At least in this guy’s eye…
Probably fitting since he’s only covering ‘Mid-Major’ programs.
I don’t really care much about the mid major stereotype in basketball. There are so many good mid major teams and if you take away the power teams and their nba pipeline programs there would be even more parity.
I think my bigger concern is the fact that the BYU roster is so heavy laden with nepotism. I am watching the boom-shaka thing going on and it seems like every player on the team is related to a former player in some way, shape or form.
The only thing I can say about it is that the bubble is alive and well.
Probably the worst I can remember in the modern era of BYU basketball.
But it will be nice finishing in second or third place behind Gonzaga and playing in high school gyms again. 
nepotism? who?
Nick Emery was recruited heavily
TJ Haws was as well
so who are you talking about?
When Tyler was on his mission I went on this board and said he was an NBA player and everyone said I was an idiot. He alllllllmost made me look smart 
I have only seen TJ on film, but I think he may be at that level as well. Ready, aim, fire with your flamethrowers now…
We will be solid this year. Davis and Aytes will wreck people in the paint, and Kaufusi and Austin are both crazy athletic defenders on the help side. KC will be the best player in the league. Fischer will have hot streaks. Back end of the bench will be a hot mess but I think we go 8 deep with pretty good players. If Emery and Chatman are any good I think we can be a real good team.
Let me do the list in alphabetical order -
Cooper Ainge
Jordan Chatman
Nick Emery
Corbin Kaufusi
Jake Toolson
TJ Haws on a mission
That is a full 1/3 of the roster
There are probably a few I missed because they are related in some other way. Also, 1/2 of the roster is from Utah or has played in Utah at some point.
Just sayin’ and trying to keep some perspective.
Before you do your “Perspective” Jim…
Did you actually go look at the profile of these players… see who recruited them, see how the ranking system rated them?
Just because they have relatives that played for BYU in years past does not mean they are getting some type of “Nepotism” benefits.
I know for a fact based on what people like Scout and other ranking services has said that TJ Haws, Mika, and Emery have the potential to be premier players… in other words Jim… THEY HAVE REAL TALENT.
TJ and Nick are suppose to be better than their older brothers according to some experts… but they should not come to BYU right?
So based on your concerns…Anyone who has real talent, but had a relative play for BYU in the past should not be considered because it is nepotism… Right Jim?
What about Steve Young? His dad played for BYU…
What about Austin Collie?
What about Bronson Kaufusi?
What Tyler Haws? … you know his DAD Marty played at BYU
What about Fred Roberts?
What about Kalani Sitake?
All these players had relatives that played for BYU… but to avoid nepotism… they should have went to another school?
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Regardless of all the reasons, there is still an issue with Nepotism at BYU. There always has been and I’m sure there always will be.
Yes, some of those players happen to be very good but that doesn’t change the fact that they are looked on favorably because they had/have a relative with some connection to BYU. While I think it can have positive benefits (like this year where many of those players actually have some legitimate talent) it can also have negative ones. I think the entitlement issue is the most significant… it’s like they just expect it to happen. I think it also results in a lack of opportunity for some players (favoritism, real or perceived, is an issue) and may keep BYU from actually accomplishing more than they might if it weren’t a problem.
Now before you get upset with me for saying that, just remember that “bubble dwellers” have a hard time with anything that might appear to be critical of their perfect bubble world. 
LOL Just win Baby! I actually don’t care who played at BYU and whose kid is playing now-as long has they can play basketball at a high level. If they can’t and are getting scholarships then that’s a problem because you can bet there is a kid out there that deserves it more. BYU, barring injuries will be better than last year, but probably not as good as Gonzaga, although the Zags have a point guard position to fill and I’m sure they have bodies but how they translate to the college game still remains to be seen. I still think the Cougars are a year or two away from challenging Gonzaga. What I would like to see this year is domination inside-something we haven’t seen in a while. Tom-I never doubted Haws skill set for the NBA-he just didn’t seem to have the NBA body to me, but you never know after a year or two in Europe. As for nepotism-well that’s been going on for a long time-don’t expect it to change any time soon. Mean while drink you blue kool ades and hope for the best. Also, I took a look at the BYU 2016 schedule and 6-6 seems good-it’s brutal.
Jim, you are soooooo wrong on so many levels but you are right about one thing…half of these guys are from Utah Valley.
I could have taken the Lone Peak team that won the national title and not only made the dance 4 out of 4 years but they would make it to a sweet 16 one or two of those years. BYU has 3 of those players so I’ll take my chances and say that BYU starts making serious runs in the dance once TJ gets off the mission and has at least one year under his belt.
---------- I’m not sure where this belief that having a great high school team somehow translates into having a great college team. I mean it’s nice to THINK about but that is where it should probably end. I appreciate your opinions and ideas Chris, but I know I have heard ALL of this before and have yet to actually see ANY of it. Isn’t it about time for the conjecture and hype to actually translate into something real? Maybe we start with a wcc championship (hasn’t happened in 5 years of being in the conference) before we start talking about runs into the sweet 16… one step at a time. Lastly, if you look at a post I made in another basketball thread, I said that it is about time BYU wins a wcc title and makes a serious run in the ncaa tourney… I want to see that happen.
yes, you have history on your side. Facts don’t lie. But BYU can not win a WCC title so long as BYU is a temp. in the WCC. Everyone knows we can’t wait to leave the rec. league. The Zags deserve to win it year in and out. They have better coaches and better talent. Even when BYU gets the talent, and I think we are now getting close, the WCC will do everything in its power to keep titles for WCC teams and not outsiders.
But to say BYU headed into the future is the same BYU of old is just plain crazy talk. Recruiting determines championships and Rose is finally getting the studs he needs to make serious noise. We will see if Lewis injects defense into BYU which is what we need to get over then next hump. But to say BYU won’t be doing some great things in the next few years is just crazy talk, that would mean that these recruits would have to play far under their abilities. BYU has never in its history had so many highly rated recruits commit at the same time. We have had a moment when Hutchings and Ainge had great players around them and we made noise and won championships so I see every reason to believe that this crop of players will make their share of noise.
I could care less whether the good players come from Utah Valley or Timbuktu. If they are good and a good fit for the program then I am happy. If a kid is a great prospect like TJ Haws, Nick Emery, Jordan Chapman, et al Rose would be a fool not to go after them and I would be upset if we hadn’t landed them. You need to lock up the top local talent with ties to the school. When somebody is really good and their dad or brother played at BYU then Rose, or Mendenhall, need to aggressively recruit them. I am actually not happy to see kids like Brittan Covey and Chase Hanson at the U. Those are players that could play a lot of places and it is unfortunate to not land those with family ties to the school. I could care less about nepotism.
The only player on Jim’s list that I think might not do anything is Cooper Ainge. The rest of them will play a lot and contribute a lot. I only wish Marty Haws and Mr. Emery had 2 or 3 other talented kids, as good as their brothers, that Rose could recruit
I watched a few of Lone Peak’s tournament games streaming. I saw TJ hit a 3, steal the inbounds pass, take one step and go off two feet to dunk it. That is outtathisworldishouldntevenbelieveisawit athleticism for a HS kid. TJ is as big as Ty and as fast as the old man. And that, brethren, is lightning speed. Mika had an NBA body…as a true freshman; there were large parts of games when he totally dominated. Emery spurned Kansas and Duke for BYU. Regardless of where they are from, those 3 are big time. Add Payton Dastrup, and we should ask ourselves when was the last time we had 4 starters who could have played at Duke or Kansas? Uh, never…it will be the best starting lineup since Kite/Roberts/Trumbo/Ainge/and Mr. Marie Osmond. I absolutely LOVE what Rose is doing with his recruiting! I love him going after “BYU Legacy” guys–because they are generally easier to sign than a kid from a family with no connection.
funny you should bring up covey, I was just about to say the same but you beat me to it and eloquently.
I played Mr Marie Osmond in a softball touny (20 years ago) and he hit me from behind as I was base running after I got off a big hit. The benches unloaded while we went at it for a moment. I did not find out who I was rumbling with until we got back to the dugout. Fun times.
I don’t think many on the board here know how good TJ is but lets just say that he does not need screens to create his shot unlike his brother.
Once again… these guys were playing against high school talent. Yes, some of the teams they played had D1 level players on them but I still think everyone here is overhyping these kids. Admit it, it’s just what BYU and their fans do. If someone can please do it for me I would love to have any of you relate one time where a BYU football or basketball team EXCEEDED what everyone anticipated before the season. I don’t think it has ever happened, except maybe in the case of the 84 national championship and that was 30+ years ago.
Every one of you guys is talking like they will win the wcc and go to the ncaa tourney and win one or two rounds and maybe/probably more. This is the same thing I hear every year and it never happens. Yes, there are always reasons for it… injuries, the team just didn’t come together, etc.
I don’t see it happening anytime soon… again. I watched the preview thing last week and what I saw was some decent talent and some guys who like to be the star/center of attention. I see Fischer, Emery and a few others who want to be the next Jimmer. Sorry, that isn’t going to work. Also, I still don’t think anybody is understanding the pitfalls of nepotism. Fans continue to talk like it is no big deal and it’s great if a talented relative is coming to BYU. This isn’t going to translate into big game wins and tourney advancing come March. Wait and see if the team gets caught with the deer in the headlights and mental case disease that always seems to hit them when it matters. That mental aspect is something BYU teams have had a really hard time controlling.
I think it is related to nepotism and players thinking they are bigger than the team or more talented than they really are… some humility and hunger to be the best might help.
No Jim… you have NO Clue as to who these kids are, what they are like and how they will play.
I don’t know about the other new players (Chapman, Anige, etc) but I do know about the Lone Peak guys… I know all three of these guys were heavily recruited by Coach K of Duke… I have friends who know these guys personally and for you to imply they are “entitled” is bull crap. Their parents made sure that would not happened. They taught them the principle of humility. By you Implying they feel “entitled”, you are not only dissing the players, but dissing fellow members of the church parenting skills…
I know all three of these guys are gym rats… they would love to be on the court more than they would like to go hang out with their friends…
I know that that these three kids, have played together since they were five years old, been to the best clinics to learn skills, have been sent to personal trainers for improving their performance and have played against top level talents (two of which are now NBA “Stars” Jabari Parker, and Randall).
We they turn the team around this year? Probably not… if you go back a few years… the team of Kite, Roberts, Trumbo, Craig and Anige took three years to develop. That was before the specialization of sports, the clinics, and personal trainers.
I think when Mika and Haws comes and with the other players they have, in the next few years they will be putting BYU on the NCAA highlight films…
I stand firm on everything I wrote. I re-read it after I read your post and thought that what I said is even more accurate. Sometimes the negative reply post of somebody else helps clarify what I wrote and make it more clear. Seriously, read what I wrote again and this time do it carefully. Instead of trying so hard to discredit it, think about what it is at face value. Think about how it relates to what we have seen in the past. If you don’t agree with any of it, that is fine. Regardless of what you may think or write, I know what I have written is accurate. I see it with my own eyes. A lot of these kids got the “big man on campus” treatment and being at BYU is just an extension of their high school experience. They are still relatively immature and in spite of everything you claim they have been taught, the simple reality is that their brains and life experiences are still underdeveloped and they have a LOT to learn.
Wait and see if the “deer in the headlights” phenomena doesn’t happen. I know it will because it always has in the past. My comments are based in actual things that take place, not in hype or conjecture or anticipation that something different will happen.
Example - Tell me the Michigan football game isn’t something we have all seen almost every year in the last 25. But next year will be different, right? Tell me the choke job in the ncaa tourney last year isn’t something we have seen numerous times in the past… or the 2nd/3rd place finishes in the wcc every year. Until any of this changes, I stand by my comments. Sorry that reality is so hard to take…