PROVO — The past season signified a slide backward for BYU and departed head coach Steve Cleveland.
The 2004-05 Cougars went 9-21 just like Cleveland's first year in 1997-98, although in this, Cleveland's last season, his schedule was significantly tougher — the most difficult schedule of any team in the Mountain West Conference.
When Cleveland left BYU eight days ago, he finished ranked fourth in school history in coaching wins (138-108), just ahead of Frank Arnold.
You can divide the Cougar season into three categories.
First, the neat little wins: Chaminade, Boise State, Weber State, SUU, Santa Clara, New Mexico, Colorado State and UNLV, although the win over the Rebels in Las Vegas in overtime was huge for this injury-plagued team.
Second, whipping post blowout losses: North Carolina, Utah State (twice), St.
Mary's, New Mexico and Air Force, a 70-39 nightmare, one of the worst losses in school history.
Third, the shouda-coulda close losses: USC, Washington State, San Diego State, Air Force and Wyoming.
After a loss to Wyoming in Laramie, Cleveland showed his frustration by criticizing his team's effort publicly. He then gathered himself and tried to put a positive spin on his team's woes in the final stretch of MWC games. The Cougars finished 3-11 in league play.
The season got off to a rough start at the Maui Invitational where BYU faced eventual national champion North Carolina and got worked, then lost to Stanford. With confidence shattered, the squad never recovered.
It got worse when Cleveland lost power forward Garner Meads to injuries, including a deep thigh bruise that sidelined him for 12 games. Later, in MWC play, he lost his top rebounder Keena Young to a broken hand in practice. He missed the final five games of the season.
In all, Cleveland used 18 different starting lineups that included 12 separate players. Sounds like a Utah Jazz kind of year.
Cleveland redshirted freshmen David Burgess and Trent Plaisted after they suffered injuries. Burgess required surgery on his foot. Plaisted had tendinitis in his knees. The coach hoped to redshirt returned missionary Jimmy Balderson but pulled him onto the court before league play. Balderson couldn't maintain his stamina, but Cleveland decided his contribution was needed.
Although MWC defensive player of the year Mike Hall earned third-team honors once this year was over, Hall struggled as BYU's leading scorer, never finding his role after switching from outside shooter to slasher and not quite mastering either as he drew opponents' best player to defend.
The other part of BYU's game that struggled was post play at the center spot vacated by No. 8 draft pick Rafael Araujo. Jared Jensen was supposed to step in and shine during his senior year. He didn't and was even benched in favor of Derek Dawes.
Jensen did end up tied with Araujo for career field-goal shooting (.567) and finished as the top percentage shooting center from the free-throw line in school history (.809).
Transfer Young, a 6-foot-7 small forward who was asked to step in for Meads, ended up BYU's best rebounder and, at times, provided a great spark with his knack for scoring off missed shots by teammates.
Another bright spot was the consistent play of sophomore Austin Ainge. Although Ainge had his good and bad moments, he was the most consistent Cougar all season and finished third in the MWC in assists on a squad with no real go-to player.
When the Cougars crashed and burned with a loss to New Mexico in the MWC tournament, BYU ended on a five-game losing skid, the longest in Cleveland's tenure.
The Cougars' biggest challenge of the year was finishing games, making plays to push themselves over the top and playing some games even with opponents only to go into a six to eight minute scoring drought. BYU held the lead or had a tie game with every MWC opponent except UNM and AFA.
What about next season, the Dave Rose era?
The style of play and approach to the game will evolve, according to Rose. He believes in attacking the basket, starting with transition fast-break chances. He'll retain a high-effort defensive scheme, but will require his players to try and put defenders on their heels by forcing the action.
Rose practices will be less standing around learning plays and doing drills than actual game simulation. Where Cleveland used to insert plays and sets for different opponents during a week, Rose wants to make his players perfect their basic attack and make it efficient.
BYU players say Rose will give them more leeway in developing their own moves to score and they look forward to the creativity and motion.
The Cougars will have an easier schedule next season, a slate Cleveland already had pegged and one he believes Rose can run to an 8-3 mark before MWC games that includes addition of Texas Christian University. Talk to Rose and his staff, they believe that record will be better, more like 9-2 or 10-1.
The Cougars will get a boost in their offense with newcomer Lee Cummard, a freshman from Arizona who was considered one of the top shooting guards in the West when at Mesa High School. Cummard is a player who will require attention from defenders, part with double teams or a shadow scheme. That could open up scoring from other players, including junior college transfer Shawn Broadus, a slasher with a solid stroke.
Cougar coaches are also high on signing Utah's Mr. Basketball, Jackson Emery out of 4A champion Lone Peak. They believe Emery and Cummard have an attitude that will rub off on older players in the program and set the tone for the future.
The Cougars lose seniors Hall, Jensen and center freshman Chris Miles (mission) but return Dawes, Meads, Young, Ainge, Michael Rose and Balderson as a foundation.
Potential starters
G — Lee Cummard (Fr.) or Michael Rose (Jr.)
G — Austin Ainge (Jr.) or JC transfer Shawn Broadus (Jr.)
G — Jimmy Balderson (Jr.) or Jackson Emery (Fr.)
F — Keena Young (Jr.)
C — Derek Dawes (Jr.)
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com