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| Photo Credit: BYU Photo |
In anticipation of the new year, which kicks off in earnest Wednesday night with the team's annual intra-squad scrimmage, it's time for us to take stock of what has gone down since last March, where that leaves the state of the program today, and what it means for the months ahead.
Tearful Goodbyes. While much of this year's roster is similar to the 2011-2012 squad, there were a few key departures that must be noted. Noah Hartsock has since taken his talents (and prominent bald spot) to Belgium, where I like to believe he has become Okapi Aaist's most consistently productive scorer and sleeps in a bed made of delicious waffles and exquisite chocolates. While Charles Abouo also graduated and made the jump overseas (now with Spanish second-division club Lobe Huesca), the loss of Hartsock hurts the most. Even though Abouo was clearly BYU's best, most versatile perimeter defender, that particular skill set is more easily replaceable than the type of efficient production Hartsock gave the team every single night. It was like clockwork — if Noah didn't get his 16 points and 5 boards a night, you started worrying if something might be wrong with him. That won't be an easy hole for coach Dave Rose to fill.
New Faces. In an attempt to fill out the lineup and address lingering concerns about last year's squad, Rose has brought in a few junior college transfers that figure to compete for immediate playing time. Agustin Ambrosino is a versatile power forward who will soak up some of the newly vacant minutes at that spot. Word is that "Augie" can step out and hit the mid-range jumper with some consistency, which should help stretch opposing defenses and soothe the Hartsock-sized void in our hearts. Likewise, Raul Delgado is a Chihuahua-via-Springville product that is making his return to the Utah Valley after two years at Western Nebraska. The coaches seem bullish on his ability to stroke the deep ball, thus helping to address the Cougars' most glaring weakness from a year ago. Freshmen Cory Calvert and Cooper Ainge could also provide some outside firepower, but the jury's still out on whether they can crack the rotation.
Return of the Haws. While he’s not exactly a new face per se, Tyler Haws will likely be an important one in his first season back from his LDS mission. Haws was a consistent contributor two years ago as a freshman, chipping in 11.6 points and 4.2 rebounds a game and winning Newcomer of the Year honors in the Mountain West. After two years in the Phillipines and a full summer to get his body in shape, he is back and should play a prominent role in 2012 by providing some sorely needed scoring punch and shooting proficiency on the wing. If Haws can adapt quickly and carry a significant portion of the offensive load from the outset, BYU could be a much stronger team than some prognosticators expect.
The Damarcus Harrison Dilemma. I wrote about this development when it happened over the summer, and my thoughts on the matter remain largely the same today. While Harrison didn't have the type of breakout freshman season that some expected him to have, his transfer to Clemson is a huge blow to Rose's long-term plans. Certainly, the coaching staff wasn't expecting to have Damarcus for this season (hence, the quick transfer when his mission plans were delayed), so his exit is of little immediate impact. Where the program will begin to feel the pinch is down the road — like when Kyle Collinsworth is scheduled to be the only wing player on scholarship in 2015-2016. To be sure, that problem is a ways off and Rose should be able to find a suitable replacement, but you never want to see a promising young scorer walk out the door. An unfortunate situation for all involved..
The Jabari Parker Sweepstakes. The contestants vying for the nation’s top recruit have been cut to five, and BYU is still hanging tough against some of the sport’s biggest titans. If you care about the long-term health of the program, this was the most encouraging offseason news. The fact that BYU is even in a position to go toe-to-toe with programs like Duke and Michigan State for a kid of Jabari Parker’s ability says everything you need to know about the success of Rose’s tenure in Provo. He has built a legitimate program whose perpetual success deserves to be taken seriously at the highest level. Some will say that the Cougars wouldn't be in the running if Parker weren’t Mormon, and that’s definitely true — but they also wouldn't be in the running if they weren’t an exceptionally good program with the cachet necessary to launch Jabari’s future NBA career. Just ask Utah.
A New Recruiting Landscape. While having a legitimate shot at a once-in-a-generation (at least for BYU) talent has to be the highlight of the summer months, the LDS Church’s decision to lower the mission eligibility age to 18 may be the event with the longest-lasting impact. Rose has a bevy of talented commits slated to arrive in Provo over the next year or two, and this new policy change will likely turn that timetable on its head. While the full effects of the shift remain to be seen, we already know that top recruit Nick Emery has already altered his plans and will now serve a mission right after graduating high school instead of doing a year on campus first. That means Emery won’t be available until the 2015-2016 season, leaving an unanticipated vacancy in next year’s roster. In the short term, this change will require Rose to get creative in filling holes as they crop up, but it should provide some additional long-term stability as more players opt to serve early and then play four straight years.
To be sure, this isn’t a definitive list of everything that happened this offseason. There is a bunch of stuff I didn’t throw in — Rose and Tom Holmoe announcing a tough nonconference schedule that features at least four games (and potentially several more) against ranked teams, Chris Collinsworth tragically ending his career after microfracture ankle surgery, the Marriott Center renovations, the football team turning in another slew of underwhelming results, etc. Nevertheless, I believe the selections above provide a broad overview of where the team stands as we teeter on the cusp of a new year, with 30-plus games stretched out before us.
These are exciting times to be a BYU fan in every regard — the thrill and gratification of recent successes, the promise of seeing a talented but unproven roster come together over the next five months, and the potential of an even brighter future moving forward. All provide ample reason for optimism as things get underway tomorrow night at the Marriott Center.
We will have more detailed coverage over the coming weeks here at Post-Jimmer as we ramp up to the first official game on November 9th — including position-by-position roster breakdowns, a look at this year’s slate of opponents, and analysis of the exhibition games. Additionally, you will likely see some small changes as we continue to tweak the look and feel of the site prior to tip-off.
The games may not count for another few weeks, but make no mistake — the season is upon us, and I couldn't be more excited. I hope you'll keep coming back here to enjoy the ride with us.
In Rose We Trust.
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