End-of-the-season thoughts

Today was the day when BYU basketball coach Dave Rose meets with the media, one-on-one, for his final end-of-the-season interview. It allows Rose to answer most of the compelling questions we might have from the season just finished and the one that will begin next fall. Also, by doing it now Rose can have the rest of the spring and summer to recruit and decompress.
My season-in-review story will come out in Tuesday’s paper. And I’ll probably blog some over the next little while on some things Rose said. For now, however, here’s a real brief summary of some of the high points:
Jimmer and the NBA draft – Rose said the coaching staff and guard Jimmer Fredette (recently named AP honorable mention All-American) are awaiting feedback from the NBA on the draft prospects should Fredette declare for the this summer’s NBA draft. If the feedback comes back favorable, I expect Fredette will declare but not hire an agent. If it comes back that Fredette likely won’t be picked, then he won’t even bother declaring this spring. If he does declare, after a couple of weeks of getting invited or not getting invited to NBA workouts, Fredette can either stay in the draft or pull his name out. My expectation is Fredette will go through the process and likely return to BYU next season. But that could change if Fredette hears from some NBA teams, after working out for a few, that they’d pick him high enough to make it financially the best decision to forego his senior year.
Scheduling: The Cougars have non-conference games next season against UTEP, Arizona, Hawaii, Utah State and Fresno State, and will be in a tournament on Padre Island that could feature a couple of Top 20 teams. Also, Rose and staff are working on a couple of options to play a game in Fredette’s home state of New York, even though nothing (including the rumored game versus Penn State in Albancy) is firm yet. But Rose is hoping to add another two or three quality opponents to BYU’s schedule, but is meeting the same challenges of not giving up too much in way of future schedules to get such games.
Final scholarship: The Cougars have one more scholarship available for next year, and they’re looking at several guys. Following this weekend’s Final Four, the Cougars will narrow down the recruits and are hoping to have another player on board by the end of May. The challenge is finding a guy who fits in at BYU, and who can also contribute and challenge for playing time next year.
Rose’s health: Rose said he feels fine, and his next scan to see if any traces of cancer have returned is scheduled for next month. He said he’s just keeping his fingers crossed that all signs will continue to be good.
The Houston job: For more than two decades, after leaving the University of Houston as a player on a team that reached the National Championship game, Rose has dreamed of returning to his alma mater some day to coach. That’s why when Houston officials contacted him recently about the new coaching job there that it required some serious thought and discussion from Rose and his wife Cheryl. But, they decided (in a fairly short time) that the time is not right to pursue that job. Rose, his wife and family, feel good about the life and coaching gig they currently share in Provo.
Next year’s team: Rose doesn’t expect any of the players scheduled to return next year to have a change of heart or transfer, and he also does not expect any of those players’ scholarships to go to someone else. But, there’s always the challenge of players progressing in strength, skills and academics that could alter that thinking. In summary, Chris Miles, Jonathan Tavernari and Lamont Morgan graduate, and Tyler Haws leaves on a two-year mission. Coming in will be freshmen guards Kyle Collinsworth and Anson Winder, with Chris Collinsworth and Nick Martineau returning from missions.

I’ll probably have more over the next few days.