BYU basketball: Previewing the Cougars’ backcourt

The BYU basketball team held its annual media day last week, officially ushering in the 2016-17 college hoops season.

BYU basketball head coach Dave Rose addressed the media last week during the annual basketball media day.

After a down season a year ago, where the Cougars settled for a NIT berth, he didn’t mince words when asked about his goals.

He wants to be more consistent. He wants to win the West Coast Conference. He wants to put Gonzaga and St. Mary’s in the rear-view mirror.

With the team he has, he might be able to do it.

The BYU basketball team features 10 underclassmen and just two seniors, but there’s a influx of talent that hasn’t been in Provo in years.

Led by the ‘Lone Peak Three,’ (TJ Haws, Nick Emery and Eric Mika) Rose’s Cougars have five four-star recruits on the roster and depth at all five positions. The Cougars struggled with consistency a season ago (and really, for the past few seasons), but those teams weren’t nearly as talented as this squad.

Not to take anything away from previous players, but most were one-trick ponies. Skyler Halford and Chase Fischer were streaky three-point shooters. Tyler Haws was a scorer. Outside of Kyle Collinsworth, the Cougars didn’t really have a versatile player.

In 2016-17, Rose will have a number of players at his disposal that can guard multiple positions and run the offense.

Let’s take a look at BYU’s guards.