BYU's Rose: 'Our guys will be ready'


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PROVO — BYU head basketball coach Dave Rose joined the Cougar program as an assistant at a time when the University of Utah was enjoying an unprecedented run of success against the Cougars.

From March of 1995 through February of 2005, the Utes won 20 of 24 meetings, with Rose and then-head coach Steve Cleveland joining the program in the 1997-98 season--in the midst of the malaise.

Since Rose took over as head coach for the 2005-06 season, the tables have turned, so much so that BYU has won 12 of the last 16 rivalry contests, and Rose has yet to lose at home to the Utes--a run of seven consecutive wins dating back to a 72-60 victory in January of 2006.

Wednesday night at the Marriott Center, Rose and the Cougars will attempt to make it eight home wins in a row over the Utes, who come into Provo ranked 13th and 14th nationally, at 6-1 on the season.

"Their numbers are really good," said Rose about the Utes, after his team's practice on Tuesday in Provo. "It's a complete team; they've got good size, good depth, and they have a real purpose in the way they play."

Wednesday night's game pits one of the nation's fastest-tempo teams in BYU against one of the more deliberate teams in Utah, but both teams are producing solid offensive numbers in their own way. BYU averages 94.6 points per game on 49 percent shooting, while Utes are putting up 80.6 points per contest on 52 percent field-goal proficiency.

Utah is coming off one of its biggest wins in years, a 69-68 overtime home win against Wichita State last Wednesday. The victory vaulted the Utes up the Top 25 polls this week.

"I think it's exciting for our guys," Rose says. "We have a good opportunity to have a nationally-ranked team come in our building. Those are always great nights, but then you add the fact that it's one of your in-state rivals. There should be a lot of energy here in the building (on Wednesday)."

Only one of Utah's available players (bench big man Dallin Bachynski) has played against BYU in the Marriott Center. BYU's roster is full of players who have played multiple BYU-Utah games in both Provo and Salt Lake City.

"It's a great game, and a great atmosphere to play in," says BYU guard Kyle Collinsworth, who as a native Utahn is well-acquainted with the rivalry's history.

"We grew up watching the rivalry game," guard Tyler Haws observed. "I'm excited that there's going to a lot of emotion, lots of fans, high energy, and both teams want to win. It's going to be fun."

"Our guys will be ready," said Rose.

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The game is already a sell-out, meaning a crowd of 20,000-plus is expected to fill the Marriott Center on Wednesday night.

"There's nothing like it when the Marriott Center is full," says Haws. "I think it's one of the best if not the best places to play in the country when it gets rocking. It almost feels like a sixth man on our team at times."

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You can hear post-practice interview sessions from Tuesday with Rose, Haws and Collinsworth in "Cougar Cuts," above left.

Wednesday's game tips at 7:05 p.m. on ESPNU. You can hear the game on KSL Newsradio, starting with pregame coverage at 6:00.

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Greg Wrubell

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