1. We haven't played our best against them (although I would argue the Heaps led team who should've won that game outperformed their ability) there is no doubt in that. Bronco started out 3-2 against Kyle. I think it has now started getting in the heads of the program as a whole. People pressing and making too big of a deal out of that game. The break might help that.

2. We can, we just haven't since 2009. Hopefully that changes. The glass half full is that from a defensive perspective 2014 was an aberration. Bronco's defenses have been pretty good over the past decade.

3. One thing we need to realize is that we haven't had the best team in a few years. Since Jimmer left. Before that we seemed to ALWAYS play Vegas in Vegas. Not saying we couldn't have won some games, but it was a huge disadvantage.
In the NCAA tournament we have played exactly to our seed taking away the 8-9 games (which is a pickem, no tangible difference between an 8 and a 9). That being said, with so many opportunities we have pulled off zero upsets. We have been close, but haven't been able to get over the hump. I do believe a lot of that is due to playing more athletic teams than we see regularly in the WCC.

4. Being old doesn't have that much to do with it. Our missionaries don't go out and fatten up or get huge by lifting weights. I understand that you would fill out a little more the older you get, but at the same time you can actually get skinnier going to a 3rd world country and doing a lot of walking in the heat.
Rose also has a tendency to recruit players that can get up and down the court more to fit his scheme. These people tend to be skinnier.
Finally, I would argue that many of our players don't get pushed around. They just don't know proper technique to play defense being strong. Luke Worthington is a fairly strong guy, but often looks clueless out there. Kaufusi is a big guy, but early wouldn't play many minutes because of foul trouble.

5. Our kicking was solid pre-Justin Sorensen. Obviously his career wasn't what everyone hoped for due to injuries. He did OK and I think often times we confuse these guys for the NFL guys. College kickers aren't that good especially when you realize only the best 1-3 kickers make the league on a given year.

6. I will start by saying that I am not a fan. That being said, it doesn't matter what you and I think, but what the players think. If it helps them buy in or remember what they were taught or help with anything at all then it is worth it. I obviously can't answer that question for them.