Okay...Let's get this on!! :rofl:
1. BYU -- Until Weber can win on the Cougars floor you can't push the Cougars off the top of the throne. Also, as much as I hate to admit this, Rose has Rahe's number. BYU loses Davies and doesn't have a lot of depth in the paint, but does have one of their best recruiting classes ever coming in. Too bad the class is going to be split up between those players leaving on missions and those choosing not to serve. BYU returns Haws, Carlino, and Kyle Collingsworth from a Mission. Look for JUCO transfer Skyler Halford and Fresh Eric Mika to be play substantial mins for the Cougars this fall.
2. Weber -- The Cats have the Aggies at home and the Cougars on the road. The CIT runners-up loses two key seniors in Frank Mook Otis and Scotty Bamforth. Both huge losses for the Cats, but leadership has never been an issue at Weber and even though the Cats lose two senior leaders and arguably two extremely good players, the Cats still have a lot of depth and talent coming back, and that is without all 13 scholarships being used. The Cats bring back MVP talent Davion Berry and Kyle Tresnak, and fellow starter Jordan Richardson who is a premier PG and defender in the Big Sky (he should have been DPOY in my opinion). Also, the Cats have freshman sensation Joel Bolomboy back. The kid is only going to get better!! Also, the Cats add Kyndahl Hill, Josh Fuller, Jeremy Senglin, and Richaud Gittens (If Gittens is an indication of how good this class can be...then YIKES...I watched him play the other day and he is athletic and a hell of a good shooter).
3. Utah State -- The Aggies are kinda a wildcard this year. They have had a couple of rough years. After starting the season strong last year, the Aggies lost two starters and probably 30% of their offense, when Medlin and Kyisean Reed went down with injuries. Medlin and Berger are reported to be back and the Aggies should be stronger with a year of play under Jared Shaw and Butterfields belts. Also, Marcel Davis, a local product from American Fork proved he was the real deal last year playing a lot of mins in the backcourt for the Aggies. The Aggies are a star by committee team, which isn't a bad thing. They have four or five players who can score and are always dangerous defensively. The Aggies have a solid recruiting class joining the team highlighted by Skyview High's star forward Jalen Moore. Aggies are below the Cats because they have to play in the Dee and the Cats were a far better team at the end of the season than the Aggies.
4. Utah -- The Utes are improving. They ended the season on a nice little run in the PAC-12 tournament winning a couple of big games to give the Utes some much needed confidence heading into this season. However, the Utes lost a lot of firepower and really only have West Jordan star Jordan Loveridge available to keep the Utes hopes for a restored dynasty alive. LK is not Rick Majerus. He is a good coach, but is proving to be a limited recruiter. I'm really disappointed that LK refuses to continue an instate rivalry with Weber. He is a huge coward. I thought Montana boys were driven by duty and courage. His unwillingness to play Weber is a huge indication of how small his balls really are. Anyway, the Utes have a pretty good recruiting class, if they were still playing in the MW, but fact of the matter is that they are not in the MW. I think the Utes would have a hard time competing in the current WAC.
5. Utah Valley -- Dick Hunsaker is a good coach and he has some solid senior leadership surrounding his team. Ben Aird and Colton Hunsaker are back but the Wolverines lost a bit at the end of this season. The Wolverines will be competitive in their conference, but that is about all. Weber should get a win in Utah County finally this season. If not in Provo, for sure in Orem.
6. Southern Utah -- Nick Robinson has a tough hill to climb. He lost about 75% of his offensive production with the graduation of Hueir and Stevenette. He has a decent class coming in, but it will take a couple of years to get things on track in Cedar City. The SUU administration needs to give Robinson some time too. Things will steadily improve in Cedar City under Robinson, but this season won't be one of them, but this is important for SUU's fortunes. He has some potential.
1. BYU -- Until Weber can win on the Cougars floor you can't push the Cougars off the top of the throne. Also, as much as I hate to admit this, Rose has Rahe's number. BYU loses Davies and doesn't have a lot of depth in the paint, but does have one of their best recruiting classes ever coming in. Too bad the class is going to be split up between those players leaving on missions and those choosing not to serve. BYU returns Haws, Carlino, and Kyle Collingsworth from a Mission. Look for JUCO transfer Skyler Halford and Fresh Eric Mika to be play substantial mins for the Cougars this fall.
2. Weber -- The Cats have the Aggies at home and the Cougars on the road. The CIT runners-up loses two key seniors in Frank Mook Otis and Scotty Bamforth. Both huge losses for the Cats, but leadership has never been an issue at Weber and even though the Cats lose two senior leaders and arguably two extremely good players, the Cats still have a lot of depth and talent coming back, and that is without all 13 scholarships being used. The Cats bring back MVP talent Davion Berry and Kyle Tresnak, and fellow starter Jordan Richardson who is a premier PG and defender in the Big Sky (he should have been DPOY in my opinion). Also, the Cats have freshman sensation Joel Bolomboy back. The kid is only going to get better!! Also, the Cats add Kyndahl Hill, Josh Fuller, Jeremy Senglin, and Richaud Gittens (If Gittens is an indication of how good this class can be...then YIKES...I watched him play the other day and he is athletic and a hell of a good shooter).
3. Utah State -- The Aggies are kinda a wildcard this year. They have had a couple of rough years. After starting the season strong last year, the Aggies lost two starters and probably 30% of their offense, when Medlin and Kyisean Reed went down with injuries. Medlin and Berger are reported to be back and the Aggies should be stronger with a year of play under Jared Shaw and Butterfields belts. Also, Marcel Davis, a local product from American Fork proved he was the real deal last year playing a lot of mins in the backcourt for the Aggies. The Aggies are a star by committee team, which isn't a bad thing. They have four or five players who can score and are always dangerous defensively. The Aggies have a solid recruiting class joining the team highlighted by Skyview High's star forward Jalen Moore. Aggies are below the Cats because they have to play in the Dee and the Cats were a far better team at the end of the season than the Aggies.
4. Utah -- The Utes are improving. They ended the season on a nice little run in the PAC-12 tournament winning a couple of big games to give the Utes some much needed confidence heading into this season. However, the Utes lost a lot of firepower and really only have West Jordan star Jordan Loveridge available to keep the Utes hopes for a restored dynasty alive. LK is not Rick Majerus. He is a good coach, but is proving to be a limited recruiter. I'm really disappointed that LK refuses to continue an instate rivalry with Weber. He is a huge coward. I thought Montana boys were driven by duty and courage. His unwillingness to play Weber is a huge indication of how small his balls really are. Anyway, the Utes have a pretty good recruiting class, if they were still playing in the MW, but fact of the matter is that they are not in the MW. I think the Utes would have a hard time competing in the current WAC.
5. Utah Valley -- Dick Hunsaker is a good coach and he has some solid senior leadership surrounding his team. Ben Aird and Colton Hunsaker are back but the Wolverines lost a bit at the end of this season. The Wolverines will be competitive in their conference, but that is about all. Weber should get a win in Utah County finally this season. If not in Provo, for sure in Orem.
6. Southern Utah -- Nick Robinson has a tough hill to climb. He lost about 75% of his offensive production with the graduation of Hueir and Stevenette. He has a decent class coming in, but it will take a couple of years to get things on track in Cedar City. The SUU administration needs to give Robinson some time too. Things will steadily improve in Cedar City under Robinson, but this season won't be one of them, but this is important for SUU's fortunes. He has some potential.
