from a # 1 seed to ?

Tuesday the BYU  basketball team went from what possibly was a dream season to a nightmare in a few hours. Sophomore forward Brandon Davies was kicked off of the team because he broke the school's honor code. There is a possibility that he will be welcomed back to the team next year but he's going to have to earn that right.
Davies was the second best player on a team that was competing for the NCAA basketball championship. He was an inside presence on a team that desperately needs one. This situation couldn't have happened at a worse time during the season for the cougars and it could derail all of the momentum that they have created so far.
Last night in their first game without Davies the cougars came out flat and played like their hearts had been ripped out. New Mexico dominated the game crushing the cougars 82-64. BYU will fall from #3 and they have no chance at a #1 seed in the tournament. How will the team react from here? Your guess is as good as mine but this situation obviously makes BYU a wild card in the tournament.
 There are no excuses and the Cougars if they play the kind of basketball they've played  most of the year they should be a sweet sixteen team. Within a week we saw the Cougars play their best game in beating San Diego State and their worst game verses New Mexico. As much praise as they received for the good play they will also be criticized for their gutless play. They went from a team that many people were certain about ,to a unknown team. The final history for the 2010-2011 team has yet to be written but it's not over. The next month of games will be what this team is remembered for and in a suddenly unsure season we don't know how this team will finish.

I've been Cougared!

Last Saturday watching the BYU verses San Diego State game I kept wanting someone to pinch me! Was I dreaming or did the cougars dominate that game from start to finish 80-67. Much has been talked about BYU's star player Jimmer Fredette. The Cougars are way more than Jimmer! He deserves to be the college player of the year. I mean who double teams a player 30 feet from the basketball hoop?

It takes a team to win and that's what the cougars have developed into. A very food team. Ranked #3 in the nation and if they win all of the rest of their games they are a lock at a #1 seed for the NCAA basketball tournament!

Cougar fans have come to expect solid basketball teams from Dave Rose but this team is his best by far. I think the cougars are a lock for the sweet sixteen this year. There defense has been great. They mostly play a zone and are very effective at blocking shots and getting rebounds. They seem to be a mismatch for every team that has played them. Jimmer has a killer outside shot and also is great at penetrating and scoring or finding his open teammates for 3 pointers. The cougars offense is very up-tempo and many times they shot the ball very quickly.

*Photo courtesy of Ignelzi/AP

Many things can happen between now and the first Monday of April when the championship game is played. BYU has as good of chance as any team as winning the championship. Many people would say its because of Jimmer. If the cougars continue to win it will be because they have the best team night in and night out.

Adios Deron

It happened in a split second.  Deron Williams was traded to the New Jersey Nets.  The Jazz simply were unwilling to be held hostage for the next 18 months while Williams made up his mind if he wanted to commit to the Jazz.  It's a bittersweet day for Jazz fans.  It's true, they lose probably the best point guard in basketball but the leadership of the Jazz did not want to end up like Toronto or Cleveland.  Both of those teams lost star players to free agency, received nothing in return and now will be rebuilding for years.

I have enjoyed watching Deron play.  He is a very skilled basketball player but one great player doesn't win a NBA championship.  I always felt Deron was missing something.  He always claimed to want to win but he never took the team on his shoulders and willed them to win.  Stockton and Malone did that many times throughout their careers.  It's possible he may learn how to lead but that is a hard skill to learn.

The Jazz have begun to build for the future.  I believe that the Jazz would have ended up trading D-Will next year if not now.  They received in return, a good point guard, a promising rookie forward and 2 possible lottery draft picks.  The future is now!  I admire the Jazz for being proactive.  Jazz owner Greg Miller put it best when he said the Jazz replaced ambiguity with certainty.

Jazz fans need to evaluate this trade in three years. When Deron Williams will be on a team to be determined and still NOT winning championships. I think the Jazz will have a solid team that is competing for league and division championships. As a Jazz fan this move gets them closer to the ultimate goal a NBA championship. If they play their cards right they could make a potentially disastrous situation and turn it into a move that could propel the Jazz towards the goal that no other Jazz team has accomplished.

Will The Jazz get "Carmeloed"?????

With the trade of Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks, I have to wonder what Jazz fans are feeling.  This same scenerio could be happening to the Jazz in 2012.  Deron Williams could do the same thing forcing them to trade him to a team of his choice.  When did NBA players get so much power? Granted, Williams has not publicly hinted to wanting out of Utah but there was a rumor during the NBA All-Star weekend that he has told confidants he would like to join the Knicks when he becomes a free agent in 2012.

Jazz fans instantly become worried and our little brother complex starts to emerge when the subject comes up of players looking to leave Salt Lake.  Time will only tell.  Can the Jazz field a championship caliber team?  Will the NBA labor situation create a new salary structure?  Has Deron Williams already made up his mind?  There are many questions to be answered in the coming months.  This much is sure: Carmelo Anthony being traded to the Knicks has gotten the attention of Jazz fans.  A year from now Jazz fans could be waking up and reading about their superstar leaving and forming a trio of his own in another city. 

The Utah Jazz out of Balance

Whats up with the Jazz? They have lost 10 out of their last 14 games and 3 straight. Simply they are out of balance. They only played with 9 players the last 2 games and Deron Williams is still struggling with a nagging wrist injury that is effecting his play. Mentally they have not focused well lately. Way to many turnovers and defensive breakdowns. Emotionally it has been a roller coaster from losing there head coach of 23 years   Jerry Sloan to losing way more than they are used to. And spiritually they are being challenged with a change of philosophy with new head coach Tyrone Corbin. Maybe the All-Star break is the answer. To rest weary bodies and refocus their efforts. Only time will tell but it is critical to re balance themselves. They need to get healthy and play to solid basketball that they've played for two-thirds of the season. All of the players have to contribute from Williams to Fesenko. All 12 members of the team must contribute for the team to re balance itself.They might not win the NBA championship this year but they are setting up a foundation for future seasons. Or are they going backwards towards mediocrity? The players will decide they always do. One thing is for sure they will not succeed without being balanced.

Why I Love Sports!!!!!!!

Today on the radio show we talked about loving sports. Sports has always been there for me. Sports has been the one consistent throughout my life. Through growing up, getting married and having kids sports has always been at my side. I love to play sports and it helped me as I grew up to deal with all of the crazy emotions a teenager deals with. Sports taught me about defeat. Because in sports, as in life we face losing constantly. Sports are my passion and have taught me to be mentally though, a good sport, and has given me many fun memories. In school when I wasn't the most gifted student I could always do well at sports. PE was always my favorite class. So on this Valentines I remember why I LOVE sports.  My hope for you is that you have a love or passion that has given you back as much as I feel I have received from sports.

SUPER BOWL

I watched the Super Bowl with the family. I picked the Steelers to win and I though they would through their defense. Where was Palamalou and Harrison? The main play makers for the Steelers defense didn't show up. Aaron Rodgers is a solid Super star Quarterback who lead his team to the victory. He is the Best Quarterback in football. He's only played for three years and he's still not reached his potential. The Half Time Show sucked and the commercials were okay with my personal favorite being the Darth Vader commercial. The Super Bowl weekend should be a national holiday. The only bad part about yesterday no more football for 6 more months. Hopefully the players and owners get the labor problems solved. If not this might be the last pro football game for a while. Listen to my radio show shortside sports on blogtalk radio Monday,Wednesday, and Friday at 11 am MWT.