Summer Recap

BYU coach Dave Rose and players Brock Zylstra, Charles Abouo and Noah Hartsock addressed the media on Monday. They discussed the team's recent trip to Greece and the return of Brandon Davies.

Brock Zylstra

On the experience of going to Greece:

“It was an amazing experience, especially because of the last two games playing against Greece and Italy, the national teams. It was something we weren’t planning on doing so getting there and getting the news that we were going to play them was great experience basketball wise. Culturally it was an amazing experience. Most of us hadn’t been out of the country. It was a cool experience to see Greece.”

On his role this coming season:

“Whatever coach asks me to do I’m going to do. Whether it be running the point or playing the two like I did — I even played the three and the four — anything he wants me to do I’ll do it for him.”

On the return of Brandon Davies:

“We’re happy that he’s going to be back. We’re excited for him to be back. He’s a big part of our team.”

Charles Abouo

On how the trip will benefit the team:

“It was a great bonding experience as a team. We had a lot of new guys come along with us and it was great to see them in some games to get them acclimated to how we play. I think they did a good job of doing that. It’s going to be good for our team.”

On playing Italy and Greece:

“We played some really good competition the last two games. Probably teams that are better than any team we’ll play this year. Any time you can get that experience is really helpful as a player and as a team.”

On replacing Jimmer Fredette, Jackson Emery, Kyle Collinsworth and Logan Magnusson:

“Every year it seems like there are some doubts. There are some really good players that always leave the program and there is some uncertainty. But we have a great coach and he has a great staff. We definitely have a lot of confidence in ourselves and they have confidence in us. When this team comes together we’re going to be really special.”

Noah Hartsock

On the trip:

“Josh Sharp really stepped up and played well. I think the team had a really good trip. Everyone came together. Brock (Zylstra) and Stephen (Rogers) really played a big role. We needed someone to step up since we don’t have Jackson (Emery) and Jimmer (Fredete). Damarcus Harriosn came in as a freshman and really played pretty well. It really helps our confidence.”

On playing Italy and Greece:

“It was a lot of fun. It’s great to play against players of that caliber. They’re really athletic and strong. It just shows you what you need to work on to really improve your game. I thought it was a great learning tool for us to see how we measure against that kind of competition and what we need to do to get better.”

On having the addition of Davies and Collinsworth and the newcomers:

“I’m really excited about it. Adding those guys (Chris Collinsworth, Brandon Davies, Matt Carlino, etc.), it’s just going to be a big boost for us and really help our confidence as a team and our depth.”

On the return of Davies:

“It’s wonderful. He’s a great teammate and a great guy. We’re just glad he’s able to come back to school and play with us. He’s going to be a big addition to our team and he’ll really open it up for us.”

Dave Rose

On the trip to Greece:

“We all learned a lot. We learned a lot about each other and the coaching staff learned a lot about our players. It was fun coaching together as a group for the first time with Mark (Pope) being new on the staff.”

On Brock Zylstra’s performance in Greece:

“That’s the exciting part of college coaching is the fact that players leave, your seniors leave. Then you have players in your program that get opportunities and it’s fun to see which guys take advantage of those opportunities. Brock had a great trip. It’s a good start for him and hopefully he can continue to build on that. We saw that from a lot of guys with Charles in a new role and Noah in a difficult role as we didn’t have a lot of size. Damarcus (Harrison) had flashes and we saw some really good things from him. He’s a really talented player. I was pleased with a lot of things.”

On Harrison and Sharp:

“Damarcus was really comfortable. He obviously came off a great senior year and he’s had a great summer working out. Both of them had times during games where you could really see a lot of potential of where they could help us. Their games naturally fit in to our style and how we play. It will be our job as coaches in the next six or eight weeks to get them to where they feel really comfortable with this group and what we’re doing and how we play. I think both of them will play a big part on this year’s team.”

On Davies:

“I know he’s really excited and so are we. It was a very difficult situation that I think he handled with honor and integrity and we’re happy to have him back. I know that it’s what he wanted from the very beginning. He wanted to try and make things right, get back to BYU and help his team. So far things seem to be working out well.”

“From what I see in Brandon is a more serious student. I think he has turned a corner as far as his ability to really focus and achieve things that are really important to him. He’s always been driven but now I think he has more focus in that drive.”

“A lot of things happen in your life that you don’t expect to happen and how you handle those things is a pretty good definition of your character. I think the way he handled this was as good as it could have been.”