The undeniably fun BYU Cougar basketball team

The 2019-20 BYU Basketball team has been an absolute thrill.

Watching this Cougar Hoops team reminds me of a great heist film. Honestly, a well constructed heist film is just about the best thing to sit down and watch.

These movies always start with a leader that sets up the target. It is high and seemingly impossible. In response, a plan is made that is equally audacious and has about 30,000 ways to fail.

The leader assembles a crew. The more rag tag, the better. The key is that each part of the squad knows their role, does it well and shows courage throughout while taking the risk.

Along the way there are stumbles, challenges, and unexpected tasks, but through all this, the crew has each others back and problem solve. If there is no solution, then luck.

This Cougar team has snuck by guards, hacked the system, placed the decoys, acrobatically navigated the laser security, and somehow they’ve done it — they are in the vault. Now, they have a couple tournaments to show how far they get out and with how much money.

No matter what transpires, hasn’t it been fun to hang out and cheer on these guys?

Here’s the heist crew.

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The Blue Chipper

Every heist crew has the person that is so talented at it, that they do it for the sake of being in the game. They have to. Despite having previous success, and a lot of reasons to get away from it, they can’t stay away. They are so natural at it — it is like breathing. They won’t be suffocated. Even if they were put away for having too many parking tickets, all that did was give time for them to plan what they were going to do when they got out.

Yoeli Childs has been terrific. BYU is 15-2 with him in the lineup. He’s 6th all-time in scoring. He’s the 2nd member of the 1,000 rebound club — only 19 boards away from taking the top spot away from Kyle Collinsworth. He’s the 2nd member of the 40 double-doubles club with Kresimir Cosic. He’s an all-time player, putting together an all-time season.

The Stones

To pull off the heist, you need someone that has seen it all and been through it all. Why? There is always going to be a moment where the rest of the crew doesn’t know what to do. Panic isn’t part of the equation for this important member of the team. They’ve been through enough to know that panic isn’t useful. Only doing the right thing at the right time can win the moment.

TJ Haws fits the bill here. He’s a Haws. He knows the history of the program. He knows the legacy and what it can mean. Playing at BYU has always been the basketball nirvana for TJ. Beyond that, TJ has more starts than any Cougar in history. This year, he’s had one of the 5 best clutch moments seasons in program history. TJ is on the extremely short list of BYU players where you could say, “The ____(player’s name here)____ game” and have there be confusion because there is more than 1 possible choice.

The Swag

When meeting this character, you may wonder how good they are at what they do. You don’t have to wonder long, they’ll tell you.

In fact, you better recognize. Even if you do recognize, your ears will ring relentlessly with the bragging. Even more impressive they can back up everything. There no faking it until you make it for them. Made it because you make it is more appropriate. This confidence man helps build belief for the rest of the group.

Has anything been more fun than Jake Toolson draining a 3 in front of an opposing team bench? He takes a second to make sure that everyone with a different jersey saw that trey. That’s not just rare for a BYU player. It’s rare for every college team. The talk is almost as important to his game as his pure shot.

The Tone Setter

In heist movies there is always a moment where everyone on the heist crew is enjoying themselves. Yuckin’ it up poolside, eating the catering, and then suddenly an outburst, “Everyone in here needs to start taking this more seriously! One thing — ONE THING —- goes wrong here and we’ll be lucky to have jail. More likely to have a couple bullet right through our chest cavity!”

Alex Barcello introduced himself to Cougar Nation this season by encouraging the Y to pick up the energy after a slow start in the 1st half of the season opener against Cal State Fullerton. Lethargy be damned! In past seasons, BYU has had trouble bringing it every single time on the court during the dregs of WCC schedule. That’s not happening on Alex Barcello’s watch.

The Pit of Despair

Remember the device from The Princess Bride that sucked the life out of the people? That’s Zac Seljaas. He’s got this way about his play. If he drains a 3, pulls down a big board, or whatever Seljaas-type thing he gets up to, it sucks away the life out of the opposing team. Feeds it to the Cougars.

A left turn away from heist movie, but still that’s the experience of watching him play. Seljaas’ success has a way of feeling more consequential as it comes with freight train momentum.

The Muscle

As unpleasant as it is, every heist has to come to grips with getting their hands dirty. It is just the cost of doing business. So, they find someone with a track record of comfort with doing... actually it is better to not get into details. For everyone involved. Just know that what must be done will be done.

Dalton Nixon has been an enforcer with a toughness to give and receive bruises to serve as a reminder of who won the loose ball. He has a icy composure while he crumbles people with screens. The arena was initially for gladiator combat, and he’s here to give tribute to that legacy. Lastly, I don’t know this for a fact, but I do know it is true that he is the guy on the Cougar Basketball team that most enjoys the postgame ice bath.

The Bonus

The crew needs a willing member to take on whatever task comes. Need someone to plant explosives? This person is in. Undercover disguise? Prep them on their “back story.” Hold their breath for 5 minutes? They will try. Put this person in with a specialist and your going to get a great return.

Kolby Lee has risen to every challenge put in his way. He’s done so without pushing it. He’s only been who he is as a ball player. That has been more than enough.

The big man has given to the Cougars in every way. Need a stop on the block? Done. Big rebound? Couple of free throws? Yep. 3 pointer? Yes, even that.

The Lock

The details of the technical work have to be done somewhere. The crew has to have the guy that enters the mainframe and makes those pesky security systems ineffective. Taking away the chance for the heist target to catch them.

Connor Harding’s work on the defensive end has been sublime. Every great basketball team has the defensive specialist. The player to make things difficult on the other teams best scoring option. Harding has been this. He’s even been counted on to handle business on the block in cases of foul trouble for the BYU bigs. Harding is clearly interested in the details of the scouting reports and uses all of his study and preparation to win his moments. Not only that, Harding must be accounted for offensively. Don’t leave him alone, or you’ll pay.

The Wildcard

There is always that moment in a heist movie where the new guy is brought in. He brings a lot of things to the crew that nobody else does — but can we trust this guy? Eventually... he comes through!

Gavin Baxter’s return signaled an “all-in” moment on this season of Cougar basketball. Baxter gives such a different set of skills to this team. His springy play can be huge in help defense at the rim. Offensively, he can attack the rim in transition, backdoor rolls, and on putbacks. Each game Baxter looks more comfortable with his assignments and is beginning to fine ways to make more of an impact. He had a great putback in the 1st half against Gonzaga, and you can bet he will be heard from in other big moments before this campaign ends.

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Who knows what will happen with Cougar basketball in the coming weeks. Legacy can only grow from here.

One thing is certain, this year’s team will go down as one of BYU fan’s favorite ever.