1. It’s always great to get a win. BYU is now 8-2 on the season, and will likely go into B12 play with a 9-2 record.

2. It hasn’t always been pretty during the pre-conference games. Lots of new players, all new coaches, all new offensive and defensive systems. It was always going to take some time. Hopefully, things will be a bit more settled by the time conference play starts on 12/31 vs Arizona State.

3. At this point I’d say that there are only 2 definite starters on this team—Demin & Saunders—and neither one played tonight other than the 1st couple of minutes by Saunders. I hope he’s OK. Getting a lip contusion or laceration or whatever it was is concerning, but the bigger concern, in my opinion, is a possible concussion. Hopefully, both Egor and Richie will be ready for the B12 opener.

4. If pressed, right now I think I’d start, Demin, Saunders, Keita, Knell, and Mag. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that 5 together on the floor yet, but I think that might be the strongest starting unit. Lots of energy, perhaps the best defensive unit overall (even with Knell), and still the ability to score.

5. Catchings has all kinds of talent, and he’s going to be a star, but I’m thinking he might be better served at this point coming off the bench. He needs to quit forcing 3s, drive more to the hoop and dish to open shooters. And when the ball is passed to him and he’s open, then go ahead the fire away. It will be fun watching him develop this year.

6. It also might be better for Hall to come off the bench, at least for awhile. He does some great things, but he’s been really inconsistent in his play. He missed at least 4-point blank layups tonight.

7. If you start the players I list in #4 above, you’d be bringing Catchings, Hall, Baker, Traore, and Boskevic off the bench. This BYU team really has some depth. I like this group against most team’s bench players.

8. Overall, the defense was better tonight. Very impressed with Mag’s defense, and his 3-point shooting.

9. Baker is such a valuable player. He just knows how to score. That ability will be crucial in some games this year.

10. The best teams in the country have really good point guards. Hall is steady, and can occasionally drive inside for an easy layup or a dish. Egor at times is amazing. He just needs to be a little more consistent and just a bit more assertive with his own offense. It will be critical that BYU gets a really good point guard from the portal to help out next year.

11. Before the season started, I was one who thought that maybe BYU could finish in the top quarter of the B12. After watching the team during these pre-conference games, I’m thinking the experts that had BYU somewhere in the middle of the conference were probably right. I just hope that they continue to improve, and by the end of the regular season are playing their best ball and are ready to make some noise in the NCAAs.