Basketball supremacy in the state is serious business. The Beehive State boasts six DI basketball programs that have had various levels of recent success. SUU is the only DI program in Utah that hasn’t participated in a post season tourney in the last decade. Regardless of this fact, the T-Birds still garner respect and are seen as a positive force in the states basketball ascendancy. No matter, they haven’t been anywhere as good as the rest.
Even if Weber had the best overall record against in-state schools, which in years past would have awarded them the bucket, recognition of the state’s top basketball school, five of the six DI schools had markedly successful seasons. Out of those six, four ended their 2011-2012 seasons in the post-season. Not only did they end their seasons in the post-season, but three of the four won games in their respective tournaments. The Aggies of Utah State, hosted the CIT Championship, eventually losing to CIT Champ, Mercer University, and the Cougars of BYU continued their recent tournament success by beating Iona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Weber, not to be out done, beat UVU (their first post-season experience) before falling to Loyola Marymount in the second round of the CIT, in overtime. Needless to say, 2011-2012 was, once again, a very successful basketball season for the state’s university basketball teams. On a side note, NAIA school Westminster College was enormously effective this past season, culminating in a huge win over DI Northern Colorado, en-route to another 20+ win season. As well as solid campaigns by DII Dixie State and JUCO schools CEU, Snow, and SLCC.
Behind the auspice of Damian Lillard and Coach Randy Rahe, the Wildcats, of Weber State, had an exceptional season. The Cats ended the season with a record of 25-7, and in the post-season for the fourth straight season. Weber State ended the season with the best in-state record along with bragging rights, as the best team in the State of Utah. Yet, can the Cats keep a hold of the crown? It isn’t impossible, but with Lillard leaving Weber State, with a year of eligibility left, for the NBA, and the Cats returning a fairly young team, it will be extremely tough. Also, the Cats, if they want to keep the crown will have to beat an athletic Utah State team in Logan for the first time since 1994. Coach Stew Morrill has had an extremely busy off season doing everything he possibly can to build up his team. Even though there has been a lot of turn around and some talented elements added in Logan, the Cats aren’t slouches. Weber has a lot of talent returning to Ogden, so, as normal, that game should be competitive, hard fought, and fun to watch. Regardless of the talent returning to Ogden and Logan, both need to worry about the Y.
Dave Rose, perhaps the greatest coach ever to take the reigns of the BYU basketball team, after a supposed rebuilding year, has assembled an extremely talented group of players ready to take BYU to the top of the WCC conference and, most likely, to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Rose already has a number of talented players at his disposal (Davies, Rodgers, Austin, Carlino, and Zylstra), but during the offseason and early recruiting period has added even more fire power, which will make the Cougars extremely difficult to beat. The return of freshman sensation Tyler Haws from an LDS Church mission is perhaps the most significant addition to any DI roster in the state. A proven player who can, score, pass, defend, and lead. The Cougars will be extremely difficult to beat next year. Thankfully, for Weber State, the Wildcats will have the cougars visiting the Dee Events Center next season.
TOP TEAMS:
1. BYU:
Dave Rose is losing two starters off a team that won a game in the NCAA Tournament, but a team without a dominate force. And thankfully too! This asinine jimmermania has got to end! Anyway, if there was a dominant force it was Noah Hartsock. Hartsock was not only an effective offensive player, but most importantly, a guy who had a team first mentality. He was always willing to do those things necessary for the Cougars success. Granted, Rose can depend upon a bevy of bigs, as a means, to make up for the loss of Hartsock to graduation, but do any have the workmanlike attitude and leadership brevotoo that Hartsock engender for the Cougars? I guess we will see. What the Cougars do have is four starters back. Granted, one is coming back from a two year hiatus. Nonetheless, look for Haws to make an immediate impact for Roses Cougars. In all likelihood BYU will go undefeated in the State. Their toughest in state matchup will be at the Dee Events Center when they face Randy Rahe’s Weber State Wildcats.
a. Recruits:
i. Raul Delgado (JC Western Nebraska)
ii. Augustin Ambrosino (JC SLCC)
iii. Cory Calvert (HS Colorado probable RS and Mission)
iv. Jordan Chatman (HS Washington probable RS and Mission)
b. Starters:
i. Matt Carlino
ii. Tyler Haws
iii. Brock Zylstra
iv. Brandon Davies
v. Nate Austin
(Anson Winder, Josh Sharp, Stephen Rogers, Raul Delgado, and Augustin Ambrosino)
2. Weber State:
The Cats and the Aggies could switch at any point. Also, both have the depth, talent, and ability to beat the Cougars. However, due to experience I think, right now, at least, that BYU is the best team in the state. If Hartsock is a loss for the Cougars, Lillard’s departure is apocalyptic for the Cats. Rahe knows that Weber will not see another player like Lillard for a long time, if ever. Rahe isn’t hoping for one of his players, or recruits, to make up for the loss of Lillard, but for the team to. At times, Rahe has been heard to say that the 2012-2013 team will be better than the 2011-2012 team. Could be some wishful thinking on his part, but if you know Randy Rahe, you know that he is one of the toughest characters in the NCAA, and that he is a man founded in integrity. I guess we will all see. Regardless, Weber is talented, somewhat inexperienced, but full of talent. Also, the Cats will have more depth than in the past, as long as the injury bug passes over the Cats this year. Finally, along with planning well and developing his player, Rahe has done an admirable job recruiting. Even without Lillard, who was depended on frequently to lift the team, look for Weber to be more rounded and team oriented than last year; a lot like 2010-2011 without all of the injuries and with more talent. Yes, a lot depends on the development of Gelaun Wheelright and Kyle Tresnak, as well as the play of Scotty Bamforth, but overall if you are a Weber State fan the future is indeed bright, even if the greatest player in Big Sky history is leaving.
a. Recruits:
i. Joel Bolomboy (HS Texas)
ii. Kyndahl Hill (HS Texas probable RS)
iii. Abdul “Deuce” Zaid (JC Barstow Community College)
iv. Wayne Bradford (JC Sheridan Community College Soph. probable RS)
v. Royce Williams (JC New Mexico Military Institute Soph.)
b. Starters
i. Gelaun Wheelright
ii. Scott Bamforth
iii. Davion Berry
iv. Frank “Mook” Otis
v. Kyle Tresnak
(Jordan Richardson, Royce Williams, Byron Fulton, Joel Bolomboy, Abdul Zaid, and James Hajek)
3. Utah State:
As a disclaimer, Weber, Utah State, and BYU could at any moment knock the other off the top of the hill. Utah State has Stew and as we all know, Stew is pretty amazing. Even in down years, his teams still eclipse the 20 win plateau. No matter, one serious area of concern for the Aggies is experience and depth. Yes, Stew has recruited exceptionally; especially this Spring. However, we all thought the additions last spring were pretty remarkable, and now…most of them are gone. Guess they weren’t very good. That fact alone should be a huge concern for the 2012-2013 season. Will the Spring recruits be better than last years? The Aggies are definitely hoping so. Granted, at the start of last season, USU was dealt a blow by losing Antonio Bumpus and Norvel Arnold. No matter, the game must go on. Preston Medlin and Kyisean Reed both ended up becoming excellent players, and are solid supports to rebuild a team around. But they are practically it. The Aggies are entering new territory. Yes, the recruits, on paper, look like solid additions, but we won’t know how good they will be till they get on the floor, and as we all know, the Aggies aren’t returning much. This is the first time since I was in college that the Aggies won’t have a returning PG and/or a depth of talented Bigs returning. It could go one of two ways for the Aggies, another 20+ win season or…Lets be positive and hope that these spring recruits are better than last years. For USU, a lot depends on their incoming JCs. You can’t put too much pressure on the Fresh right away. Give them time to develop. But, all in all, I think the Aggie faithful should be pretty excited, if not, simultaneously tentative about next season. If anything, we know that Stew will mold them into being competitive, and that the team will be extremely tough. On a side note, too bad Brady Jardine couldn’t have had a better SR. campaign. He is one of classiest guys I have ever met.
a. Recruits (Aggies are hoping for their version of the magnificent 8, I know it’s originally 7)
i. Tenale Roland (JC Sullivan Community College)
ii. Marvin Jean (JC Reed Community College)
iii. Sean Harris (JC Yuba College Medical Issues: Knee)
iv. Spencer Butterfield (JC Yuba College)
v. Quincy Bair (HS Utah Probably RS)
vi. Riley Bradshaw (HS Montana Probable RS)
vii. Marcel Davis (HS Utah)
viii. Matt Lopez (Trans La Salle)
b. Starters
i. Tenale Roland
ii. Preston Medlin
iii. Spencer Butterfield
iv. Kyisean Reed
v. Jared Shaw
(Marcel Davis, Ben Clifford, Danny Berger, Jordan Stone, Marvin Jean, and Matt Lopez)
4. Utah:
LK has a lot to deal with: virtually a brand spanking new team, Dr. Chris Hill who could be considered in some circles, as being borderline looney, and the wacky politics of the Crimson Club. Unfortunately for the Montana native, he really doesn’t have any way to deal with these issues. The Utes are in trouble. Ute fans want immediate success, which doesn’t happen, but like most American’s they aren’t willing to patiently wait and measure achievement rationally. But that goes hand in hand with the Utes inability to think rationally. Anyway, LK, after replacing practically his entire team, after getting 6 wins in his first year at the helm, is hoping for marked improvements in his second season in Salt Lake. Will it happen? Well, not marked improvements, but more wins??? Maybe… even 1 would be an improvement over 2011-2012. Can things get any worse? Sure…and there is a chance things will before they get better. The Utes…well, any news for them is good news. They need everything they can get right now. One positive, is the fact that Foster, one of the best Lurch impressionists around, will be back, after a year on the bench due to injury. His return should help the Utes a bit. Also, former Eastern Washington star, Glenn Dean will be available for LK. He was good in Cheney, but the Big Sky is a tad different than the PAC-12. LK and the Utes are hoping his abilities from the Sky will translate to the PAC-12 and SLC. Dean, however, doesn’t have the hopes of Ute fans on his shoulders, all their hope rest securely on the shoulders of Utah native, and reigning Mr. Basketball, Jordan Loveridge. To play in the PAC-12, Loveridge is sacrificing a lot. Who knows, maybe he could be the deciding factor that helps transforms the Utes from mediocre to average.
a. Recruits
i. Jordan Loveridge (HS Utah)
ii. Dakari Tucker (HS California)
iii. Brandon Taylor (HS California)
iv. Justin Seymour (HS Georgia)
v. Dallin Bachynski (Soph. RM/Trans SUU)
vi. Jared Dubois (Grad Student Trans Loyola Marymount)
vii. Renan Lenz (JC Arizona Western College)
viii. Anthony Odunsi (HS Texas)
b. Starters….Who knows…please speculate
5. Utah Valley:
Coach Hunsaker has been at the helm virtually the entire time the Wolverines have been a DI program. During that time period, even though the Wolverines play a fairly mediocre conference schedule, Hunsaker has been able to lead UVU to a number of outstanding and highly surprising seasons. I don’t see why next year should be any different. Yes, the Wolverines are losing their team leader and top scorer, but for some reason Hunsaker is able to reload on basketball gems and keep his team relevant. That says a lot about what he has accomplished in Orem. Relevance, when you don’t have a chance at attaining any sort of post-season glory is a huge undertaking, and a truly remarkable feat. Yet, the Wolverines, after another 20+ season, are going to be staring into the abyss, if they can’t replace the loss of talent they experienced at the end of the 2011-2012 (Isaiah Williams and Geddess Robinson). No matter, and I believe this, even when I think they will be terrible, Hunsaker will once again have his team competitive, playing tough, and on the brink of playing in the CIT once again. We could argue that UVU should be better than Utah, they were in 2011-2012, but since the Utes are part of a High Major conference, they should be able to compete, and beat a lowly Independent, even if they have to get players from Simon Fraiser to transfer to SLC.
a. Recruits
i. Justin Johnson (HS Utah)
ii. Kelvin Agee (JC)
iii. Shawn Smith (JC)
iv. Two Additional Spots
b. Starters
i. Holton Hunsaker
ii. Keawe Enos
iii. Alfonso Hubbard
iv. Zack Jones
v. Ben Aird
6. Southern Utah:
Because of a new coach, I have the T-Birds at the bottom. SUU has the talent to possibly be 5th or even 4th, once again I’m ripping on the mighty Utes (cowards who are afraid to play Weber anywhere; especially Ogden), but with a new coach, who knows. Nick Robinson definitely has his work cut out for him. Good thing for him Roger Reid left him with some talent in the cupboards with which he can work with. However, there wasn’t much in Cedar last year, and there is even less this year. Yet, Robinson is a young and energetic coach. Already he has actively been recruiting in Utah, and the surrounding area. Looking for 2013 guys, and a possible gem to help fill his 2012-2013 roster. Reportedly, he has offered one of the top players in the state (Race Parsons) and is actively pursuing additional talent in the area. Also, it looks like the SUU administration is actually allowing him to recruit out of state. A consistent agony past coaches had to deal with while they dwelt in Cedar. Regardless of the changing winds in Cedar, Robinson still has a rough road ahead of him. Cedar is a tough draw and, in the past, the SUU administration hasn’t made it easy on their coaches with their policies of almost exclusively forcing them to recruit state and regional talent (there was a time when Evans was coaching that the administration would only allow 2 out of state scholarships to be given out, and those two had to become state resident students within a season.). Since the beginning of the Roger Reid tenure, it looks, as if, the SUU administration has eased up on their rules, and have been more apt to allow out-of-state players to sign. Regardless, this hasn’t translated into wins, which is the primary reason why Robinson has the job in Cedar. Thankfully, he has two starters returning (Jackson Stevenett and Damon Heuir) along with a solid group of reserves and new signees that could make some noise in the Big Sky Conference, possibly making the conference tournament.
a. Starters
i. Damon Heuir
ii. Jackson Stevenette
iii. Wade Collie
iv. Jaren Jeffrey
v. Cal Hanks
(Julian Scott, Jordan Johnson, Chris Nsenki, Matt Gardner)
b. Recruits
i. Austin Waddoups
ii. Drake Thomasa
iii. Zach Ghormley
iv. Jayson Cheeseman
