Dave Rose looks to continue the success at BYU. (zimbio.com)

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By Rob Stone
sportsguyrob@att.net

Thursday, September 20, 2012

BYU Cougars
Last season: 26-9 (12-4)
Key Losses: Noah Hartsock, Charles Abouo
Head Coach: Dave Rose

Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Matt Carlino 6-2 So.
SG: Brock Zylstra 6-6 Sr.
SF: Stephen Rogers 6-8 Sr.
PF: Brandon Davies 6-9 Sr.
C: Nate Austin 6-11 So.

Key reserves
PG: Craig Cusick 6-2 Sr.
PG: Cooper Ainge 6-0 Fr.
PG: Kyle Rose 6-0 Fr.
SG: Tyler Haws 6-5 So.
SG: Anson Winder 6-3 So.
SG: Cory Calvert 6-3 Fr.
SG: Raul Delgado 6-2 Jr.
SF: Josh Sharp 6-7 So.
PF: Augustin Ambrosino 6-8 Fr.
C: Ian Harward 6-11 Fr.

Coming off a 2011-12 campaign that concluded with a record of 26-9 overall and 12-4 in the West Coast Conference (WCC), Brigham Young head coach Dave Rose came away impressed with the caliber of competition his Cougars came across.

“The coaching in this league, the players, and the quality of the games were exciting,” Rose said. “I think our fans really enjoyed the teams coming into the Marriott Center. We sold out quite a few games against teams that are brand new for our fans. So, I’m excited about the future of our program and the future of the league.”

Unfortunately for the BYU faithful, the Cougars closed out their season with a tough 88-68 loss to the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second round of last spring’s NCAA Tournament.

“We’re trying to get 500 shots a day for six days of the week,” 6-6 senior shooting guard Brock Zylstra said. “The coaching staff challenged us to do that. I’m trying to work on more off-the-dribble stuff because last year I shot mostly threes, just catch-and-shoot threes. So I’m trying to do some floaters, one-dribble, and two-dribble pull-ups.”

Zylstra, who averaged 8.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg last season, is one of three returning starters for a third-place Brigham Young team trying to overtake the Gonzaga Bulldogs and St. Mary’s Gaels in the WCC. Also coming back for the Cougars are 6-9 senior power forward Brandon Davies (15.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and 6-2 sophomore point guard Matt Carlino (12.2 ppg, 4.6 apg).

Davies had a dominant 18-point, 15-rebound performance for BYU in their 78-72 victory over the Iona Gaels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

6-5 sophomore shooting guard Tyler Haws also returns for Brigham Young after serving a two-year mission. Haws started 33 games and averaged 11.3 ppg and 4.2 rpg, while playing alongside Jimmer Fredette in 2009-10.

“We have a chance to be really good,” Haws said. “All the guys are focused on winning. That’s the main thing, just winning games. I think we’re going to make some noise this year.”

If he doesn’t end up in the starting lineup, Haws will lead a Cougar bench that will include 6-3 sophomore shooting guard Anson Winder (4.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg), 6-2 senior point guard Craig Cusick (3.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg), 6-7 sophomore small forward Josh Sharp (1.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg), 6-0 freshman point guard Cooper Ainge (son of Danny Ainge), and 6-0 freshman point guard Kyle Rose (nephew of Dave Rose).

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