BYU Sports

I wrote for today’s paper an article about how successful BYU has been against Air Force the past five years, even while MWC powerhouses such as Utah and TCU have struggled against the Falcons.
One thing is evident in talking to BYU’s players the last few days, however. The Cougars have loads of respect for the the Falcons.
“They are tough. They execute well,” BYU quarterback Max Hall said. “You could say, out of all the teams, us and Air Force are probably the most similar, as far as the type of guys we have, and we are execution-based, and so it always comes down to who plays harder, and who executes the best. So that’s what is going to happen, I think on Saturday. But they are a great football  team. They are coached well, they are disciplined, and they got good guys. So it is going to be a fun matchup.”

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Another story in today’s newspaper is about running back Harvey Unga’s health. Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Unga, who has a sprained ankle, will play against Air Force.
Hall said it is extremely important that the Cougars are able to run the ball on Saturday, and that means they will need Unga the entire game.
“It is very important. Obviously, we are a much better offense when we are running the ball well and we are playing physical up front,” Hall said. “That [New Mexico game] was not the best game we’ve had up front, and obviously wasn’t our best game running the football. So I think if we can establish that, we can keep pounding them, and kind of do what we do and kind of methodically move the chains, and little by little take it out of them, that is when we are going to be successful.”

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Here are a few more links for you this morning.
Tribune columnist Kurt Kragthorpe visited with former BYU quarterback Cade Cooper, who is now at Southern Utah, and offers this report.
And here’s our report on last night’s basketball game, an 87-53 win for BYU over Idaho State.

The Cougars “got better tonight, which is a good sign,” according to coach Dave Rose, and blasted Idaho State 87-53 in front of 8,637 at the Marriott Center.
Idaho State was playing its third game in five days, and it showed in the second half. The Bengals shot 30.4 percent from the floor, while the Cougars shot 46.9 percent.
“Defensively, we did really well and made it difficult for Idaho State to get the shots they wanted,” Rose said.
BYU fans who wondered if freshman Tyler Haws was the real deal had that question answered tonight, as Haws came off the bench to score nine points, grab five rebounds and dish out six assists.
BYU’s bench outscored ISU’s bench 30-12.
“I think fatigue played a big part in this game,” said Idaho State coach Joe O’Brien, who remained calm most of the game after last year’s theatrics in Pocatello. “We’ve played three games in five days and there has been a lot of travel involved. We got nothing out of our guard play tonight, and I think they were pretty tired.”
About the only downer for the Cougars was that Jonathan Tavernari continued to struggle with his shooting. He went 2-for-12, including 0-for-6 from three-point range.
Rose said JT took good shots, “he’s just having a hard time making them.”
Jimmer Fredette led BYU with 22 points, while Jackson Emery chipped in 19.
Idaho State had 16 turnovers, and was outrebounded 47-33.

Getting 20 points from their bench, the Cougars lead Idaho State 43-24 at the half here at the Marriott Center.
The Cougars shot just 43 percent (13 of 30), but Idaho State has committed 12 turnovers and is a frosty 26.7 percent from the field.
Jackson Emery leads all scorers with 10 points, while Jimmer Fredette and Tyler Haws have seven each.
Michael Loyd came off the bench to score five quick points and give the Cougars a lift.
Nine different Cougars scored in the first half, and Tyler Haws and Noah Hartsock both grabbed four rebounds off the bench.

Getting ready for the Cougars and Idaho State Bengals to tip off here at the Marriott Center.
Looks like a crowd of about 9,000 is here to watch it.
BYU coach Dave Rose will start the same five he started in last Saturday’s 70-60 win over Bradley.
That means Chris Miles, Jimmer Fredette, Charles Abouo, Jonathan Tavernari and Jackson Emery will get the nod tonight.
Idaho State is 0-2, with losses against Bradley and Iowa State. The Bengals are capable, though, as last year’s upset of Utah showed.
I will give some updates on Twitter tonight, so if you don’t have a twitter account, get one and follow me. My login is drewjay.

Despite the colder temperatures in Provo today, the Cougars practiced outside under the lights, with a little bit of snow on the sidelines reminding them of what is predicted to come Saturday when they play host to Air Force at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
“It was a nice day when we started practice. It’s not so nice now,” said coach Bronco Mendenhall. “It was good just to be on the grass. And with Air Force and all the blocks that are low, etc., the grass is a little bit more forgiving than the turf.”
Told that snow and cold weather is expected on Saturday, Mendenhall said he didn’t know that.
Does it favor a running team or a passing team?
“I don’t think it favors either. I think it just is whatever team is prepared best. I don’t think it will favor either,” he said.

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Running back Harvey Unga watched practice from the sidelines, his ankle in a protective boot. But Mendenhall insisted the junior will play on Saturday.
“We are resting him, as you can see,” Mendenhall said. “He is expected to play at a higher level than he did against New Mexico. So he made it a half in that game. I think he will make it through the whole game.”
The coach said offensive tackle Nick Alletto is back practicing and will play as well on Saturday.
He said Braden Brown, who has made the switch from tight end to offensive tackle, will likely remain an offensive tackle for the rest of his college career.
“He looks really good there, and I think he will have a bright future,” Mendenhall said.

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I asked tight end Dennis Pitta after practice about playing Air Force last year, and he said the game is “burned in my memory.”
But while Max Hall said earlier Tuesday that the shot that injured Pitta’s knee was kind of cheap, Pitta said that wasn’t the case.
“It was a clean play,” he said. “Defensive backs go low a lot of times on tight ends, because we are bigger. Totally clean play.”