Welcome to CrashUtah – Where BYU fans Talk Sports

We’re definitely outnumbered here in Las Vegas. I love this game atmosphere. Check out the sea of red.

I previously wrote about some amazing conference stats. Here’s some of those same stats compared nationally:

The statistics offer plenty of evidence: BYU is first in the country in free-throw percentage, third in scoring margin, fourth in field-goal percentage, 24th in field-goal percentage defense and seventh in scoring offense. The Cougars are in the top 100 in all 18 statistical categories kept by the NCAA, and in the top 50 in 15 of them. -source

That same article says the reason they’re doing so well this year is because of their defense. I won’t argue that the defense isn’t better. However, I think the real improvement this year is the free throw shooting. Chris Miles deserves a TON of credit for his improvement in free throw shooting. I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen a big man improve his free throw shooting this much this quickly. I seem to remember it taking Karl Malone about 5 years to improve his free throw shooting. Not only does his improvement in free throw shooting mean more points on the board, but it also means that the other teams defense can’t just hack away at our big men.

I saw this in a Wyoming paper:
“BYU ranks in the top three in 18 of 21 team statistical categories and leads nine of them.”

That’s just amazing! Let’s hope it’s not just all due to cupcakes on the schedule.

The following is an ad that is scheduled to be run before the national championship college football game in the TCU, Boise St. and Utah markets talking about the need for a playoff instead of the current BCS system. Check it out:

Check out more info on the Playoff Pac that’s behind the ad.

Jimmer is just outstanding. Don’t ask me why I don’t mind when Jimmer takes an ill advised shot when I hate when JT does it. I just love Jimmer’s confidence. Maybe I just love it in my point guard and not in my forwards. Either way Jimmer was awesome to watch in the end of the game against Weber State.

Of course Emery had the real money shots. He got a little over his skis after making 3 in a row, but I’m sure that the basket was looking huge for him tonight. In fact, pretty much most of the season.

I think this is going to be a nice season for BYU and I predict that they’ll deliver BYU’s first tournament win in far too long. I like teams with shooters in the tournament and this BYU team looks like it has a number of nice shooters.

My first live game this season for basketball and I see some real promise. Although sadly the biggest takeaway is probably that Weber State doesn’t look very good so far. Their bench actually looks pretty athletic so maybe they’ll improve as the season goes on.

I am really impressed with Davies’ length. The ball movement looks really good. Haws has also lived up to the billing and seems to be outworking everyone on the floor.

JT is still the same old JT. My brother-in-law said it best on Thanksgiving when he said, “I’m thankful that JT’s a senior.”. Oh yes, we’re definitely still getting pretty worked on the boards.

One thing is certain about this team. They’ll be really exciting to watch.

Getting ready for the BYU men’s basketball game against Weber State. I just love seeing a game at the Marriott Center. Go Cougs!!

I just read an interesting idea pitting the winners of the MWC and WAC in a kind of championship game with the winner getting an automatic BCS berth. I think the idea is interesting. My biggest problem with the idea is that this type of set up basically suggests that the MWC and WAC are comparable conferences that should share a BCS berth. Not to knock the WAC too hard, but they just aren’t as good as the MWC. That’s why the teams in the MWC left. In fact, if Boise State were to move to the MWC, then you might as well call it the MWC automatic BCS berth, no? Which other team in the WAC will be able to beat the MWC champion?

Sure, at the end of the day, the possibility of an automatic is probably better than not getting to a BCS game. However, something about the idea just doesn’t feel quite right. Even if a game between TCU and Boise State before a BCS game would be a lot of fun to watch this year.

Check out these videos that were created announcing the various BYU games.

Ronnie Ron and Roscoe’s Introduction

Ronnie Ron and Roscoe Visit the Marriott Center

Ronnie Ron and Roscoe Meet Jimmer Fredette

I also really liked this commercial for BYU Basketball. Got me going and excited for the basketball season.

As a side note, I went to the exhibition game for UNLV against Washburn and they weren’t looking that impressive. They have a bit of talent, but it’s pretty raw. They actually barely pulled off the win against Washburn.

I got this in my email and it’s definitely worth sharing after yesterday’s game.

Our oldest son who lives in Hong Kong with his family, sent me this:

The young men in our branch have a “code” to share the score of BYU football games during church (because of the time zone difference, most of the games end while we are at church). BYU’s score is always the chapter and their opponent’s score is the verse.

In credit to BYU’s game today, the young men read Alma 14:13. Here it is:

“Be it according to the will of the Lord. But behold our work is not finished. Therefore they burn us not.”

GO BYU!