BYU-UNLV post game

BYU learned a lot about itself in Las Vegas Tuesday night.

They’re far from making the big time.

Now, before we get into it, UNLV played well. Veteran Rebel fans who have watched UNLV all season said the Rebels played way beyond what they usually do and their shooting was superior to what they’ve produced all year long.

But on this night, BYU and UNLV got in a fight. One team showed up, the other did not.

“We got beat up, and we weren’t tough enough to fight back,” said Lee Cummard.

I like Cummard. He leaves it on the floor every night. He battled, even when turning the ball over. “We need to be tougher.”

These of course are code words.

Dave Rose put it more direct when asked about the performance of Trent Plaisted, who went 1 for 10 from the free throw line and took only three shots. Rose started Chris Miles in his place to start the second half. “I thought we could get the ball in deeper for better looks,” said Rose.

“Trent is struggling right now,” said Rose.

“We didn’t establish a post presence and that’s our offense,” said Rose.

Two things happened in this game. UNLV’s 6-7 players beat Trent Plaisted to his spot and pushed him away from the basket. He was not tough enough to establish positon in places he could get off good shots. He then took some horrible shots. His struggles at the free throw line seem to trigger Plaisted getting down on himself and he tends to go downhill from there.

“Trent needs to gain some confidence,” said Rose.

The other thing?

Let’s face it, the game was decided in the first five minutes when UNLV defensively tested what would be allowed in their press. Lon Kruger’s defenders played with hands on BYU players, hooking them on the turns and put hands on backs and hips on dribbles. For about five to eight minutes, this was allowed. But that time BYU was so rattled by the physical play that they lost total focus and confidence.

Plaisted said he doesn’t know why this team isn’t tougher, especially on the road. He said he needed to do his part. Asked if he was still ailing and sick, he said it didn’t matter, he wasn’t going to use it as an excuse.

Most of the UNLV experts I talked to were surprised BYU didn’t come out in a 2-3 zone and dare UNLV to make outside shots. Instead, the Cougars came out in a man defense and struggled to stop drives, lost Rebels on switches, and allowed some open shots which UNLV buried.

Bottom line? The Cougars left Las Vegas hurting. Rose will surely get a piece of his players in Wednesday’s practice as the Cougars have the rest of the week to prepare for a visit to Utah.