Pilots @ BYU, Thursday 8PM, ESPNU

Which BYU team will be there Thursday? The one that was down to USD by 13 in the first half and won by 2, or the one that beat USD by 58 points two nights later? Was holding USD to 33 points more about BYU, or about USD?

BYU has a problem with "P" teams. They have four WCC losses, and three of them are to Pepperdine, Pacific and Portland (plus SMC). They also have a win over SMC and a win at GU. So they are a typical WCC team, schizophrenic.

The Cougars are 12-4 in conference, and looking at a #3 or maybe #2 seed in the tourney. They're not likely to get an at-large invite to the NCAA tourney; the UOP and UP losses hurt that chance.

Should be a high scoring game; they have six WCC games where they scored 90+ points. 6'-3" G Chase Fischer is their leading scorer at 18 ppg. 62% of his shot attempts are from 3P range. DD's favorite PG Nick Emery is their 2nd leading scorer at 16 ppg. But their star is 24 year old Sr. Kyle Collinsworth, who averages 15 ppg, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and rarely shoots from 3P. He had a bad night at Chiles, shooting 4 of 17 in the Pilots' three point win.

If the Pilots are hot from long range, could be a good game. If the Cougars get going and the huge home crowd gets rockin', could be a long night.

This is the road trip I miss travelling to the most. The Marriott Center is a lively arena and the student section is always loud. The best part is they would always pick out a couple of Pilot players and make big signs poking fun at them. I think Ryans senior year Voldi was the butt of their jokes but after they always came down to the bench area and talked and asked the players to autograph their posters.

I like the Pilots chances in this match. We definitely need to stroke some 3's and this new lineup with Gabe at the post might slow down Collinsworth and company. Although I will be relegated to watching from the TV or Web it should be a good game. GO PILOTS

up7587 wrote:DD's favorite PG Nick Emery is their 2nd leading scorer at 16 ppg.

Why is that BYU always seems to have some ace-in-the-hole who is so arrogant you can only boo him and root against him?  

I love booing certain coaches, but I honestly hate rooting against or yelling at opposing players, but every year BYU seems to have a player that is just different from the rest of the players in the WCC.....and not in a good way!

Three more seasons of this guy....I really hope I start liking him as he turns his on-court personality around through maturity, but more than likely he's already older than many of the players he opposes.

DoubleDipper wrote:I love booing certain coaches

Plural? More than just Rex?

up7587 wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote:I love booing certain coaches

Plural?  More than just Rex?

Um, Keating too.

I'd probably jump on Bennett too, but I have way too much respect for his coaching and recruiting ability.

Favorite coaches, besides Rev and his staff: Mark Few and Marty Wilson.

Bennett was whining like a little baby on Thursday, especially as the game stayed close in the last few minutes. He threw a temper tantrum everytime his guys committed a foul.

@gregwrubell wrote:BYU's last three halftime leads have been by 19, 19, and 28 points. Portland is winless (0-15) when trailing at the break this season.

So the Pilots are 12-2 when winning at halftime, and 0-15 when down? That's one hell of a stat.

BTW, this is BYU's radio guy. Obviously BYU-focused but I find him to be a solid follow on Twitter for many things related to WCC hoops.

Terry Cahill wrote:  So the Pilots are 12-2 when winning at halftime, and 0-15 when down? That's one hell of a stat.

Tonight the Pilots are expected to be down the entire game....and blown out by 18 points with the final score totaling around 169 points.    So, 85 points will barely be enough to win?  

Other blow-outs predicted in the WCC tonight are GU over USD by 14.5 on the road and SMC by 16.5 at home vs. SCU. Interestingly, UOP is picked to beat USF by 2 in Stockton tonight, while PU and LMU take the night off before their rivalry game on Saturday.

Terry Cahill wrote:So the Pilots are 12-2 when winning at halftime, and 0-15 when down? That's one hell of a stat.

Wow. I knew there was a reason that the end-of-the-first-half collapse against Saint Mary's bothered me so much... 85% chance we would have won if we'd kept the leading heading into halftime!

Halftime... Ouch

Ugh.

Woof. That first-half run by BYU was reminiscent of last year's WCC semis.

What was with all the turnovers in the 42-19 BYU run in the first half?

Hey, did anyone notice Ray got a double double? 10 points on 5-5 shooting, and 11 rebs. And Jazz was 4-4 from 3P range in getting 17 points.

But BYU really shut down Alec, only 1-10 and some FTs for 5 points. Need a lot more from him.

Ray played a great game. Jazz was great off of the bench, too. The turnovers killed us. That and the shooting from Wintering, Tyson and Marshall (combined 5-29).

Let's hope we can avenge our previous loss to USD and finish the season on an upswing. That would put us at 7-11 in conference, matching our record from the last two seasons.