Remember the commercial in 1976 about Heinz ketchup? The spot featured Carly Simon’s song “Anticipation” and focused on how long it took for the ketchup to pour out of the bottle. The pitch line included, “Think how good it’s going to taste when it finally gets there.”
The ad sold a lot of ketchup and consumers ate it up.
As a ketchup connoisseur, I thought of that Heinz ad while watching BYU struggle in consecutive conference games — losing 86-55 at No. 12 Houston and 72-67 to Texas Tech. Like it or not, waiting for these Cougars to arrive in the Big 12 is going to take a little more time.
Despite their determined efforts, the Cougars look like a team that has a new coach, new staff and new roster — and while they try to figure things out on the court, they are facing teams that already have. It’s not an excuse for poor shooting and a lack of rebounding, it just is what it is.
Houston and Texas Tech aren’t adjusting to a new system or still tinkering with their rotations. Their top guns are sinking shots, and their big boys are crashing the boards. They know who they are and when it matters most, they play like it.
The Cougars were outmatched at Houston, but they were capable of beating Texas Tech at the Marriott Center. BYU, however doomed itself by missing nine free throws, 18 3-point shots, and suffering significant defensive breakdowns down the stretch.
A pair of defeats in the Big 12 isn’t the end of the world. BYU lost eight conference games last year and still earned a six seed in the NCAA Tournament. But anticipation and anxiety don’t live very far from each other — and fans are getting anxious.
The Cougars are a team that is still waiting for the light to go on. Highly touted freshman guards Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings have shown flashes of brilliance, but only flashes. The veterans on the squad appear unsure on the floor wondering who is gonna take charge, while the staff coaches madly from the bench.
This is what newness brings and the only thing that makes new things old is time — and BYU still has time. The Cougars are 10-4 through 14 games. They are 1-2 in the Big 12 with 17 more conference games to play before the Big 12 Tournament, including a date at TCU on Saturday (noon, ESPN2).
There is no shortage of talent. There isn’t a fracture in the locker room. BYU is just a team that wants to be competing better than it has over the last two games. There is also an understanding that the level of play must go up — and soon!
School is back in session on campus, but unfortunately, there is no crash course available in the chemistry department. Like Heinz ketchup, court chemistry can’t be rushed. It takes time — but it comes, and just like the vintage ad promised, “Think how good it’s going to be when it finally gets there.”
Yes, as Simon sings, “Anticipation — it’s keeping me waiting.”
Perhaps the wait will end on Saturday and the light will come on? Until then, please pass the ketchup.
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.