Countdown 10/19/13

20 days remain...

Waste some time tonight by watching this 2011 Sweet Sixteen game. It doesn't end well for the WCC (though they weren't WCC then) team but it sure is exciting.

Countdown 10/13/13

26 days remain...

Last night Brandon Davies once again played basketball in Utah, but this time he wasn't playing with the home team. In a preseason NBA game between the Jazz and Clippers, Davies netted nine points in 16 minutes of action. Here's a video from just after the official announcement that Davies had signed with the Clippers. Interestingly, three WCC products will be playing in the Staples Center this year as Gonzaga's Elias Harris and Robert Sacre play for the Lakers.

Countdown 10/8/13

32 days remain...

Today was BYU Basketball Media Day. Every player on the roster as was interviewed and coach Rose held a press conference. BYUtv Sports presented a live stream of the whole event. Unfortunately, the whole thing took place during regular business hours. If you missed it, you can watch everything here. Coach Rose's press conference took place about two and a half hours into the event. Scroll around to find interviews with specific players.

Countdown 10/6/13

34 days remain...

Countdown 10/3/13

37 days remain...

It's the week of media day announcements. Just two days ago the WCC media day was announced and today BYU's media day has been announced. While we have to wait a few weeks for the WCC tip-off event, we only have to wait five days for the Cougars' version! On October 8th at noon Mountain Time (11:00 AM Pacific) BYUtv Sports will broadcast press conferences with coach Rose and the players as well as live chats with every player on the roster. I was very impressed with the coverage of last year's media day so be sure to tune in for this year's. It might be our first look at the 2014 WCC champion.

Just like with the conference's media day, BYU will be interacting with fans on twitter so get some questions ready!

Countdown 9/28/13

42 days remain...

Here's BYU hosting Eastern New Mexico. I'm posting this because it's time to get ready for games against non D-I competition.

Countdown 9/27/13

43 days remain...

Are you wondering how BYU is going hold down the paint without Brandon Davies? This video should put an end to that wonder. 

Countdown 9/14/13

56 days remain...

Last Saturday I posted the second Gonzaga at BYU game of the Cougars' time in the WCC. Today gets the first. BYU fans should be more satisfied with this one.

Countdown 9/12/13

58 days remain...

Gonzaga fans are happy this guy never played in the WCC.

Countdown 9/9/13

61 days remain...

Earlier today BYU coach Dave Rose underwent surgery after "cancerous spots" were discovered during a routine screening, per reports from KSL's Greg Wrubell. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009. According to Rose's surgeon, "the surgery went well. I expect him to make a full recovery."

Let's hope he's right. I'll be keeping Coach Rose in my thoughts and wishing him well.


Here's a segment, aired before BYU played Florida State last season, on Coach Rose's battle with pancreatic cancer.

Countdown 9/8/13

61 days remain...



A few days ago Brandon Davies signed a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Davies is now the third WCC player on a NBA roster in the city of Los Angeles; Elias Harris and Robert Sacre are both playing for the Lakers.

Countdown 9/7/13

63 days remain...

 I'm watching this BYU vs. Texas game right now but once it's over I'm going to watch BYU vs. Gonzaga, you should too.

Countdown 9/2/13

68 days remain...

Yesterday I took a look at some rebounding numbers from five of the WCC teams, one of which was BYU. The Cougars are losing their leading rebounder from last season, Brandon Davies, but Nate Austin should be right there to step up. Dave Rose started Austin only seven times last season. However, he showed faith in Austin by starting him for the final five games of the year.

Last season Davies registered 123 more rebounds than Austin but their respective rebound rates were less than one point apart.

Countdown 9/1/13

 69 days remain...

Today we'll get into some rebounding numbers for the first five teams, alphabetically, in the WCC.

BYU: Last season the Cougars were 1st in the WCC with 35.5 RPG but were just 3rd in rebound rate, due in part to their fast pace (72.5 possessions/40 minutes, 1st WCC). The Cougars are losing the players responsible for 52.04% of last season's rebounds.

Countdown 8/31/13

70 days remain...

It's a long weekend so you've got some time to kill. If you're not going to watch the BYU football game you might as well watch a BYU basketball game. So, here for your enjoyment, is the first conference game that the Cougars played as members of the WCC.

Countdown 8/23/13

78 days remain...

Here's a guy that fans, other than BYU fans, may not be aware of. He's going to be a sophomore but he hasn't played since the Jimmermania Cougars' Sweet Sixteen game back in 2011. It's Kyle Collinsworth, a 6' 6" 215lbs Guard who is now back from his mission in Russia.

Tip-Off Marathon Opponents

3 months remain! Wait, this isn't the countdown.

Starting last night at 8:00 PM Pacific Time, ESPN began announcing the schedule for the annual Tip-Off Marathon. I say "began" because it is still being announced, one game at a time, every two hours, exactly three months in advance of each game's scheduled tip-off.

The WCC will be represented by three teams. Once again Gonzaga will help kick off the event. The Zags face Colorado State in game two of an ESPNU doubleheader. BYU will get in on the action as the follow up to the Zags' game, but the Cougars will be on the more prestigious ESPN2. Following those two games will be a two hour WCC void. As if to make the hours between 10:00 pm and 12:00 am even more excruciating for WCC fans, ESPN has decided to place the Wichita State Shockers in that time slot. Once the Shockers are done playing, Saint Mary's will host Akron at midnight. The Gaels have played an early morning game in four of the previous five Tip-Off Marathons.

Here's a quick look Colorado State, Stanford and Akron.

Countdown 8/10/13

91 days remain...

It's Saturday so kick back and relax with a full game of WCC basketball.
Video courtesy of BYUtv Sports.

Countdown 8/8/13

93 days remain...

This is one of my favorite plays from this past season and it is certainly my all-time favorite play involving Brandon Davies.

99 Days Remain

Day two of the countdown comes a bit late in the evening thanks to moving out and driving from Chicago to Ohio for a family reunion. Anyways, here's today's video.

Take a look at Stephen Holt's reaction to Haws' make in the waning seconds. If Holt is going to play up to his potential and be a senior leader for the Gaels, we'll never see him do that again.