BYU's half court offense and half court defense is lacking a true center. This I believe has pushed Rose to an up tempo offense even when it does not match up well with the opposing team. The WCC has learned to neutralize and even stop our up tempo offense by dropping back two and sometimes three players following shots. This game plan disrupts and forces BYU into a half court offense that at times is non-existent.

Before you jump on me for missing Mika, let me say, Mika will be a very good to great player for BYU. But as you remember from last year, Mika got pushed around pretty good in the middle when facing larger inside players. Only Worthington was able to stand his ground against the likes of Gonzaga's 300 lbs. skyscrapers.

In years past in the WAC and MWC, BYU got away with athletic centers usually in the 6'10 range, who could run the court i.e. Cosic, Trost, Smith, Gnieting, Pollard, Taylor, Usevitch and many others. Dawes probably would have become a great center if he had remained healthy along with another center, I can't recall his name right now, but he took a dirty shot to the face during a game knocking him out and was plagued by injuries.

In the NCAA and now in the WCC, BYU's opponents more than not have stronger and more physical centers that neutralize BYU's smaller centers (weight). So when forced to play a half court offense or defense, BYU's front line gets manhandled.

The last "true" great centers for BYU were Araujo and Kite. Rafael had a mean streak in him, he could score, rebound, and defend with his big body. In the distant past, Greg Kite provided BYU with a solid defender in the middle (not a scorer, but a defender and rebounder). He had the wide body where he was not pushed around in the key.

I was hoping during the off-season to see the players gain weight (especially the front court), but instead, almost everyone on the team has lost weight. This has lowered my expectations of having any chance to compete for the championship. I totally expect to be battling for second or third place now, but Gonzaga should run away with the conference again.

I am excited about this year's team and anxious to watch Fischer contribute from the outside. Perhaps he is key to breaking the half-court offense wide-open???

Go Cougars!!!!!!!!!!!!!