BYU fans watching tonight's Cougar basketball season opener against Boise State in the Marriott Center may have a familiar phrase from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" pop into their minds.
"Who are these guys?"And they won't necessarily be thinking about the Broncos. The 1995-96 Cougars will have a different look to them than they has the past couple of seasons. Only two of the top seven players - both in terms of minutes and scoring average - return from last season's 22-10 club.
A total of seven contributors from a year ago are gone - four graduated (Russell Larson, Shane Knight, Mark Durrant and Craig Wilcox), two went on church missions (Robbie Reid and Bret Jepsen) and one transferred (Cory Reader).
Still, Cougar coach Roger Reid is upbeat about his team's chances this season, as well he should be with a guy like Kenneth Roberts on his side.
Roberts is one of two returning starters (the other being Randy Reid). The senior from Riverton and Bingham High was an all-WAC center a year ago - which is particularly impressive considering that his natural position is forward and he stands only 6-6. Roberts averaged 15.4 points per game and 6.6 rebounds a year ago despite being undersized for his position.
"Ken is a great player," says Reid. "It is unbelievable what he does at 6-6. He has a tough chore every night."
Backing up Roberts at center will be Jermaine (formerly Jay) Thompson, a 6-8 senior who redshirted last season, and sophomore newcomer Jarkko Ahlbom, a thin 6-10 player from Finland with a nice shooting touch.
The Cougar starting forwards, juniors Jeff Campbell (6-9) and Bryon Ruffner (6-6), will be asked to pick up the scoring and rebounding void left behind by departed veterans Larson, Durrant and Knight, a trio that combined for more than 31 points and 14 rebounds per game last season.
If the two exhibition games are any indication, Campbell and Ruffner should be up to the task. Ruffner, who grew up in Provo but comes to BYU by way of Utah State and UVSC, led the Cougars in scoring in both practice games with a 24.5 average, while Campbell averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 boards. Justin Weidaur, a 6-7 sophomore who redshirted last season, will see a good deal of action in a backup role.
The backcourt is the biggest question mark entering the season for the Cougs. Robbie Reid, the team's court leader the past two seasons, is in Greece on a mission. His brother Randy Reid, who started at off-guard the past couple of years, will start at the point. Grant Berges, a 6-7 sophomore, will start at the other guard position, but a pair of local freshmen will see plenty of action.
Nate Cooper, 6-5 from Timpview, and 6-1 point guard Todd Christensen from Highland High will be counted on to help immediately.
Reid, whose teams have won 20-plus games in each of his six seasons as coach, is calling this a rebuilding year. Still, the Cougars are expected to finish in the top half of the WAC. The WAC media tabbed the Cougs third in the league in the preseason poll.
"I feel like we have made great strides in our practices thus far," Reid said. "I am proud of our team's efforts in coming together. I couldn't be more proud this early with that effort."
The non-league schedule is highlighted by a game next Saturday at No. 10 Mississippi State. Other preseason contests include home games against instate rivals Utah State and Weber State and the annual Cougar Classic.
COUGAR NOTES: BYU has currently won 15 consecutive games in the Marriott Center. The Cougars went unbeaten (14-0) at home last year . . . Boise State was picked to place fifth in the Big Sky Conference this season.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1995-96 Y. schedule
Nov. 25 Boise State
Nov. 28 at Nevada
Dec. 2 at Mississippi State
Dec. 5 Utah State
Dec. 8 Cal-State Northridge (Cougar Classic)
Dec. 9 Cougar Classic
Dec. 12 Weber State
Dec. 22 at Texas Tech
Dec. 28 Morgan State
Jan. 2 at Utah
Jan. 8 Air Force
Jan. 10 Fresno State
Jan. 13 at San Diego State
Jan. 15 at Hawaii
Jan. 18 Wyoming
Jan. 20 Colorado State
Jan. 25 at New Mexico
Jan. 27 at UTEP
Feb. 1 New Mexico
Feb. 3 UTEP
Feb. 8 at Colorado State
Feb. 10 at Wyoming
Feb. 15 San Diego State
Feb. 17 Hawaii
Feb. 22 at Air Force
Feb. 24 at Fresno State
Mar. 2 Utah
Mar. 6-9 WAC Tournament