for the first two months of the basketball season. Will Rose continue to use Davis as a backup center like he did at the end of last season?</li>
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<p id="OLNrIi">Whether he is playing 15 minutes per game or 30 minutes per game, Kyle Davis should be an important piece for BYU as the team’s oldest and most experienced player. The Cougars lost their all-time leading rebounder in Kyle Collinsworth to graduation (in addition to Nate Austin, who was 12th all-time in that category), and Davis will be counted on to grab some of those rebounds, even if he isn’t utilized as much on offense.</p>
<p id="ZaYkqW">While most of the buzz surrounding this Cougar team stems from the next three years of the "Lone Peak Three" (Mika, Nick Emery and T.J. Haws), Kyle Davis will be an important vocal leader on a team that will have only three players that have significant game experience at BYU when the season starts.</p>
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https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2016/10/17/13258446/byu-basketball-season-preview-player-profile-kyle-davis-playing-timeJames Pigott