Yes, they will wear those rings and it will remind them of losing again when it counted.

BYU is and always will be a mid-major program destined to be mired in mediocrity; that is, unless & until the school is willing to put aside the Honor Code and wade into the greed, corruption, and financial politics of the big-timers that consistently recruit blue chip talent.

Perhaps LaVell had it right all along: Dominate your weak conference each year; take the families to the bowl game and have some fun win or lose...the rest is gravy.

There are lots of positives from the season, of course. But they are largely mitigated, I think, by BYU's vanishing act in the tournament.

Maybe next year around tournament time the team and its fans will be less concerned about seedings and national respect and more concerned about winning. The one necessarily follows the other: win in the tournament, and respect will follow.

Whining and winning: not synonyms, not homophones, not compatible.

Great year, Cougs! Looking forward to next year! If the MWC can get their act together by fixing the TV mess and changing the conference tourney venue, then all conference teams would be benefitted (except for the Rebel-lovers). The MWC was the only real failure for the season! University presidents unite against the MWC mismanagement!

I don't think Plaisted improved much, if any, from last year; he still shoots off balance, he still can't make a two footer around the basket, he still has no jump shot, and he still does not rebound with authority. For this team to improve next year--even with the talent they have coming back, Plaisted has to improve big time between now and next fall. Go to work big fella, and become a real player, a real scorer, a beast in the middle.

There is no silver lining...the same positives to find from this loss are the same ones the Cougs found from their last two early exits from the NCAA's.

Ah, Tricky Dick Harmon the spin doctor. Honestly has Mr. Harmon ever had anything to say about BYU that wasn't overly positive and blatantly biased?

I think that its great that he doesn't even try to be objective in his writing. That's why BYU athletices are always on the verge of a National Championship, BCS run, solving world hungar and reigning in world peace.

I was just watching a local sports TV broadcast and a brief interview with BYU center Plaisted regarding next year. In it he said he was not sure if he would return for his senior season or go to the NBA. What a joke, he must have still been asleep in a wild dream world. He is not ready now and never will be flat out. Stay in college son and get your degree so that you can get a good job to support yourself and family. You don't have the talent for the NBA for sure.

You know, as a cougar fan, I admit is was a good season. Winning the conference outright is always a good thing.

However, not getting past the first round is a problem. It's something that causes the Cougs not to get the respect they would like. The true measure of a program's dominance (or lack thereof) is its ability to go far into the post season.

Unfortunately for the cougars, they bowed out again after the first game. Furthermore, their defense looked very mediocre and they made some very unwise plays going down the stretch.

But, I still 'em and am hopeful that they can improve year after year as the football team has under Bronco.

But let's be realistic here. Final Four next year? Whining about the eight seed and/or refs? Get a grip, cougar nation.

Here's to the football team dismantling the Huskies in Game 1 this Fall!

All this positive spin on a bad loss to Texas A&M is making me feel nautious. If I didn't know any better I thought I was reading Gary Crowton's comments after BYU lost in football a few years ago. I guess that's where the state of the program is nowadays....Where is the program when we are excastic about winning MWC championships and first round exits out of the NCAA tournament. Congratulations Cougs! Thanks for the memorable tournament moments! I guess I'll have to keep watching BYU TV and BYU's run in the 1981 NCAA tourney to think of anything positive BYU has done in the tournament in over 27 years!!! That is just disheartening and PATHETIC!

The future does not look bright for our Cougars if this is one of the best teams we've ever had and we still cannot win an NCAA tourney game. Granted, aTm was a tougher opponent than the overrated Kent St that unlfreakingv got. Still, if I were the coach I'd be mad and would not be telling the team "it's ok, we were after all regular season MWC champs and we got another banner blah blah blah etc." Based on the comments from Rose and the players I'd say they don't have a strong enough hunger and desire to do much better than what we saw.

BYU devotional-- they might need to have Bishop Collie give a talk on living the right way.

congratulations for going as far as you have and we will also look to the future. You have accomplished a lot and we are proud of you. Just a note for the coming years. Better get some beef on the front line if you plan to go any farther.

There are a lot of positives to remember, but I really hope that they don't forget what went wrong over the past week. As I watched other games on Thursday and Friday, the teams that advanced played with heart and intensity. BYU just has not figured out that this is what it takes to win the big ones. The whole second half there were guys standing around waiting for something cool to happen. If BYU wants to be successful, they have to go and make it happen. Frustrated, but still hopeful.

Great job! BYU...go focus on regular season champs, Who cares? Unlike BYU, UNLV knows what takes to truly compete on the next level. BYU wins conference games, while UNLV wins NCAA tournament games. And this is why, BYU will always be second to UNLV!

One and done again ?

Could it be that the blue bloods have more than one person coming up with 5 rebounds, or hit a free throw under stress.
Want to win a game in the NCAAA's ?
Attend a Bronco meeting on rebounding the right way and maybe the "Y" won't be an embaressment --again. BYU still hurts the the MWC, with ineptiness at the big dance.
It would be nice if they win a game so our seedings don't always fall below the half way mark.
Way to go cougars, you let us down again with all of your false pride and more faith in a higher being than in yourself. Even God can't make a free throw for you.

That's just it, they didn't "finish" the season. BYU football used to have a mentality to win the conference and then "go have fun at a bowl." Well we know where that got them; many bowl losses. Then a new attitude came with a mentality to go win the bowl game come rain or shine. It wouldn't be so bad if BYU basketball lost these post season games if they were the worst team, but they are not. They have to get the current BYU football "killer mentality" or "eye of the tiger" or "Danny Angie era" mentality and then we would see results and then all parties would be massively impressed and thrilled. BYU basketball has a great Coach like BYU football but they just need retain that "eye of the tiger" to "complete the season" and have some serious post season wins. They can do it, it's just time to "raise the bar," as Pres. Hinckley would say. I would say better luck next year, but the team has way more than "luck;" they have the desire and the goods, they just need to "cash it in" and "FINISH THE SEASON."

Man, lay off these kids. They worked hard to win an outright championship and deserve to be proud of that accomplishment. They don't need a lame "fan" dishing out garbage about them. If a ring is going to remind them of losing what does your empty ring finger tell you? Exactly - they've accomplished a lot more than you on the basketball court so lay off. Nice season Cougars - MWC CHAMPIONS! I'm already excited for next year!

Yawn.
Wake me when we figure out how to win when it counts.

The Y team has a good chance to make it to sweet 16 with all of the returning starters and we should now be able to recruit McDonalds' All Americans to the Y basketball team like we recruit 4 and 5 star recruits for football

Look, BYU is a mid-major that draws almost exclusively from a relatively small recruiting base - good LDS athletes or the rare non-LDS athlete who can thrive 4-6 years in the BYU atmosphere. And yet here they are winning their second MWC Championship in a row. Given the very unique and challenging circumstances surrounding BYU athletics, we should all be very proud of this basketball team and the other BYU sports teams that regularly do so well!

Thanks for a great season. You represented us well.

Mr. Harmon, you write extremely well, but I notice you focus exclusively on BYU sports. Why not apply your talents to more general coverage? It would be much more interesting to those of us who have recently moved to SLC and have no allegiance to a particular school.

BYU needs to learn how to win in tournaments. They are terrible at winning. It makes me mad since I am a huge COUGarFan!

They are young and hopefully will enjoy good health. they have beds to sleep on. That's what they really have to look forward to, plus they can watch other teams play and cheer them on. like UNLV, the only non choke team in the leaugue.

Villanova a 12 seed beat Clemson a 5 seed.
Siena a 13 seed beat Vanderbilt a 4 seed.
Kansas St. an 11 seed beat USC a 6 seed.
Western Kentucky a 12 seed beat Drake a 5 seed.
San Diego a 13 seed beat Connecticut a 4 seed.

So what's the point? A low seeded team CAN beat a higher seeded team. NO MORE WHINNING ABOUT SEEDING. NO MORE EXCUSES.

It's all about match-ups? It's all about momentum comming into the tournament? It's all about how far you have to travel to get to the assigned tournament site?

IT'S ALL ABOUT WINNING AND DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THAT JOB DONE.

BYU got out coached and out played. How does a team that already has a bad track record in the tourney start out the game down 11-0? Why didn't Coach Rose pull the reigns on Tavernari when he kept gunning without sucess? Tavernari looked like he was playing his own game out there. He wasn't playing any defense, he was shooting when we should have been working for a better shot. Plaisted looks like he's picked up the "curse of Russell Larsen"-great freshman and sophmore years then starts to go backwards. The spin control on this is ugly....Let's face it these guys/coaches know they are going to lose in these games

A note to Dick Harmon, and response (first), written last year.

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Thanks for the note, you are correct, 100 percent...

dh

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On Mar 18, 2007

> Dick: Concerning your March 18 [2007] column, I long for the day BYU sets its sights not on winning a tournament game but going "deep" into the tournament. Some are so tired of the excuses and standard MO--do well in the regular season, get a tournament bid, complain about the seed, lose, then make excuses. I respect your opinion--but, at best, it explains only why the cougars can't win a single game (at worst, it takes the whining routine to a whole new low). Who wants to win a single game? The Cougars should have as a goal periodic Sweet 16 appearances, or better. Doing so requires wins against highly seeded teams. I found your "explanation" especially silly. But, say it's the best explanation ever--to what end? "The national anti-BYU conspiracy prevents BYU from winning a single Big Dance ball game?" That will play well at George Mason or UNLV. The Cougars don't need help in the "explanation" ("whining") department--maybe having their starting center show a little heart would help, however.

I think sometimes BYU fans lose perspective. WE will never recruit the athletes other programs can because of the HC. It will be once in a blue moon that we can play in a BCS type bowl with the talent to compete. It will be once in a blue moon we will have the bball talent to get to the sweet 16. Truth is is that it is remarkable we can even dominate this crummy conference let alone compete nationally given our handicap.

That being said, we should be able to win a game every so often in the tournament and should expect a .500 bowl record. That isn't unreasonable. But I think most of you are unreasonable in your expectation of BYU athletics. We cannot recruit the athletes other schools can. Never have, never will. Keep it in perspective. I hate losing as bad as anyone, but I am proud BYU can compete with athletes who keep an HC.

plaisted has had a great season....you all need to back off of him. just because you don't ...want him to leave doesn't mean you have to bash on him. when has BYU had a big athletic unselfish center like this guy? Just tell me. 10 years ago? I mean come one.. he is the reason why all the guards get good looks at the basket. they suck down on trent and so it gives cummard better looks. Trent has improved on his right hand ..his passing .. and his rebounding. look at his averages . Get a life and start commenting about something worth while thaN bagging on our big guy who definietly has a ....pro chance. the RUssel larsen comment was rediculous. let me tell you again..GO LOOK AT HIS AVERAGES...and that says a LOT.

Who cares if Plaisted Leaves next year. It's his decision and not anyone elses. Stop bad mouthing him and his future.. Is it anyone elses Life? No it's not. IF he wants to go out and test the water.. he still can have eligibility to come back. So everyone of you retards who always baG on this guy should sit back in your couch and start blogging about something of importance...that actually makes sence. . ..

I'm done listening to BYU fans talk. We manage to spin world dominance out of close football games that happen to go our way. We wake up briefly when our basketball team can't get passed the first round of the NCAA tournament year after year. Then, a few of us talk long enough and suddenly BYU is worthy of being in the PAC 10. We go to church and talk with each other some more, spend some time reliving the past and suddenly we are world dominant again. It's time for this BYU fan to hide the diploma.

Yeah, I looked at his averages, he really shoots great from the free throw line. That is pathetic. He might be okay if he is not at the line but he is for certain no game changer or a guy to be too concerned with. Late second round if he gets drafted at all. But yeah, his average are just average. Nothing out of the ordinary and get hyped up about.

What planet does Oz live on?

Why did BYU have the talent this year to play with UNLV and has, over the years, had the talent to play even with Utah, and have you claim BYU doesn't have the talent to win NCAA tournament games? UNLV won two games in the tournament last year. Utah won two games in the tournament a couple of years ago. Wheeeew -- look at the lower seeded teams who won this year. BYU's winning percentage in the NCAA tournament is one of the lowest of any team that has played more than a handful of games over the years. Same is true with its overall bowl game record. At least Bronco has that turned around.

looks like us utes have the last laugh! We are stil playing!

BYU hurts he conference?? are you serious? Yeah I guess Colorado St, Wyo, Utah, AFA, and TCU have nothing to do with the conference being weak?

National recognition is earned at the NCAAs; period. Outside of BYU very few will respect BYU for their regular season run, however record setting and dominant because of their loss Thursday.

Winners of the MWC conference tournament have generally done better that the regular season championship. The momentum gained by the winning the MWC tourney generally carries over into the early rounds of the NCAAs.

No great disrespect to UNLV (or UCLA) but their conference and NCAA tourney success are directly related to the confenence tournament held on their home floor and cities and the momentum as it carries into the NCAAs. Not a whine just a simple fact. The completition is too close in the MWC for home-court advantage not to be a large factor. Looks at UNLVs success before and after their tourney moved to Thomas and Mack.

Why not rotate the tourney between Denver, SLC and Las Vegas. Hopefully the new television arrangements will translate to higher revenues taking the pressure off the MWC tournament.

Coach Rose said the right things to his kids after the loss. That's not the time to tell them they failed. They know it. That's the time to pump them up. Later they can focus on next year and how to win a conference game. However, I don't see BYU in the sweet 16 next year. Few teams make a leap like that over night. Momentum begets momemtum and they don't have any going into the NCAAs for next year. The Utes didn't land in the Final Four overnight. It was an 8 year trek of winning first round games, finally cracking the sweet 16...and after a couple of those, finally making the Elite 8, etc. This team hasn't learned what it means to win in the most important games. Now, does that mean it won't happen? No, it's just not probable. All BYU fans love John Beck, but let's all be reminded that he didn't win a big game until his Senior year. Even then, he was 3-2 in big games. The point is, a win in the tourney this year would've gone a long way to more respect and confidence for the coming year.

Utetodd: "looks like us utes have the last laugh! We are stil playing!"

Not quite. Utah is still playing in a tournament that is the equivalent of after-school detention or remedial basketball for dummies (that's dumbies for those of you on the LaVerkin city council).

Granted, BYU should be forced to take NCAA Tourney 101. Still, BYU managed to avoid the basketball equivalent of having to write their name on the board 1000 times (i.e., the CBI).

Why do you think people don't like BYU? It's the holier than thou attitude. Nice backhanded statements against the rest of the country. You make us all look bad.

Utes still playing? in the jr jazz conselation tournament? they couldn't even get a NIT bid!!!
talking about living in the past !
get over it utes you haven't beat BYU in two years in Basketball OR foorball so crawl back into your holes and suck your thumbs and keep reminding each other how good you were ten years ago.
a bit of advise
don't slam teams that beat you consistantly the past two years
It only proves what that your IQ's are lower than the number of national championships in football or basketball the U of U has produced!

Let's see, BYU hoops team chokes against UNLV and TA&M and looks for a silver lining. BYU football team wins a bowl game because a mediodre PAC-10 team choked with an opportunity to win, but has the eye of the tiger. What exactly are we supposed to be proud of as fans...the lousy TV deal, the constant lack of national respect, and the pathetic league we're stuck in?

Sorry, I live in the real world where all I hear is BY-Who? Half the time the Mountain West is still confused with the WAC with the WAC gaining recognition. And the eastern media's relentless, bored chorus of 'I never expected BYU to win anyway', and 'I told you so'. If UNLV, San Diego, Siena, Xavier, and Butler can figure out how to win when it counts, why can't BYU?

BYU what planet are you on. There will never be five McDonald All-Americans on you team because there aren't that many Mormons good enough to be an All-American in any six year (including mission years) period. Besides if I am a McDonald's All-American and LDS where do I go, BYU and not be seen by anyone or UNC or any other top tier college team where I will improve my skills and be going to the next level. I forget - how many Cougars are there in the NBA right now?

Excuse me? Unlike BYBOO-HOO, Kent St. are Regular season and tournament champions, which is more than you can say about Texas A&M. Kent St. is a MUCH better team then BYU. Coming from a Rebel fan, I am sickened by the whiny excuses BYU cook up to back-up their over-rated, mediocre team.

You act UNLV getting Kent St. was a gift.. UNLV was sent ALL THE WAY out to Omaha, Nebraska! BYU got to go to Anaheim. Any mormon idiot can see that BYU had the advantage. Have no doubt, if the positions were switched and it was BYU against Kent St..It would've been Kent St. advancing to the second round.

UNLV is, and always will be better than BYBoo-hoo.

Keep clinging to your pathetic Regular Season Championship in a less-then average conference.

Can't seem to win in the post season.

BYU's post-season records, all-time:

NCAA Basketball Tournament: 11-27 (.297)

Football bowl games: 9-16-1 (.346)

Yewt's post-season records, all-time:

NCAA Basketball Tournament: 35-29 (.547)

Football bowl games: 10-4 (.714)

BYU's NCAA Basketball tournament winning percentage is second lowest among teams with at least 30 games played.

The Yewt's Basketball winning percentage is eighteenth best among teams with at least 60 games played (Duke, UCLA, and North Carolina top the list, Utah is just behind Villanova, Arkansas, and Illinois).

Don't know what this says except that many thoughtful fans of a team in a conference hope that other conference teams do well in post season play, because it makes the conference look good and validates a whole season's worth of effort.

In this regard, BYU makes it hard for fans of other conference teams.

What are you bozos doing posting comments on a BYU article?! Just can't get enough of BYU, can you? Yes you guys are just like the utes: eat, sleep, and breath BYU sports. I know you can't help it because BYU is the top program in the conference in both football and basketball right now and this makes you crazy jealous. unlv finished in 2nd place behind us and then won a conference tourney on their home court which is once again no surprise to anyone because of their home court advantage, then they think it's a really big deal and think they are the best team. Then you get a weak overrated 1st round Kent St, you win, and also think that's a big deal, which it isn't. So now you're whining about having to travel all the way to Nebraska to play your patsy? Oh, poor babies! Have fun watching your team get trounced by Kansas.

If Y were still in Tournament after 2 games they would be playing 12 or 13 seed. Who would complain about seeding then. Its time to just win and forget the crying over seeding.

wxfan

I am a BYU fan like you, but I am ashamed that you can't spell. Don't go talking about IQs when you can't spell. You're dumb.

I know, yes, absolutely know, even before doing it, that reading these lame, ridiculous "fan" comments on a BYU article that it's going to be nothing more than a bunch of BYU haters spitting out their venom under the pretense of "intelligent" response.

Get a clue people, no matter how you spin it BYU still had a great year. Outright Conference champions, again, national ranking, and best of all, they did it with young men who anyone would be proud to have over for dinner - unlike some of the other teams whose "fans" feel the need to post here.

All I have to do is remember the faces of the "fans" in the Pit all screwed up and screaming at Trent Plaisted about his wife to remember just what is that I really like about BYU. Or, even better, the idiot from UNLV with the sign about "having" someone's wife while they were on their mission. Classy bunch of low lifes abound in this conference.

Thanks Cougs for a great year and keep getting better. I, for one, will have to find a way to ignore the trailer trash rednecks posting here.