Following years of a continual downtrend, it may be time to start asking the question that we all wish we didn’t have to ask.
At the beginning of the season, BYU men’s basketball coach, Dave Rose, signed a one-year contract extension that will be in effect through the 2020-21 season. This extension quieted fears that perhaps he would be retiring following the 2019-20 season.
This extension brings back one of the most successful basketball coaches in the nation. Coach Rose is currently the 45th winningest coach according to career winning percentage. However, the last three years have been a struggle for the team, going to the NIT all three years and losing in the first round twice.
This year, the team looks like it is headed in the same direction, if that. A lack of consistency both offensively and defensively have put the Cougars in an uncomfortable position.
The BYU basketball team was looking confident going into last Thursday’s matchup against the San Francisco Dons. The game hosted in Provo, was building up to be perhaps the most important game of the year. If BYU could knock off their opponent, they could all but lock-up the two seed for the West Coast Conference Tournament despite the up and down season.
At halftime, BYU was leading the Dons by 4 and they saw that lead extend to 14 in the second half. However, it was heartbreak at the hands of Frankie Ferrari that sealed the Cougars fate and sent them limping into their next game in Spokane against the number two ranked team in the country.
The Cougars were simply out matched against Gonzaga, losing by 34 to the Bulldogs behind Rui Hachimura’s 23 point, 10 rebound effort. Now, the Cougars are currently the 3 seed in the WCC and the odds are not looking good for Dave Rose’s squad.
Barring a miracle at the WCC tournament, BYU will likely be playing for an NIT bid for the fourth year in a row. With a fanbase that has nostalgia for the times of Jimmermania or even the Tyler Haws and Kyle Collinsworth duo, winning has become an expectation . Fans want their team to be part of March Madness and it has been five seasons since they have been in the round of 64.
Is it time to move on from Dave Rose? Now seems like it may be a best. Rumors of Rose’s retirement were already circulating and now with three consecutive seasons of the NIT with a fourth year likely on the way (if that), fans are getting restless.
Though it hurts me to say, it is time for Dave Rose to go.