BYU basketball: How the Cougars can be a NCAA Tournament team in 2017-18
By Shaun Gordon
Defense, defense, defense
BYU basketball teams under Dave Rose have never been known for their defense. The Cougars managed to put up decent defensive numbers in 2016-17, finishing 50th in the nation in defensive efficiency.
However, BYU struggled with perimeter on-ball defense, especially at the point of attack. Opponents found easy lanes into the key too often, either leading to open buckets down low or kicking out for great looks beyond the arc.
Enter Heath Schroyer.
Schroyer returns to the BYU bench as an assistant, where he served alongside Rose under Steve Cleveland from 1997-2001.
He’s a defensive guru who knows how to teach and scheme on that side of the ball. More importantly, he’ll play the bad cop of the coaching staff, who’s not afraid to get in a players face and show tough love.
That’s an attitude that the Cougars could use more of on defense.
The Cougars defensive struggles also came from a lack of length on the perimeter. Not a single guard or wing stood higher than 6-foot-5 last year. Opponents with taller wings took advantage.
Zac Seljaas is back early from a mission due to shoulder injury. He’ll be a key wing for the Cougars, and stands at 6-foot-7.
Dalton Nixon is back from a mission as well, and will become a part of the rotation. He stands at 6-foot-7.
Incoming Freshman Rylan Bergersen will fight for playing time. He stands at 6-foot-6.
BYU will also bring in JC transfer Kajon Brown to fight for rotation time, who stands at 6-foot-5.
The Cougars will finally have length to match up on the wings.
Look for that length, as well as Schroyer’s added defensive emphasize and tutelage, to remove defense from the liability side of BYU’s equation.