Expectations for the 1996-97 BYU basketball team were unusually low when practices opened Oct. 15.
And that was before the team's best player withdrew from school and was charged with theft, a second-degree felony.Bryon Ruffner, one of the WAC's most prolific scorers last season with an 18.8 points per game average, was expected to be the Cougar's star player as a shooting guard/small forward.
"I don't know if we can pick up his slack because he was a great player," said Cougar senior forward Jeff Campbell after practice Friday. "It was devastating, but our main concern is for Bryon."
With Ruffner, a 24-year-old senior, no longer in school, coach Roger Reid will have to rely even more heavily on young, inexperienced players. Team members say they are ready for the challenge.
"Our roles are going to change," said junior Justin Weidauer. "Some freshmen that wouldn't have seen playing time are going to now."
BYU was criticized by opponents in the past for having the oldest college basketball team in the nation - thanks in large part because numerous Cougars have been returned LDS missionaries.
This year, however, Reid has seven freshmen on his roster, six right out of high school. Most will be counted on to play immediately.
"They're going to have to grow up to be men in a hurry," Weidauer said. "We're going to find out who the men are and still have a great year."
Ruffner stopped by practice briefly on Friday afternoon, but he hasn't practiced with the team for several days. Players said they found out earlier this week he might be leaving the team, but they didn't know details about the situation until hearing media reports Friday.
"I miss Bryon," Campbell said. "Around here, he's been a great guy. We're all going to miss him."
Players said they feel for Ruffner and aren't blaming him for damaging the team's chances for the upcoming season. They say they still consider him a friend.
"He's one of our best friends," Campbell said. "As a basketball team you grow to be a family and if one person goes through something, you feel it with him."
The greatest effects of Ruffner's loss will not be felt on the court, but on a more personal level, team members said.
"Nobody pointed any fingers," Weidauer said. "Bryon is still a great guy. We love him.
"Bryon knows he made a mistake and he's making amends for it."
Grant Berges, a 6-8 junior who started two games last season, will likely get some of the minutes that Ruffner would have played. The others who may see additional action due to Ruffner's departure are all freshmen: 6-5 guard Michael Vranes (Taylorsville High), 6-8 forwards Eric Nielsen (San Jose) and Michael Thompson (New Zealand) and 6-2 guard Robbie Yates (Brighton High).
Two other freshmen, Matt Montague (Louisville, Ky.) and Scott Sonnenburg (Chicago), will split time as the team's point guard, while 7-0 center David Anderson (Lamar, Colo.) rounds out the freshman class.
The only two BYU players who have much collegiate experience now are forwards Weidauer and Campbell, but neither one averaged double figures scoring last year. However, Weidauer, who led the team in rebounding last year, said he expects to shoot more.
"With or without Bryon, we were going to score some points," he said. "We'll be all right."
The Cougars won 15 games in '95-96 and failed to go to either the NCAA or NIT for the first time in six seasons under Reid. The three leading scorers from that team - Kenneth Roberts, Ruffner and Randy Reid - are all gone.
Last year's two top substitutes, guards Todd Christensen and Nathan Cooper, are also gone, as both are presently on LDS Church missions. Three other Cougars are also on missions: guard Robbie Reid and center Bret Jepsen are due back for next season, while new recruit David Nielsen (Brighton High) will miss the next two years.
Despite the obvious blow to the team's offensive capabilities, players seem to be keeping Ruffner's departure in perspective.
"I don't think this is the toughest thing we'll go through as a team or in life," Campbell said.