1. BYU has already significantly exceeded my expectations for the season. They have played and beaten some of the top teams in the B12, and in a month's time went from being out of the tournament to a likely 5 or 6 seed. That's really unbelievable when you think about it. The progress that both the coaching staff and team has made over the course of the season has been amazing.

2. As good as this season has been, we can expect next season to be even better. It's likely that Saunders, Hall, Keita, Baker, and Catchings (fingers crossed) will all be back, and they should all be improved over this year, which is saying a lot. Add in AJ and other recruits, as well as current bench players who will be fighting for PT, and the future looks very bright.

3. It is amazing how quickly KY and his staff have adjusted to the college game. He has acknowledged that it is very different from the pro game, especially in terms of what is allowed without being a foul. Rather than complain, he has embraced those differences and worked with the coaches and players to develop plans to address them and then implement those plans. This is obviously still a work in progress, but significant progress has been made in a relatively short period of time.

4. What KY and his staff have already accomplished in terms of recruiting is stunning. The clear and compelling vision for the program he has created and effectively communicated (along with a healthy NIL) has resonated with some of the top recruits in the country. It is really unbelievable that the consensus #1 recruit is coming to BYU next year. But KY and staff had already demonstrated their recruiting chops by getting Saunders, Hall, and Knell to stay, and by getting Keita, Mag, Demin, Crawford, Catchings and Kozlowski to commit. The results we have seen recruiting wise in less than a year is so far beyond my wildest fantasies! Just amazing!

5. Raise your hand if you would have predicted that BYU would win their last 9 conference games, including road games in Tucson and Ames, and beat ISU again in the conference tournament. BYU's late-season performance has been unexpected and amazing. The Cougars are starting to get some well-deserved national publicity, and they are poised to win at least a game or 2 in the NCAA Tournament starting next week. And all this is without Demin and Catchings playing to the level we all expected them to perform.

6. I sometimes think back to the day it was announced Pope was leaving for Kentucky. I envisioned, at best, a lengthy process to even get to the point where the results of the 2023/2024 season could be duplicated. I know it's cliche, but the proverbial phrase, "It's always darkest before the dawn" seems to apply. And I really feel that the program is now on firmer footing that it was at the end of last season. My head spins just thinking about the past 10 months or so.

7. It is great being in the B12 Conference. We've got a great commissioner, great member institutions, and great competitive games and matches in a wide range of sports. Although I'm still very grateful for the WCC taking BYU in when they embarked on independence, I am so grateful that the Blue Cougars are now part of the B12. Frankly, it has been even better than I anticipated.

8. Final comment. What a great time to be a BYU fan. The football program is doing well, and the future appears bright. Same for Men's BB. I'm confident they'll get the right WBB coach and we'll begin to see progress there. BYU continues to excel in so many other sports. And all the teams seem to represent BYU and the LDS Church well.

Go Cougars.