GO COUGARS!!! And is anybody else confused why the Las Vegas Classic is being played in Provo?

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More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie (17) is chased by Houston Texans cornerback Glover Quin after a reception during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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BYU's all-time greatest wide receiver, Austin Collie, was drafted 127th overall last April.  The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the 4th round after 19 other receivers had been picked.  The Colts drafted Collie after releasing 36 year-old All-Pro Marvin Harrison.  Harrison had accounted for over 600 yards receiving in 2008 and the Colts' rookie wideout Pierre Garcon had only made 4 catches all last season.  Indianapolis hoped Collie could provide some much needed depth behind All-Pro Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez.

Not only has Collie provided the necessary depth team President Bill Polian and General Manager Chris Polian were looking for, but he has turned into one of Peyton Manning's primary targets. Collie has scored a touchdown in each of the past two contests and ranks among the NFL's top rookie receivers.  You could easily argue that Collie and Minnesota rookie receiver Percy Harvin (drafted 22nd overall) have been the two best rookie receivers in the league this season.  

Of course, it doesn't hurt that they are each catching passes from two of the greatest passers in league history. Still, after the Colts lost Gonzalez for the season in Week 1, Collie and Garcon have each stepped in and performed exceptionally well.  And now, with the Colts having clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and possibly resting players like Wayne and TE Dallas Clark, Collie could get even more touches in the last few games.

NFL writer Don Banks of Sports Illustrated released a "Draft Redux" re-projecting the first round of the 2009 draft. Where does Collie fall? How about in the first round, 26th overall (to Green Bay), and as the 4th receiver taken.

Here's a brief look at where Collie ranks this season:

*Among all players with at least 25 receptions

Here are also some links detailing more of Collie's success as a rookie:

An early take on Colts' No. 3 receiver - ESPN (8/12)
Anthony Gonzalez still not ready to practice ... - Stampede Blue (12/8)
Austin Collie, Colts... - FanHouse (10/12)
Austin Collie makes his move among NFL rookies - The Hazean (10/29)
Collie a pleasant surprise for Colts - Deseret News (10/19)
Collie's TD doom Titans - Indianapolis Star (10/12)
Colts' Collie getting some love from "The King" - Stampede Blue (8/26)
Garon, Collie don't miss a beat in Colts' offense - Indy.com (10/8)
Oak Ridge's Collie running with the Colts - ESPN Radio, Sacramento (10/13)
Rookie of the Year: Austin Collie? - Stampede Blue (11/5)

Collie Highlights from Colts v. Seahawks in October (including Collie's first touchdown reception):

More photos » by Patrick Smith - AP

Get used to this people... BYU forward Brandon Davies (0) is just getting started in Provo... (AP Photo/Patrick Smith)

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Here's a preview of the next six non-MWC contests facing the Cougars over the holidays and heading into conference play next month...

Remaining Non-Conference Games:

BYU vs. Wagner - Thursday, December 17
7 PM Tipoff (MST); TV: BYUTV

The Seahawks hail from Staten Island.  They are currently 1-7 and their best-known opponent thus far has been Bucknell, who beat Wagner by 24 in New York.  Prediction - Cougars 96, Seahawks 60.

BYU vs. Eastern Washington - Saturday, December 19
7 PM Tipoff (MST); TV: BYUTV

Rodney Stuckey's alma mater is 4-5 but has been competitive in most of their matchups this season.  The Eagles most recently lost to Seattle at home in overtime (The same Seattle that beat Utah in Salt Lake and Fresno State in Washington. Their star, Charles Garcia is getting serious NBA attention.).  This is a very winnable game for the Cougars at home but senior Brandon Moore could give them problems inside.  Prediction - Cougars 89, Eagles 76.

BYU vs. Nevada - Tuesday, December 22
HoopTV Las Vegas Classic - Las Vegas (Orleans Arena) 
1 PM Tipoff (MST); TV: BYUTV 

This tournament game was originally scheduled for 8:30 pm, but was moved up due to the Cougars contest in the Las Vegas Bowl that evening.  BYU has played very well in Orleans Arena in the past - games against Louisville and North Carolina come to mind - but Nevada should have some fans and this is by no means an automatic win. The Cougars have already lost to one WAC opponent and can't afford to lose another.  The Wolfpack is currently 4-4 but their losses have all been to quality competition: North Carolina, UOP, UNLV and VCU.  The game against EWU will be a good test for the Cougars' post players going against Moore in preparation for Nevada's Luke Babbitt. The sophomore forward is the latest NBA prospect to come out of Reno and has recorded 7 consecutive double-doubles. Prediction - Cougars 74, Wolfpack 71

BYU vs. Nebraska or Tulsa - Wednesday, December 23
HoopTV Las Vegas Classic - Las Vegas (Orleans Arena) 
Time - TBA; TV: BYUTV 

Nebraska is 7-2 so far and have already knocked off two PAC-10 opponents: USC (in L.A.) and Oregon State. BYU assistant Walter Roese (the surname is pronounced with an 'H' not an 'R) is now coaching in Lincoln.  The Cornhuskers are winning with some very impressive defense, holding both of the aforementioned schools below 50 points.  This could be a scrappy contest should the Cougars draw Nebraska and BYU will need Tavernari or someone other than Fredette and Haws to really step it up offensively.  Prediction - Cougars 64, Cornhuskers 58

Tulsa is also a quality program and potentially a tough matchup for BYU.  They are 7-1 and crushed Oklahoma State earlier this month in Tulsa.  The Hurricane's lone loss came to Missouri State in Springfield.  (Missouri State (9-0) will probably be ranked soon as they have also beaten Auburn and Air Force pretty convincingly.)  Tulsa has one of the best centers in the country in Jerome Jordan.  Jordan might have been a first-round selection had he made himself eligible last June.  If the Cougars can't get their perimeter shots to fall it will be very, very difficult to score on Jordan inside.  Prediction - Golden Hurricane 78, Cougars 75

BYU vs Arizona - Monday, December 28 at Tucson
7 PM Tipoff (MST); TV: Fox College Sports (FCS)

This will be an exciting matchup between two of the better point guards in the West.  Wildcats' guard Nic Wise remains from last years' Sweet-16 team (with Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill).  Arizona has officially begun the post-Lute Olson era however, and Sean Miller is a terrific coach.  You should remember him from when he coached Xavier past the Cougars in the 2007 tourney.  The Wildcats have been somewhat of a disappointment thus far, as despite it being a rebuilding year in Tucson they have dropped winnable contests to Wisconsin on the road and UNLV at home.  Most recently they were destroyed at home by San Diego State.  Could Arizona really lose to three MWC opponents in one season? Yes.  Prediction - Cougars 70, Wildcats 64.

BYU vs. Eastern New Mexico - Saturday, January 2
7 PM Tipoff (MST); TV: TBA

ENM is located in Portales and is a small school with about 4,300 students.  Interestingly, their men's (Greyhounds) and women's (Zia's) athletic teams have different mascots.  The Greyhounds are 4-4 on the season with their marquee win being against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.  This will be a good learning experience for the Greyhounds.  Remember that win over Southern?  Prediction - Cougars 110, Greyhounds 62

(First conference game scheduled for Wednesday, January 6 vs. UNLV in Provo)

BYU vs. UTEP - Saturday, January 9 at El Paso
6 PM Tipoff (MST); TV: CBS College Sports

The Miners are 5-1 thus far but they haven't really played anyone.  Their lone loss was at home to New Mexico State. That had to have been a bummer since they had just beaten the Aggies two weeks earlier by 21 in Las Cruzes. So despite the Cougars going on the road, this should really be the calm before the storm of conference competition. Prediction - Cougars 90, Miners 71

Summary:

Before the season began I asserted that BYU's depth and somewhat weaker schedule this season could permit them to have a quality record headed into MWC competition:

"The Cougars should have a very good record going into conference play. That's 15 games into the season and I see no reason why BYU can't be 13-2 at that point."

The Cougars currently sit at 8-1 and their remaining six non-conference contests are all highly winnable.  In fact you could probably assume that the games against Wagner and the Eastern Washington and New Mexico's are automatic despite that being a bit hubristic on my part.  I also expect the Cougars to have a good showing in the Las Vegas Classic.  

The last two games against Arizona State and Fresno State are a sign of things to come.  Opponents are now familiar enough with Fredette that they are going to seal off the lane and force the Cougars wing-players to make their mid-range to outside jumpers.  Luckily for BYU Tyler Haws and/or Jackson Emery have done just that.  You can't say enough good things about Haws' play so far.  We certainly anticipated him being a big-time player and even a contributor to the team this season.  However, I wasn't expecting him to be playing over 30 minutes a game, rebounding like a kangaroo on crack and consistently making clutch plays down the stretch of games.  

But the best thing about this is Tavernari.  He's been abysmal shooting from, well, everywhere but the FT line. That's obviously not what's great.  What's wonderful is that he's not going to get any worse.  JT is shooting 10% below his season average from last year and easily 7% worse behind the arc than any season he's spent in Provo.  His minutes are down, his rebounding is down, his assists are down - but all that is going to change.

These last few non-conference games will provide Tavernari the opportunity to get his confidence back.  The games against Wagner and EWU may be just what the doctor ordered - and returning to Orleans Arena where JT has excelled in the past (and where he is familiar having played high school ball in Vegas) could really break him out of this funk.  Just in time for conference play.  

Additionally, young players like Haws, Davies and others like Abouo and Hartsock are only going to continue to improve.  Hartsock has shown that the past couple of games (13 points against the Sun Devils and 11 boards against the Bulldogs) and is now starting at the four.  This team is deep.  As deep as any I can remember.

If the Cougars do manage to come into MWC play with only one or two losses they will be positioning themselves for a better tournament seed come March.  So while UNLV, New Mexico and San Diego State have all been impressive, BYU is the three-time defending champs and their future is looking just as bright as their past.

Updated BYU statistics after the jump...

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Jimmer finished with 24 points and 7 assists (we'll forgive the 7 turnovers) and Tyler Haws dropped in 17 again as well.  This was a really nice road win for the Cougs and the game really wasn't close for much of the second half.  Again, have to credit BYU's defense for this win, holding the Bulldogs to 42% shooting and 21 turnovers.  Next up?  Wagner Seahawks, come on down!

Network Recap
Network Boxscore

by Patrick Smith - AP

BYU forward Chris Miles (54) and Arizona State center Eric Boateng (2) battled for possession Tuesday night. Boateng was able to retain his sweet shades in the scuffle. (AP Photo/Patrick Smith)

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Game Notes - Greg Wrubell, KSL
Game Preview - BYU Athletics

Cleveland succeeding as Fresno's fixer - Deseret News
Coach ... to face old team - dangerous BYU - Fresno Bee
Emotional matchup for ex-Cougar coach - Salt Lake Tribune

GO COUGARS!!!

Fresno State stats after the jump...

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