Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Yesterday's news that ILB Matt Ah You is transferring from BYU has led to speculation as to motive and destination.
Having talked with a member of the Ah You family, I can tell you that relative to the reasons for the transfer, the family doesn't want to go into detail--other than to say that the decision was not a rash one. The family says prayer and deliberation led Ah You to leave the BYU program.
While there are reports Ah You has already determined his next stop, the family states that Matt is not ready to announce a decision. As a senior-to-be, if he were to transfer to an FCS school, he could play his last season immediately. If he goes to an FBS school, he would have to sit out a season before completing his college career.
*******
I noted that the USA Today had a Spring Football "major college" wrap-up in today's edition. It ran through the six BCS conferences, and Notre Dame. That's a "major" slap to the non-BCSers, but not unexpected in the days of the "new 1-AA."
*******
With BYU's fall basketball roster all but set right now, this much is clear: the Cougars will be deep. Certainly, they'll be much deeper than they were at any point this past season--and that's an imposing notion, since the Cougars were conference champions in 2008-09, and return four starters from that group.
I've been doing some thinking ahead, and the lineup possibilities are almost limitless in 2009-10:
At the point, Jimmer Fredette is locked in as a starter. His backups will be Mike Loyd and Lamont Morgan. Morgan is limited to the point position, while Loyd can play either the "1" or the "2."
At the shooting guard (small wing), Dave Rose will most likely start Jackson Emery, seeing as he started last year and was voted to the MWC's all-defensive team. Freshman Tyler Haws could conceivably start, but it would take a remarkable effort to unseat Emery--a more likely option would be playing the two of them together (see below). Mike Loyd will have benefited greatly from a redshirt season, but I see him as a primary reserve next season.
The small forward (big wing) spot is the most intriguing. Size-wise, Charles Abouo (6'5", 210) and Logan Magnusson (6'6", 210) give BYU the most muscle at this position, but Rose could also start small and stick a guy like Haws (6'4", 190) at this spot. Starting Fredette, Emery and Haws in the backcourt would give BYU quickness, shooting and scoring at every guard position and great defensive intensity on the perimeter.
At the "4" (power forward) spot, Jonathan Tavernari is obviously locked in as a starter... but... if and when BYU decides to play JT at the "3," that opens up the "4" for Noah Hartsock. Hartsock's projected improvement should make it hard to keep him off the floor, whether at the "4" or the "5" spot. When JT plays the "4," Hartsock can play alongside at the "5." Expect that to happen a lot this upcoming season.
In the post, Chris Miles will start when BYU wants to go big, with Hartsock the preferred post man when the Cougars go small. James Anderson and Brandon Davies will push for the remaining minutes at center. Davies will be given every chance to earn minutes as a true freshman, and I think he'll play right away--at both the "4" and "5" spots.
As you can see, there will be no shortage of options for Rose next season, and the roster flexibility will allow him to "mix 'n match" more frequently and strategically, with a much less noticeable drop-off in productivity from starters to reserves.
--
Players by Position Grouping (players listed with * are listed at multiple positions)
Point Guard: Fredette*, Morgan, Loyd*
Shooting Guard (Small Wing): Emery, Haws*, Loyd*, Fredette*
Small Forward (Big Wing): Abouo, Magnusson*, Haws*, Tavernari*, Zylstra
Power Forward: Tavernari*, Hartsock*, Magnusson*, Davies*
Center: Miles, Hartsock*, Anderson, Davies*
--
First things first (and that means football season), but I'm already anticipating one of the more interesting and exciting basketball campaigns in recent memory. This much is certain: when the preseason Mountain West Conference projections are released, BYU will have a "1" next to its name. The last time BYU was picked to win the league (in 2007), the Cougars ended up winning the league by two games over second place.
*******
