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PROVO — It’s little secret that among the troubles BYU has had in West Coast Conference play is adjusting to pace.
But it’s not for lack of running or conditioning.
The Cougars are tied for 10th nationally with 78.3 possessions per game, making them one of the fastest teams in the league and among the fastest three in the West along with Wyoming and Utah Valley.
But the Cougars’ next two opponents play at diametrically opposite rhythms — and both pulled out home wins over BYU in San Diego and Moraga, California.
“Honestly, I think we talked about it a lot the first time we played them,” said BYU center Eric Mika. “But even then, you don’t quite understand what it’s like to play at that pace until you are out there.”
BYU’s week of slower ball starts Thursday at 9 p.m. against San Diego, a team that defeated BYU 88-75 on Jan. 14. The Toreros rank 328th out of 351 teams in Division I with an average of 67.5 possessions per game, and play even slower — 67.1 possessions — on the road.
Saturday’s opponent, No. 22 Saint Mary’s, plays even slower: the Gaels are No. 351 nationally at 61.6 possessions per game.
The change of system and rhythm makes each shot matter a little bit more — something that hurt the Cougars in scoring just 71.5 points in the pair of games against the two California squads last month.
San Diego boasts a defensive rating of 107.3, according to KenPom.com. For comparisons, the Cougars have a 98.3 rating and Saint Mary’s comes in at 96.1.
“Our shot selection was pretty questionable (at San Diego), which led to a lot of easy points for them,” BYU coach Dave Rose said. “Any way that a pretty good defensive team can find ways to score easy baskets will help them. They got quite a few easy baskets at their place.”
L.J. on the mend
Former starting point guard L.J. Rose underwent knee surgery in Houston last weekend, and did not make the trip to Pepperdine and San Francisco, where BYU went 1-1 in his absence.
The graduate senior from Texas had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, and his coach said he will return to the team Thursday for the beginning of a 4-5 week recovery period.
“He hasn’t done anything through this but a little bit of rehab,” coach Rose said. “He’ll be (in Provo) tomorrow, and we’ll go through it and see what the possibilities are.
“It looks like a 4-5 week recovery, and so it’s possible (he returns to the team). But we’ll see.”
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BYU will be down a point guard for at least the immediate future as it opens the second half of West Coast Conference play.Haws on point
In the absence of the senior team captain, freshman TJ Haws saw time at point guard for BYU and fared well.
Haws had 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals against San Francisco, and coach Rose said the former Lone Peak star will likely be the Cougars’ point guard going forward.
“We felt like he had the most time at that position coming into where we are,” Rose said of Haws. “We felt like that would be the easiest transition for us.
“Not what it’s going to be forever, but for right now that is the transition.”
