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Ute Daily Round Up

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Gotta love the fact that College Football Season in the state of Utah starts tomorrow as “Camp Kyle” opens for the Utes. Practice #1 will be Thursday afternoon at 1:45, but not open to the public. I’ve gone on record saying I think this is at least a 10 win football team this season and maybe more. Much depends on the the opener against nationally ranked Pitt at Rice Eccles Stadium on September 2nd. A win there and the schedule sets up very favorably for Utah the rest of the way, with TCU and BYU coming to Salt Lake City in September. This is a very talented football team, that I think many nationally are sleeping on. With that said…there are still some questions heading into “Camp Kyle” that need to be answered for this team to reach an elite level this season…

Here are 3 things to ponder heading into Fall Camp for Utah…

1. Who will Jordan Wynn throw the ball to?

There is very little doubt that Utah will be able to run the football this season with Wide, Asiata and Shakerin. But when the ball has to be thrown downfield, who will the guy or guys that Wynn looks to? There’s very little doubt that Jeremy Brooks will be a target, he’s the leading returning receiver on the team. After Brooks, it becomes a little murkier. Luke Matthews and Shaky Smithson appear to head into camp as starters, but who challenges them? Keep an eye on Devonte Christopher, Reggie Dunn and Martavious Lee (if he gets eligible) to push for playmaking with Wynn.

2. Linebacker “U” or “Who”?

The Utes have to replace all 3 starters at the Linebacker spots. Lots of options and talent, but who will get the 3 starting nods. Mike Martinez, Chad Mannis and JJ Williams look to be the leaders heading to camp, but keep an eye on the ultra-talented freshman VJ Fehoko to push for playing time. The depth in front of these guys should make life easier, but experience will only come with games.

3. Locking Down the Back

The Secondary has been one of Utah’s strength’s in recent years both Safety and Corner spots have produced NFL caliber players. This season only corner Brandon Burton returns with starters experience. Who will play on the opposite edge? Lamar Chapman looks to have an edge over Conroy Black, Kameron Yancy and Reggie Topps. Justin Taplin-Ross will play and start at one safety spot and likely fill the large and athletic shoes of Robert Johnson, but the other safety spot remains up in the air. It’s a battle between veteran Greg Bird and Freshman Damien Payne.

One non-football note from today, the Utah Men’s Basketball team released it’s final MWC schedule for the upcoming season. The one notable change in the schedule is the removal of the Oregon game in December and replacing it with Boise State on December 17th. Here’s a link to the full schedule..

http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/080410aab.html

More to come tomorrow after Day 1 from Camp Kyle

POSTED IN: BYU, College Football, U of U | Comments Off

Football Time

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

“Hello there, it’s been a while…Not much, how bout you?”–England Dan and John Ford Coley

Please forgive the cheesy 70′s love song…I must apologize up front for neglecting this blog space. Needless to say now that football season is upon us this space will be updated daily if not multiple times per day. You guys need your football fix on the Utes and College Football and so I will do my very best to fill it here.

As you may or may not know by now, I have been named the Play by Play Voice for the University of Utah. So that means I will be plugged in even closer to the program than I have been over the last three years. I hope to fill this space and my twitter space (@espn700bill) with as much info and insight as humanly possible. So if you haven’t added me on twitter yet, please do so now and tell your friends to do the same. I will be doing as much on air, on twitter, Facebook and blogging as possible.

So let’s lead things off with my Mountain West Conference Preseason Ballot that I submitted last week in Las Vegas. Here’s how I ranked the 9 teams:

1. TCU-Hard not to pick the Frogs. Returning 10 starters on Offense. Including the MWC Preseason POY, QB Andy Dalton.

2. Utah-Lots to like including the 3 headed monster at tailback and the deepest DL in school history. MWC title may got through SLC with TCU and BYU both coming to Rice Eccles this fall.

3. BYU-I debated between BYU and Air Force here. Ultimately settling on the Cougs. Much will hinge on who plays QB and how they play. Biggest loss will be Harvey Unga.

4. Air Force-I like Troy Calhoun’s team. More athleticism than they’ve had in years. Could break through into the Top 3.

5. San Diego State-This is my surprise team of the year in the MWC. Ryan Lindley and Vincent Brown are outstanding. I think Brady Hoke is the right guy to lead SDSU back to competitive in the league.

6. Wyoming-I love Austin Carta-Samuels at QB. I’m just not sure how much talent he will have around to make plays this fall.

7. Colorado State-Steve Fairchild is in year #3 in Fort Collins. He needs to begin showing some progress or Rams fans will be longing for the Lubick era once again.

8. New Mexico-Let’s see if the Head Coach can get his team to show some of the same passion and fire he used on his former assistant coach last season.

9. UNLV-It can only be up for 1st year Head Coach Bobby Hauck and the Rebels.

Here’s my Preseason All MWC Offense and Defense

Offense-

QB-Andy Dalton-TCU

RB-Eddie Wide-Utah, Jared Tew-Air Force

WR-Vincent Brown-SDSU, Jeremy Brooks-Utah

OL-Caleb Schlauderaff-Utah, Zane Taylor-Utah, Matt Reynolds-BYU, Marcus Cannon-TCU, Jake Kirkpatrick-TCU

TE-Lucas Reed-New Mexico

Defense-

DL-Sealver Siliga-Utah, Derrick Shelby-Utah, Wayne Daniels-TCU, Johnathan Rainey-New Mexico

LB-Tank Carder-TCU, Mychael Sisson-Colorado St. , Carmen Messina-New Mexico

DB-Brandon Burton-Utah, Andrew Rich-BYU, Chris Prosinski-Wyoming, Reggie Rembert-Air Force

Special Teams-

PK-Joe Phillips-Utah

P-Brian Stahovich-San Diego State

KR-Jeremy Kerley-TCU

Offensive Player of the Year-Eddie Wide-Utah

Defensive Player of the Year-Tank Carder-TCU

Special Teams Player of the Year-Jeremy Kerley–TCU

POSTED IN: BYU, College Football, U of U | Comments Off

Prime Time for the NFL Draft

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Tonight is one of my favorite sports days/nights of the year…I love the NFL Draft! I always have been really in the last 15 years since I was lucky enough to host a “Draft Day” Show in Jacksonville for 6 years with the Jaguars. The NFL will show tonight why it is KING, by moving the draft into prime time on ESPN and the NFL Network. Plus it is now a 3 day event instead of 2 days. What other league could pull this off? NBA? NHL? MLB? Not a chance…The NFL is America’s Pastime and that’s all there is to it!

I just scanned ESPN’s final mock draft from Scouts Inc. and they have some interesting picks with local guys. ESPN/Scouts has Utah’s Koa Misi going mid 2nd round at #47 to New England. At the top of the 3rd round, Utah WR David Reed goes to KC at #68 and the next pick Utah’s Zane Beadles at #69 to Oakland. The first BYU guy off the board is Dennis Pitta at #80 in the 3rd Round to Denver. The only other player taken according to ESPN/Scouts is BYU’s Manase Tonga in the 7th round to Pittsburgh.

We will have complete coverage of tonight’s first round, tomorrow’s 2nd and 3rd rounds and rounds 4-7 on Saturday on KALL 700 Sports…

POSTED IN: BYU, College Football, NFL, U of U | Comments Off

2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Click on the bracket graphic to see the full size graphic…

Check out Spencer Checketts’ bracket HERE and Shep’s bracket HERE.

TAGS: College Basketball, NCAA Tournament
POSTED IN: BYU | Comments Off

March Madness Initial Thoughts on the Dance

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Let the Madness begin!! After 4 months of college basketball we are down to the final 64, notice I didn’t say the best 64 because that is never the case. The NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament is never about getting the “best” 64 teams in…It’s about creating a tourney field with teams that have earned the right to play in the field. It’s my favorite 3 weeks of sports annually, so needless to say I’m quite stoked right now (some of it might have to do with the fact my alma mater is among the favorites to win it all).

I will give you my quick thoughts and initial observations on the tourney in a moment, but first let me say this: You will not ever here me complain about who got left out of the tournament. We in the media tend to spend way too much time bemoaning the fact that Virginia Tech or Illinois got left out of the field. At the end of the day, the selection committee has a difficult job trying to sort out who is in and who is out. There will always be the opportunity to make a case for th 66th, 67th or 68th team, but at the end of the day those teams will NEVER, I repeat NEVER win the National Championship. This is a tournament for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, it should be treated that way. Everyone has a chance to qualify and the process is simple–WIN!!! Ok I’m done ranting about this…and don’t even get me started with expanding the field…

Here are my quick hit thoughts:

1. I have no problem what so ever with the top seeds-Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Syracuse. All are deserving of their seed and status.

2. I believe there are about 5 teams that have a legit chance to win 6 in a row and cut down the nets in Indy on April 5th. They are: Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, West Virginia, Kansas State. That’s all…All 5 have flaws of some sort,but I really do believe that they are all more complete than the rest of the field. Duke is missing from my list and I simply believe they rely to heavily on their Big 3 (Scheyer, Singler and Smith) and the perimeter game, plus I don’t think they guard well enough…

3. Toughest Region: Midwest and it’s not even close. Kansas, Ohio State, Georgetown, Maryland, Michigan State are the top 5 seeds…Are you kidding me??? Talent galore-Collins, Aldrich, Turner, Monroe, Vasquez, Lucas-that’s an All American team right there…

4. Easiest Region: South. Duke avoids heading West as the last #1 seed and the region has very little challenge, outside of the #2 Seed Villanova. I would be shocked if those two aren’t matching up in the Elite 8.

5. Sleeper’s to keep an eye on: Murray State and Siena. Both teams play in smaller leagues but are extremely athletic and tournament tested. Don’t be surprised if one or both make a Sweet 16 run.

6. Happy to see the MWC get reward with 4 teams. The league was very much deserving of getting 4 into the field. Of the 4 teams in I like New Mexico’s chances best of making a deep run. The Lobos are a great mix of talent and athleticism and can play defense when need too. All ingredients needed at this time of year.

7. I think that this is the year that BYU wins a first round game. The Cougars are a much more veteran group and the best that Dave Rose has had in 4 years. Plus the team they will face in Florida, while athletic, doesn’t pose the same type problems teams in recent years have. I like the Cougars to beat Florida, but getting past Kansas State will likely prove too much. It’s a team that can match BYU’s backcourt and is a match up nightmare up front.

8. My Final Four: Kansas, West Virginia, Kansas State and Villanova

9. My Champion…Do you really think I’d pick someone else….KANSAS–at least I’m hoping!!

10. I will post my entire bracket in the next couple of days, so feel free to pick it apart and mock me mercilessly!!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

POSTED IN: BYU, Uncategorized | Comments Off

All Conference Time

Monday, March 8th, 2010

It’s that time of year for the best of the best to be unveiled…I don’t have an official vote with the Mountain West Conference this year, but I’ve seen more MWC Basketball than most this season…So without further adu here are my best of the season…We will call them the Riley’s…

Best 5 for the Year…

1. Jimmer Fredette

2. Darington Hobson

3. Tre’von Willis

4. Darise Gary

5. Jackson Emery

Next Best 5

1. Kawhi Leonard

2. Ronnie Moss

3. Roman Martinez

4. Malcom Thomas

5. Carlon Brown

League’s Best Player

1. Darington Hobson-New Mexico

League’s Best Defensive Player

1. Jackson Emery-BYU

Freshman of the Year

1. Kawhi Leonard-SDSU

Coach of the Year

1. Steve Alford

I head to the tourney on Wednesday and will be broadcasting games and doing our show. So let me give you my 2 cents worth on how I think things will play out…I don’t see any upsets happening in the early rounds…There is too much of a gap between the top 4 and the rest of the Conference…I like a New Mexico and BYU final on Saturday…I don’t think Vegas is good enough to reach the finals this year, even at home. In the final, if Fredette is healthy, I like the Cougars to cut down the nets in Vegas…New Mexico #3 seed, BYU #4 seed and UNLV a #10 seed in the tourney…The only way SDSU gets in is if they reach the tournament final…

POSTED IN: BYU, U of U | Comments Off

The Boylen Blow-up

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Well I’m not sure what was worse last night at the Huntsman Center…The Utes performance against their biggest rival or their Head Coach’s reaction to a question from a media member. Let me be very upfront at the very beginning of this blog posting, I am a big fan of Jim Boylen. I think he is a very good basketball coach and has given all that he has to Utah the last 3 seasons. Boylan is an emotional, firey guy, who often times wears his emotions on his sleeve.

Last night’s effort had to be a HUGE disappointment for he and his staff. It’s been a tough transition season for the Utes, coming off a league title a year ago and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Losing can take a toll on anyone, but I think with Boylen it’s extremely difficult. Compound that with a dreadful effort against BYU and I would imagine things began to boil over.

That leads us to the post game press conference exchange with The Trib’s Gordon Monson last night.

Boylen-Monson Exchange 3-3-10

The raw emotion, frustration and anger was on full display for all to see and hear last night. It was the wrong way for Boylen to handle things. Whether he liked the question or the questioner, it deserved an answer and not an insult. Part of being a Head Coach at a Big Time Division One basketball program is dealing with the media after wins and after losses. I’m not sure if Boylen has the answer to his team’s offensive questions, but I also know that he knows more than “the ball didn’t go into the hoop”…

Both Boylen and Monson are pro’s at what they do. A win on Saturday for Utah and a win or two next in week in Vegas and the incident will likely be forgotten sooner rather than later. But in the end, the best way to avoid the tough questions from the media is to win, which Boylen and the Utes hope to do more of next season.

POSTED IN: BYU, U of U | Comments Off

A Rivalry Renewed

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Well it’s a big night tonight at the Huntsman Center. One of the great unknown “national rivalries” is renewed in the final home game of the regular season for Utah. On paper this one doesn’t look to be all that close, but I will tell you having seen Utah play in 3 of their last 4, they will be ready tonight. Let’s look at the match up Jimmy the Greek Style with check marks and all…

Guard Play-Huge Edge to BYU. They have as good of guard play as anyone in the West. Fredettte, Emery, Lloyd and Haws are outstanding. Utah must find a way to slow down Fredette. I don’t think you can completely stop him, only illness has this season. Find a way to make Emery, who’s up and down on offense, Haws or Lloyd beat you. Utah needs a big scoring night from Marshall Henderson, Public Enemy #1 in Provo these days, and a smart game from Luca Drca.

Front Court Play-Even. Utah’s interior defense with Foster, Washburn, Watkins and Tillie is very good. While BYU gets excellent offensive output from their front court of Hartsock, Davies, Tavernari. I think the bigs play pretty even.

Three Things to Watch Tonight that may or may not figure in the outcome:

1. Game Tempo-Utah wants a game in the 50′s or 60′s, while BYU wants a game in the 70′ or 80′s. The team that wins the tempo battle is likely the winner.

2. Turnover Margin-Utah hasn’t been great with this stat this season turning it over 13.5 times per game, while BYU gives it way just over 11 times a game.

3. It’s a Jimmer Thing-If he’s healthy, he’s the best player in the league. Utah has to find a player or a way to slow him down. If he gets on a roll, it’s LIGHTS OUT!!

Great side story to watch…Marshall Henderson and Jackson Emery. After what happened in Provo last month you know that all eyes will be there, plus Emery will likely draw Henderson on the defensive end. One of the leagues best shooters against the MWC’s best on ball defender. I love chippiness in big games, I guarantee we get some tonight.

Who needs this game more? It’s a rivalry game so we know both teams want it, but who NEEDS it? BYU is playing for seeding right now, they are a NCAA Tourney lock. They are probably a #4 seed right now, but can probably make themselves a #3 if they can win out and the MWC Tourney. For Utah, Jim Boylen is building something. His team has played better as of late, but they aren’t going anywhere this year. This is a game that could make Utah’s season and perhaps point them in the right direction for next year. Utah needs it more!! Will they get it? We’ll find out tonight, pre game on KALL 700 Sports at 6:00 and tip off at 7:00.

POSTED IN: BYU, U of U | Comments Off

New AP Poll is out…

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

tebow

Happy Sunday..

The latest AP Top 25 Football Poll is out this afternoon and the two local schools are back in the polls again this week…

After dropping out of the polls following the loss at Oregon. Utah jumps back in this week at #24 with the win at CSU yesterday. BYU holds at #18 with their hammering of UNLV last night in Sin City. Here is the full run down if you need it. Impressive effort last night by Florida at LSU!

POSTED IN: BYU, College Football | Comments Off

MWC Pre Season Basketball Poll is out…

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

ncb_a_boylen_600

It may be hard to believe but the College Basketball season is almost upon us…How do I know…Well the Mountain West Conference released it’s pre season Men’s Basketball selections today…Here the are and feel free to comment, I will below…

1. BYU (23)

2. SDSU (1)

3. UNLV

4. Utah

5. New Mexico

6. Wyoming

7. TCU

8. Colorado State

9. Air Force

Preseason All MWC Team

Jimmer Fredette, Jr., G, BYU

Jonathan Tavernari, Sr. G/F, BYU

Billy White, Jr., F, SDSU

Zvonko Buljan, Sr., F, TCU

Tre’von Willis, Jr., G, UNLV

Preseason Player of the Year

Jimmer Fredette-BYU

Preseason Newcomer of the Year

Derrick Jasper, Jr., G, UNLV

Preseason Freshman of the Year

Kawhi Leonard, F, SDSU

My quick thoughts on the poll and selections are that they look just about right. How can you go with anyone besides BYU for the team to beat in the MWC? My only question with the Cougs will be front court play, I love their backcourt of Fredette, Emery and Tavernari. After BYU, I think there are two teams in SDSU and UNLV, then a group of 5 that includes Utah. The only team that will likely be over matched most of the season is the Falcons. This will likely be a down season in the MWC, I wouldn’t expect more than 2 teams in March Madness.

POSTED IN: BYU, U of U | 3 Comments »

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Archive for the ‘BYU’ Category

Ute Daily Round Up

Football Time

Prime Time for the NFL Draft

2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket

March Madness Initial Thoughts on the Dance

All Conference Time

The Boylen Blow-up

A Rivalry Renewed

New AP Poll is out…

MWC Pre Season Basketball Poll is out…