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BYU basketball: Rating the Cougars NBA Jam style

By Adam Andreason

Dec 22, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars forward Eric Mika (12) grabs a defensive rebound against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners during the first half at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars forward Eric Mika (12) grabs a defensive rebound against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners during the first half at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /
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 BYU basketball has wrapped up its out of conference games, and now conference play is starting. If you are emerging from the cocoon of the BYU football season and ready for the hardwood, here is your complete guide to every regular on the Cougars’ roster.

BYU basketball has played 13 games of ups and downs. Head coach Dave Rose scheduled a balanced slate. The Cougars played tough games and easy ones, games on the road, at home, and at neutral sites. Compiling a 9-4 record, they beat the teams they were supposed to, and lost to the teams favored over them.

Coming into conference play, the dynamics of the BYU basketball team are going to change. They do every year, once they start going up against opponents that know them better. There’s also that feeling of starting afresh with conference play. That can rejuvenate a team to outperform their preseason mark.

This year things will be particularly different.

With the loss of Kyle Davis to a season (and career) ending knee injury, the re-addition of Corbin Kaufusi with his football season ending in a win over Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl, and the hovering possibility that Elijah Bryant will step in and fulfill some of his potential as a penciled-in starter before the season, a lot could change as conference play gets into swing.

While the team dynamics may change, the players we see now will largely be the ones battling the Zags in the Kennel. We also had previews of the back and front courts to begin the season. But 13 games has driven out much of the theoretical, and given way to a lot of minutes of real action.

Remember the Boomshakaka?. Given all that’s happened between now and their start in the basketball showcase all those months ago, it feels appropriate to revisit each player, complete with NBA Jam-style stats, in time for their WCC opener hosting Santa Clara on Thursday.

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