BYU basketball: The Cougar Tipoff running diary
We got our first look at the 2017-18 BYU basketball team on Wednesday night, as the Cougars took to the Marriott Center for their blue-white scrimmage.
BYU basketball is back. The Cougar Tipoff is Wednesday night, and the Cougars will take on New Mexico this Friday for hurricane relief.
Then in November BYU basketball will continue its exhibition slate before the regular season begins on Nov. 11 against Missouri Valley State.
But now, on to the Cougar Tipoff running diary! (All times are in MDT).
BYU basketball’s Cougar Tipoff – First Half
7:10 pm – Well, so much for the whole “even teams” thing. Dave Rose stacked the blue team with Yoeli Childs, TJ Haws, Zac Seljaas, Nick Emery and Elijah Bryant. I like it. Make the newcomers fight.
7:11 pm – Yoeli Childs turnaround jumpers deep in the paint are my favorite turnarounds.
7:12 pm – Childs now with back-to-back buckets. I’m already sold on him. He’s going to be special.
7:13 pm – Childs now with back-to-back-to-back buckets. I’m thinking this may be a trend this season. Jahshire Hardnett answers with an explosive drive to the basket. BYU basketball hasn’t had a player with his speed for awhile.
7:15 pm – If Emery can consistently get to the basket, he’s going to be just fine. If he settles for deep 3-pointers like last year, he might struggle again.
7:16 pm – Kajon Brown couldn’t finish through the contact of Childs, but he’s clearly strong enough to absorb contact and get up quality shots.
7:17 pm – Elijah Bryant sinks a corner 3-pointer off the assist from Nick Emery. The spacing was just beautiful. That’s why I was so high on this one-big lineup for BYU basketball.
7:18 pm – Bryant to Childs alley-oop. I’m in love with Yoeli.
7:19 pm – Payton Dastrup looks like a much slimmer, much more athletic player.
7:20 pm – Timeout, 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Really, this might be the most fun I’ve had watching BYU basketball in a long, long time. The shooters the Cougars have make it possible to space the floor in a way that even Gregg Popovich would be proud of. It will be up to the players to hit big shots when the bright lights are on – but they certainly look good now.
7:21 pm – Replays of Spokane last season. Man, I still can’t believe BYU knocked off No. 1 Gonzaga last year. Crazy.
7:22 pm – Hardnett just schooled Emery off the dribble for the bucket. Emery may be the best perimeter defender in the West Coast Conference. Hardnett is going to be a player.
7:22 pm – Emery to Childs alley-oop. Holy smokes, Yoeli is an animal. Now just hit your free throws.
7:23 pm – Childs backs down Dalton Nixon, absorbs contact and connects on a baby hook. Another three-point play opportunity. He’s got 13 points as he heads to the bench. Again, he’s going to be special.
7:24 pm – Bryant eurosteps into the lane and hits the floater. Eli actually looks healthy. I really hope he can stay that way.
7:25 pm – I figure I’m not the only one who doesn’t want Dastrup shooting 3-pointers.
7:26 pm – Seljaas nails his first attempted 3-pointer. Oh, how I wish that sweet stroke was on the roster last season.
7:27 pm – Emery shoots a contested 3-pointer early in the shot clock. This is what I was hoping he’d avoid. Emery is at his best when he’s coming off screens or driving to the rack.
7:27 pm – I can’t believe I’m saying this but… Luke Worthington actually looks… competent. He looks great for being a recently returned missionary.
7:28 pm – Eli Bryant eurosteps are absolutely filthy. Next possession he nails a 3-pointer from the corner. Bryant looks faster than last year and has more control. Every move looks calculated. He looks great – which is huge for BYU basketball.
7:29 pm – TJ Haws nails a step-back 3-pointer, and I’m squealing with excitement. My word this team can hit some tough shots.
7:31 pm – Jarom Jordan essentially just said that opposing players overlook Haws because he has the appearance of a 35-year-old accountant. I mean… he’s not wrong.
7:32 pm – The white squad already has three offensive fouls on high screens. They’ve been kind of ticky-tack, but the backups will have to find a way to play more disciplined.
7:33 pm – Nixon nails a 3-pointer. That’s what he can bring to BYU basketball – a competent stretch four.
7:34 pm – Timeout, 3:03 remaining in the first half. The biggest takeaway for me so far is that BYU basketball is no longer inept when in half-court sets. The Cougars can take their time, work the ball inside and outside and get a good look. That’s a good thing, especially if the team wants to improve defensively (it’s tough to play great defense during a track meet).
7:36 pm – Yoeli Childs has 13 points in 11 minutes. This, I like.
7:37 pm – Bryant takes the screen from Childs, then finds Haws for a wide-open 3-pointer across the court. Great vision from Bryant and incredible patience and off-ball movement on display.
7:39 pm – Nixon picks up his fifth foul (my word). Good hustle from Dastrup to draw the charge.
7:40 pm – Emery’s deep two will end the first half. 44-24 blue team at the half.
7:42 pm – The blue team (the presumed starters) finished the half on a 9-0 run and put up 44 points with a running clock. Tough to expect that once the games count for real, but the poise the starters have demonstrated is refreshing. Last season, the offense looked like it was rushing, just for the sake of rushing. Now, BYU basketball looks methodical.
BYU basketball’s Cougar Tipoff – Second Half
7:57 pm – Running clock is over. Now back to a regulated clock. I say, if you really want to test the teams, switch the score.
7:59 pm – If there’s one thing I like less than Dastrup 3-pointers, it’s Dastrup long twos.
8:00 pm – Dastrup air ball on a 3-pointer. STOP DOING THIS, DASTRUP.
8:01 pm – Childs gets a rebound over three defenders, resets, backs down and nails a nine-foot fader. He’s got great touch.
8:02 pm – “Emery is frustrated,” says Jarom Jordan. Well, yeah, if I was playing poorly in an exhibition I’d probably be frustrated too.
8:03 pm – Bryant laughs at your attempts to defend his excellent euro-step!
8:04 pm – Childs nailing long two-pointers? Game over. He’s going to be one of the best five or six players in the conference.
8:06 pm – Broadcasters comparing BYU basketball’s offense to Kentucky’s should probably stop doing that.
8:08 pm – Haws to the bucket through contact. #GingerMamba. Next possession nails a deep 3-pointer.
8:09 pm – Childs being taken to the locker room to get checked out. Couldn’t really tell on replay what happened. May have been a poke to the eye. Didn’t appear to be anything major.
8:13 pm – Childs is back out, using the stationary bike.
8:14 pm – Childs checks back in, and all is well with the world again.
8:17 pm – Kajon Brown has been a little more aggressive offensively in the second half. He hasn’t blown me away, but he’s played pretty well defensively.
8:18 pm – #GingerMamba on the fast break with the up-and-under. “Is he okay?” my wife asks. “He looks sickly.” Yeah, he is sick… sick with the handles!
8:23 pm – Hardnett is going to be fun, I’ll say that much. Kid can get to the bucket, and he hasn’t taken a bad shot tonight.
8:26 pm – Timeout, 5:31 remaining. Blue team has played kind of sloppy in the second half, but the shots they take are still good. Turnovers have been killing them, but overall the offense still looks pretty good. Smart play, for the most part for BYU basketball.
8:28 pm – Dastrup looks very out of place when he’s not in the paint. Blue team has scored just two points in the last 3:30.
8:29 pm – Haws with a 3-pointer off a screen. He had the space and nailed it, but that shot felt so forced compared to what we’ve been seeing. Felt like they were pressing after an 11-2 white team run.
8:30 pm – Emery has just six points with 3:04 remaining.
8:31 pm – Timeout, 3:04 remaining. I’d like to see Emery getting more involved, but it’s hard to not be impressed with the overall poise that BYU basketball has demonstrated tonight.
8:33 pm – Out of the timeout, Seljaas with a 3-pointer. 76-62 blue team. RIght on cue, Emery nails a 3-pointer on the next possession. 79-62 blue.
8:34 pm – Emery taking heat check 3-pointers when he’s not so hot. Yay.
8:35 pm – Childs hits the layup, leads all scorers with 23 points. Bergersen answers with his third 3-pointer of the night.
8:36 pm – NICK EMERY WITH THE NO-LOOK, FAST-BREAK BOUNCE PASS TO TJ HAWS FOR THE LAYUP. EMERY YOU ANIMAL!
8:37 pm – Blue wins 88-68, final.