Today’s media availability
10 Likes
I’m going with Koa Peat or AJ Dybantsa.
Harwell is my pick.
3 Likes
Wouldn’t it be cool if those 7 were all in the elite eight? Of course the brackets would ensure that wouldn’t happen because several would have to play each other before getting that far.
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What about incoming HS players and players from the portal. BU will field a full team.
Per 2 sources looks like the Coogs will start 2025/26 season on Nov 3rd against Lehigh.
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I think the injuries provided a smoke screen many seemed to latch onto. Gilbert? Something was going on there and his play, and that ability/knack to get to the hole was a big loss. A bigger issue? Otz’s inability to acknowledge his own philosophical flaws and fix them.
Once we lost the ability of our guards to score in the paint, Otz failed to make some obvious and much needed adjustments. For a team that lacked explosiveness, and consistent outside shooting, spacing the floor (without using set plays or emphasizing inside/outside play) was a poor strategy. We struggled to creat shots and to shoot outside with consistency. When we did go inside it looked like we never practiced entry passes, interior reception, or emphasized kick outs and recycles. WAY too many forced plays/shots on the interior, or one and dones (ball doesnt go back inside).
Otz also has a peculiar penchant for demanding effort and accountability in pressers yet turning a blind eye during games. Curtis Jones played atrocious defense all year but was never sent a message. Milan’s indifference to rebounding and staying on his man was problematic. Again, no message. In contradiction, he’d laud the play of Chatfield but let Watson rot on the bench. Just a lot of inconsistency from a coach who is big on “effort” and defense.
Every coach has pitfalls. Otz is great with offseason conditioning, prep, and having his team in mid-season form to start the season. But once it starts, you HAVE to be willing to adjust to internal realities, injuries, and to your opponents. That inability to adapt wasted some palpable potential. Blaming injuries is a cop out.
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Right? The Baylor thing is overblown. It was always going to be a high turnover roster with Wright being the only unexpected/unknown loss.
I think all the movement in the portal helped make this “story” much bigger than it really is. With that said, this wouldnt wven be a possibility 5 years ago, with sit out rules and pre-NIL.
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Im sure. But it seems kind of crazy to think they will have a totally new roster. Not so long ago I wouldn’t have thought that even possible.
Richie Saunders is coming back to BYU. With his age he’d go pro in a pre NIL world.
4 Likes
BYU’s starting line up is looking good.
Wright
Davis
Saunders
Dybansta
Keita
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Richie Saunders - Senior Wing
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AJ Dybansta - Freshman (1 and Done)
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Xavion Staton - Freshman (Rim Protector- #33 recruit, but needs a year to put on weight and polish skills)
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Dominique Diomande - Freshman (6’6” dunking athletic wing who might be a wild man who needs to learn the flow of the game)
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Rob Wright - Sophomore Baylor transfer (6’1” we all know him. BYU gets a true PG Kevin Young wants to use use him like Chris Paul he did Chris Paul in the NBA)
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Keba Keita - Senior (6’8” rim protector and Lob receiver - still new to the game and hopefully learns more post moves)
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Mihailo Boskovic - Senior (Big European who arrived late last season - could have a nice jump)
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Dawson Baker - Senior (rumors on the BYU board he was seen in a cast. Chronic foot injuries)
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Brody Kozlowski - Sophomore (6’8” shooter who was injured and working on defense. Expected to get minutes this next season)
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Khadim Mboup - Freshman (6’9 super athletic from NBA Africa, who enrolled mid year last season. Wild card.)
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Kennard Davis - Junior Southern Illinois Transfer (6’6” wing high 50’s portal rating)
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4 slots to go. An older rim protector or post player to back up Keita would be nice + 3 bodies is my wish list.
At the end of the season and in March Saunders, Wright, Dybansta need to play more minutes than BYU players did this season.
1 Like
i wish byu could have gotten a big, kennard is great but pushes Dybansta from the 3
that is a nasty offensive lineup but a rather weak defensive and rebounding lineup…
Dybansta is only 200lbs (keita is only 6’8 230lbs)
youd shift from dominant positional size, to that being a weakness… Dybansta (who can legitimately perimeter defend) is best capitalized at the 3…
but you guys still have 4 ships… get a touted big, push davis to 6th man, dybasnta to the 3.
i know you guys threw your name in the baba miller … land someone like him and byu is becomes dominant… there are few guards that could score effectively against dybansta size and agibility, and would have 3 6’8+ guys on the floor for rebounding, and a potential 6th man star in kennard for depth… but no offense if at the 4 a guy like jt toppin is happing a field day against him in the low post. and houston might +20 you on the boards
let me add context- this is in the context of competing for a national title… you are still a tourney team with him at the 4
3 Likes
I see BYU as having 3 starters and then open competition for minutes.
BYU has 3 positions. Center, PG, 3 x small forward/ Shooting Guard.
BYU is the anti Houston. Kevin Young is going to try to build the most efficient offense in the nation and make the other teams offense a little less efficient lol.
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FTR Houston is #1 in the country and it’s a more stable and proven approach. Kevin Young is a wildcard trying to change the game. It will be fun to see him try.
He showed he’s capable of learning this last season so this system is still adjusting/ growing. He’s an early career coach, not a finished product like Sampson.
3 Likes
i think 4 are locks to start with the current roster .wright is the only pg, saunders in an all-american, dybansta is arguably the #1 pick
i dont love Keita but theirs no other center on roster that would even be close too challenging him for the starting spot
and i get the offense focus, and spread out Theories … even with that their has to be some element of defense and rebouding… look at bama, duke, Gonzaga, the great efficent teams… their is major defensive considerations… and its mostly amazing positional size. and are very good defensive rebounding teams
Wright -6’1 - undersized
Saunders 6’5 - but can be bullied
Davis 6’6- good size
Dybansta - 6’9 200lbs - under weight
Keita - 6’8, 230lbs - undersize
you put that lineup against houston or arizona you might get outrebounded by 20 and give up 30 post points
thats why i noted baba miller or even darrion… they are stretch 4s, who would still let you achieve your offensive goals but give you positional size
6’11 baba
6’1
6’5
6’9
6’11
6’8
and like i noted prior, i think dybansta could be a dominant perimeter defender… jjust a average low post defender
3 Likes
UC is apparently going after Baba Miller behind the scenes too. Not sure we have the NIL to get him but looks like they are trying.
Still want a proven scoring wing.
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@pesik is right he’d be a huge piece for BYU. Sign him and let’s trade. Go full pro on this thing already 
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byu is recruiting him too from reports from a few days ago
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I’m watching some prep games. Isaiah Harwell popped before I knew who he was. He’s going to make an impact as a Freshman.
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I am most confident in Harwell of our 4 incoming freshmen.
Cenac I will just need to see do it at this level.
Flemings I saw on a bad night but doesn’t curb my enthusiasm. I think he grows the most over the summer months.
Jackson, strangely enough being the local recruit, is the one I haven’t seen play.
4 Likes