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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
MILWAUKEE — Now that the surprise 10-seed Cougars have been bounced from the NCAA tournament, the conversation shifts to next season with some doubters still wondering how the selection committee awarded BYU its generous position.
A team without any seniors, a first for Dave Rose’s tenure, rebounded from a poor stretch that saw it lose four-straight road games in December to go 15-4 in the rest of its contests.
Some of the most prized recruits Rose has landed since taking over in 2005 will continue to filter in through 2016, when the core of a Lone Peak High School team that won four consecutive Utah state titles is reunited.
Role players made obvious strides in the Cougars’ run to March, and 2014 should set up an even better opportunity to knock Gonzaga, the West Coast Conference’s elite program, off its perch.
The impact of Kyle Collinsworth’s injury was evident Wednesday as a three-point game just less than eight minutes into the second half quickly snowballed into a 25-point advantage for Oregon.
Recovery from anterior cruciate ligament surgery usually takes at least six months, but generally less than nine. It is completely dependent on how the individual’s body heals and factors related to fitness and the athlete’s level of activity.
It appears Collinsworth’s rehabilitation is off to a good start. With or without the Provo native, who can play four positions, a projected starting lineup of him or Matt Carlino, Tyler Haws, Anson Winder, Nate Austin and Luke Worthington or Josh Sharp — incoming post players will challenge for a starting spot on the block — looks pretty solid on paper.
The loss of freshman starter Eric Mika won’t be easily absorbed. You have to go back to Mekeli Wesley’s 1997-98 freshman season to find a true freshman forward/center that averaged more points than Mika.
Improved low-post depth — at least in numbers — that includes Isaac Neilson and Ryan Andrus will give Rose options. Jamal Aytes, who will be eligible to play in December, has already been learning the offense since January, along with Neilson.
Adding more bodies to a frontline that was consistently hampered by foul trouble is almost an instant upgrade. Whether those players will be able to replace Mika’s game-changing ability is unknown.
Winder stands out as the guard who achieved the most in terms of progression since the beginning of the season, and Frank Bartley IV and Skyler Halford had their moments, flashing uncanny quickness and streaky shooting that periodically gave BYU a spark.
Rose faces the task of balancing a roster that currently has 14 players signed for the 2014-15 season, although he is only allowed to carry 13 scholarship student-athletes.
That could mean one player left without athletic funding, or could even spell a transfer.
The Cougars’ backcourt will get a boost from Wake Forest transfer Chase Fischer, a three-star recruit out of high school who has been running the scouting-team point in practice and shot 42 percent behind the arc in his final season as a Demon Deacon. BYU also adds incoming freshman Jordan Chatman, who has returned from his LDS mission.
One item that will be near the top of the priority list is developing a stronger team defense. The Cougars’ offense is about as good as any in the country when it is free-flowing and isn’t forced into half-court sets.
Therein lies a challenge. Opponents will game-plan to suffocate Haws, meaning Collinsworth's recovery will be monitored with great interest as he was often the default go-to guy on the perimeter.
BYU just couldn’t solve Oregon in the second-round meeting, as Haws garnered Jimmer Fredette-like attention from the Ducks.
Naysayers are already pointing to the loss as proof the Cougars were undeserving of the 10 seed. No matter how compelling their argument, the committee sent a clear message that it holds non-conference scheduling in high regard.
BYU took down March Madness participants Texas, Stanford and Gonzaga, while losing to Wichita State, Iowa State, Oregon — despite holding a lead in each game — and UMass.
What was strange about the way the Cougars received their bid — and Colorado could easily be lumped in the same category after losing leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie — is how the committee was so intent on staying up-to-date on Kansas center Joel Embiid’s status before ruling on the Jawyhawks’ fate, while seemingly underrating the impact of Collinsworth’s injury on BYU’s chances.
Still, the Cougars learned that running a difficult gamut prior to WCC play is in its best interest.
A roster that is one year more experienced and stocked with new faces could make for an even better campaign beginning in the fall.
