Nov. 16, 2000

By BRADY BINGHAM
Standard-Examiner staff

PROVO, Utah - Members of the Brigham Young University basketball team have their mission clearly in mind.

The rebuilding process is over and the team that won an amazing 22 games a season ago wants nothing else than a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

"Our goals are nothing short of making the NCAAs," Cleveland said. "We don't want to talk about rebuilding any longer. We had a good year last year and turned some corners, even though we are anything but satisfied. The Mountain West Conference is going to be very tough this year, but I think we have the potential to be one of the league's top teams. I look forward to coaching these fine young men."

Cleveland, who took over a 1-25 team just three years ago, knows pressure is mounting after leading his squad to a 22-11 record last season, capped by a victory over the University of Utah in the semifinals of the MWC tournament and a quarterfinal appearance in the NIT. Add to that one of the best recruiting classes in the history of the school and expectations for improvement are high for the BYU Cougars of 2000-01.

"Every year you get better and you improve and you get a taste of getting closer to what your goals are," Cleveland said. "That motivates me and drives me to work hard and commit myself to this program. I understand that the more success we have the higher the expectations. But that's what we've worked for for three years.

"I try not to feel any added pressure. Any kind of pressure I feel is self-imposed," Cleveland continued. "Nobody wants this program to be competitive more than I do."

To that end, Cleveland sends an experienced set of starters to the floor, led by seniors Mekeli Wesley and Terrell Lyday.

But while the play of Wesley and Lyday is a constant, the development of nine newcomers and seven freshmen could determine just how far the Cougars will go this season.

Here's a look at how the team stacks up by position:

Point guard: With returning starter Michael Vranes lost for the year with a foot injury, BYU is a bit thin at point guard.

"Our biggest challenge right know is to make the decisions on point guard. The injury to Michael (Vranes) took us by surprise," Cleveland said.

In his place, the Cougars will rely on the two years of starting experience from 6-foot junior Matt Montague to carry the load.

Trent Whiting, a 6-1 transfer from Utah, played five games for the Utes last season before being sidelined and ultimately redshirting the season with an injury. Whiting will see plenty of action, although he is not eligible to compete for the Cougars until mid-December.

Until Whiting is available, the Cougars will use Lyday and possibly newcomers Daniel Bobik and Travis Hansen to fill in.

Shooting guard: The shooting guard is perhaps BYU's biggest strength heading into the season.

Lyday earned the MWC Newcomer of the Year award last season after leading the Cougars in scoring at 17.1 points per game. He also led the conference in steals with 1.9 per game.

Lyday also leads the team defensively. Last season, Lyday shut down held Arizona State's Eddie House, one of the leading scorers in the nation, to five points on 0-for-16 shooting. It was the only time that House was held without a field goal in his collegiate career.

Bobik, the highly touted first recruit in Cleveland's tenure at BYU, will suit up for the first time this season after having returned from a two-year LDS Church mission to the Dominican Republic. Cleveland expects big things out of the 6-6 swing guard.

Small forward: Senior Nathan Cooper started seven games at the small forward position late in the season last year.

The scrappy 6-6 veteran averaged 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, playing in all 33 games for the Cougars.

Hansen, a 6-6 transfer from Utah Valley State College, has also earned himself a lot of playing time with his aggressive style of play. Hansen averaged more than 30 points per game during summer league play.

Power forward: Depth at power forward will be key for BYU this season.

Wesley, a 6-9, four-year starter, carries the load for the Cougars. With improved strength and agility, Wesley expects to improve upon his 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Eric Nielsen, who will also slip to the 3-spot to give the Cougars increased size, hopes to improve upon his late-season success from a year ago.

The 6-9 junior started 28-of-33 games for BYU last season and will be relied on to bolster his 5.8 points per game average.

Newcomers Jake Chrisman (6-8 freshman), Garner Meads (6-8 freshman) and Jesse Pinegar (6-9 freshman) also add size and depth to the Cougars' roster.

Center: The Cougars have not had traditional center size on their roster for several years.

But in 6-11 freshman Derek Dawes, 7-foot redshirt freshman Dan Howard and 6-10 transfer senior Nate Knight, they do now.

"We will have to see where (the newcomers) are and how fast they come along," Cleveland said. "It's hard for them right now, but they will mature through experience."