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Mar 20, 2015
11:59:55am
Missions have impact - Tournament success

 

  • Before you slam me, I am pro mission all the way, and I want every capable LDS kid to serve.  That's not the point of my post.  

Here's my take:

Of all sports, Basketball is probably the one BYU should excel in.  30k students, another 35k at UVU, and really a lot of LDS talent across the country.  You have fewer issues w/ the HC than football.  There's also the international connection.  The UofU often picks up these great players from Europe...why not BYU?

So the athletes are there.  They aren't the "one and done" type, as Jabari Parker's come once in 20 years maybe, but there's clearly enough talent to field 7-9 very good players every season, good enough to be a top-25 program, and occasionally make noise in the Big Dance (sweet 16).  If Gonzaga can do it, I think BYU can. 

Also, while I don't know if there are as many gym rats among the Mormon population today vs my generation (20+ years ago - growing up, all we did was hoop. It's all we did, every day for months out of the year), I don't think it should change BYU from find talent.

Is it the talent though?  We had the backcourt, but were light in the front court this year.

What about Coaching?  We've had great coaches.  Arnold, Andersen, Reid, Cleveland, Rose...all excellent coaches.   While I do think Rose was outcoached vs. Mississippi, this year's tourney represents only one of 28 tries.  BYU has only really advanced in a small percentage of those.

But I think there's something else.  Missions.  There, I said it.  

I think Missions are the real hurdle.  I think on rare exception you have athletes that keep the fire.  Missionaries return bigger (Kaufusi), more disciplined, smarter, maybe more dedicated (Tyler Haws), but they lack that killer instinct, that "get the heck out of my way, or I'm going through you." Jimmer had that.  Ainge had that, I think Jackson Emery had it  But there are few.

These guys come back w/ a bigger perspective.  They're thinking about raising a family, a career after basketball.  Their competition are young, firey ballers on these Cinderella teams can't see anything but the glass slipper or the title.  They have distractions too...perhaps even girls, partying, etc...but those things align more closely to driving in the fast lane on the court.  They are a little bit crazy, but focused on the most important thing in their life....and that's Basketball.  And that's where the mission plays a factor.  Basketball ISN'T the most important thing to most of our players, and it shouldn't be.  It would be more so, before they take a two year break, but I think it's just enough of a change in focus to be a huge factor in having enough to get over the hump.    

It's not this way for all athletes.  Some are able to keep the competitive drive.  Austin Collie was able to and there are others.  But I also recall some being better before they left.  I might be wrong, but I do think missions play a factor in BYU bowing out early, and like I said...if that's the reason, I'm ok with it.  However, I do think you can be a RM, have your focus on the bigger picture of life, and still succeed on the gridiron or in this case the Tourney.

 

Could that be a reason why BYU has the most Big Dance appearances w/ little to show in terms of advancing?

Ainge - Elite 8
Jimmer - Sweet 16

Maybe?

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