It's interesting how we are inclined to give Coach Rose a pass
 

and that is based on a number of factors:
1. He's had success with getting to the tourney.
2. He presided over the best BYU season in recent memory (sweet 16).
3. He had the most transcendent BYU player ever IMO (Fredette, of course).
4. His style of play is up-tempo which is generally fun to watch.
5. He's well-spoken, seems to be a good guy.
6. He seems to have the respect of his colleagues and the media.
7. He's had some recent recruiting success (not in place yet).

On the other hand, there are things that are worrisome. Watching this team this season, I kept asking myself, "Why does this team appear to be poorly coached? Why are they doing the things that poorly coached teams do?" For example, poor defense, poor sharing of the ball, ill-advised low-percentage shots, high degree of "gunning."

My other criticisms:
1. I don't understand his rotations, in many cases. It's like he has one rotation for the non-conference, and then a new rotation for conference play, and it never makes sense why he hadn't been using the conference rotation in the first place.
2. There's always one player that gets time at the end of the season and I am asking myself, why was this guy glued to the bench during the first half of the season? Don't tell me he suddenly became a better player sitting on the bench.
3. He severely undervalues defensive ability and effort. For me the standout example is Dalton Nixon last season. His defense was so atrocious, I just couldn't believe he was getting all those minutes. That declined by the end of the season. But it's like the obvious thing is invisible to Rose.
4. Playing on attack should be secondary to playing effectively, i.e. getting a high percentage shot. I like the attacking style, I like up-tempo basketball. But I don't like bad shots.

At the end of the day, a lot of basketball success is in who you recruit. And what those kids can do. Jackson Emery, Charles Abuou, Noah Hartsock--those three were excellent defensive players. Jimmer got all the credit. Jimmer should be writing checks to those guys for some of his reputation and success. Were they good defensive players because Rose coached them up? I don't know to what degree Rose coached them up. I assume a lot of had to do with what their skills and abilities were. Chase Fischer is never going to be a good defensive player, I don't care if Thibs is coaching him. Neither is Dalton Nixon. Or for that matter, Jimmer Fredette (we've actually already had that play out--Thibs coached Jimmer to no success).

So what standard should we hold Rose to this season? Very simple. Improvement. I'd like to see these guys play like a well-coached team. They're not world-beaters. They don't have great talent. But they can play hard and smart.

Rose didn't play Kaufusi during the first half yesterday. And said it had nothing to do with injury. Just strategy of playing smaller.

Interesting. And perplexing.

Kaufusi has been mostly playing very badly the last several games. Plus, the last two opponents haven't had size, so he would be even less effective on defense trying to keep up with someone more mobile. His offense has really fallen off and Aytes is playing well and needs more time.

I didn't watch the loss to St. Mary's. I was looking over CB this morning, and the rabble rousers are definitely out banging on their pots. It's pretty obvious that this is a team that plays under its potential, i.e. they don't play as if they are well-coached, and it's become obvious to the casual fan as they see opposing teams that are indeed well-coached.

Even Haddow was sharply critical of Rose and BYU's future under him.