The chess match really gets going this time of year. Basketball teams have played some games, showcasing strengths and exposing flaws.
BYU is finding out who it is. Opponents are countering.
But after the narrow win against Utah last Saturday, who are these Cougars? And what will they do, and be led into doing, from here?
They'll take a 7-0 record against Weber State under head coach Dave Rose to the Dee Events Center on Saturday night. The Wildcats are going through what BYU went through two seasons ago, losing an NBA-caliber point guard.
But WSU has responded with a solid win at Dayton, and carries a 20-game home-court winning streak.
"They are a lot more balanced," Rose said of WSU not having Damian Lillard anymore, as he's now a quickly growing star with the Portland Trailblazers. "You're seeing maybe some of the things (their other guards) sacrificed a little bit of their game for Lillard. Now they're getting a chance to show what they can do, and they're really effective."
What does BYU need to do in order to be really effective?
Good question.
BYU defeated Utah by three points last weekend, rallying from as many as 14 points down. It was a nice home win, yet not exactly exemplary of how Rose's team wants to play. It shot just 31 percent. Tyler Haws, the team's best scorer, was literally dragged to the ground a couple of times in the early stages as Utah was intent on taking him out of the game.
It was Haws' worst shooting show of the season. Yet it was Matt Carlino who came to the rescue.
And can he do it again?
Here's where it gets fun against WSU.
The Wildcats may employ the same strategy as the Utes and Notre Dame: Stop Haws at all costs, and force others to win the game.
Carlino saw a lot of open shots, and took advantage on five 3-point tries ? two more than he had made in every other game. Utah played the odds and got burned. Now, it remains to be seen if Carlino will go on a hot streak, which he's been known to do in his brief time in Provo.
"I just feel like it was a good win, and we need to keep building on the good stuff we did," Carlino said. "And correct the bad stuff. You know, just like every game."
What Weber tries at home against Haws may just build upon what other teams have done lately. Utah played a mostly successful box-and-one that stifled Haws into 2-of-10 shooting, though he did have a couple of late free throws and a 3-point play.
Scouting takes over now, as identities are being built. Haws is trying to get back in the mindset of being the guy teams occupy their defensive game plans around. He hasn't seen that since his high school days.
"A lot of it is just playing our game, getting catches where we want to. And being the aggressor, and not letting them dictate what we want to do," Haws said.
It has been a teeter-totter start. Rose, when asked about this team, expressed optimism in the group's future, but also acknowledged "we need to play better. I think our guys know that. But I do believe there's some real potential."
Carlino's presence appears to be worth watching. Will WSU copy Utah, and give him those easy looks from long range? Or will it crowd him? And what about Brandon Davies, the senior center?
"You can't stop everything," Rose said, alluding to BYU needing to take advantage of the attention paid to Haws or Davies inside.
BYU is finding out who it is. Opponents are countering.
But after the narrow win against Utah last Saturday, who are these Cougars? And what will they do, and be led into doing, from here?
They'll take a 7-0 record against Weber State under head coach Dave Rose to the Dee Events Center on Saturday night. The Wildcats are going through what BYU went through two seasons ago, losing an NBA-caliber point guard.
But WSU has responded with a solid win at Dayton, and carries a 20-game home-court winning streak.
"They are a lot more balanced," Rose said of WSU not having Damian Lillard anymore, as he's now a quickly growing star with the Portland Trailblazers. "You're seeing maybe some of the things (their other guards) sacrificed a little bit of their game for Lillard. Now they're getting a chance to show what they can do, and they're really effective."
What does BYU need to do in order to be really effective?
Good question.
BYU defeated Utah by three points last weekend, rallying from as many as 14 points down. It was a nice home win, yet not exactly exemplary of how Rose's team wants to play. It shot just 31 percent. Tyler Haws, the team's best scorer, was literally dragged to the ground a couple of times in the early stages as Utah was intent on taking him out of the game.
It was Haws' worst shooting show of the season. Yet it was Matt Carlino who came to the rescue.
And can he do it again?
Here's where it gets fun against WSU.
The Wildcats may employ the same strategy as the Utes and Notre Dame: Stop Haws at all costs, and force others to win the game.
Carlino saw a lot of open shots, and took advantage on five 3-point tries ? two more than he had made in every other game. Utah played the odds and got burned. Now, it remains to be seen if Carlino will go on a hot streak, which he's been known to do in his brief time in Provo.
"I just feel like it was a good win, and we need to keep building on the good stuff we did," Carlino said. "And correct the bad stuff. You know, just like every game."
What Weber tries at home against Haws may just build upon what other teams have done lately. Utah played a mostly successful box-and-one that stifled Haws into 2-of-10 shooting, though he did have a couple of late free throws and a 3-point play.
Scouting takes over now, as identities are being built. Haws is trying to get back in the mindset of being the guy teams occupy their defensive game plans around. He hasn't seen that since his high school days.
"A lot of it is just playing our game, getting catches where we want to. And being the aggressor, and not letting them dictate what we want to do," Haws said.
It has been a teeter-totter start. Rose, when asked about this team, expressed optimism in the group's future, but also acknowledged "we need to play better. I think our guys know that. But I do believe there's some real potential."
Carlino's presence appears to be worth watching. Will WSU copy Utah, and give him those easy looks from long range? Or will it crowd him? And what about Brandon Davies, the senior center?
"You can't stop everything," Rose said, alluding to BYU needing to take advantage of the attention paid to Haws or Davies inside.
