This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • When he sat down individually last year at this time with reporters who cover BYU basketball, coach Dave Rose said he didn't a expect to lose any scholarship players aside from center Eric Mika, who was leaving on a church mission.
A few hours later, star guard Matt Carlino announced he was transferring and would be immediately eligible to play for another Division I school because he was close to completing the requirements for a degree from BYU. He ended up at Marquette.
"That really surprised me," Rose said.
So it was with a bit of trepidation that the coach who will be entering his 11th season this fall said on Monday in his annual end-of-season chat that he doesn't expect to lose any expected returnees this year.
"I guess it could happen again," he said. "I don't anticipate it, but I didn't anticipate it last year, either."
Rose said he will start meeting individually with his players later this week, and will know more after those discussions. He's got a bit of a scholarship crunch to overcome, because there will probably be 14 players vying for the 13 scholarships allowed by the NCAA.
Freshmen Dalton Nixon (Boston) and Ryan Andrus (Philadelphia) and sophomore Luke Worthington (Santiago, Chile) have recently received mission calls, while four others return from missionary service: Nick Emery, Braiden Shaw, Jakob Hartsock and Cory Calvert.
Incoming freshman Zac Seljaas of Bountiful High is expected to play a year and then leave on a mission.
"What we need to do is have conversations about the returning players' individual roles and how they fit, and what we see happening," Rose said. "And then sometimes in those discussions, things change a little bit. … We will see which guys are on board, and which guys are looking to do something different."
Conceivably, the Cougars could lose their best returning player, rising senior Kyle Collinsworth, to the NBA. However, Rose said every conversation he's had with Collinsworth since BYU's season-ending 94-90 loss to Ole Miss in the NCAA Tournament's first round has been about the NCAA's triple-double record-holder returning to Provo.
"He got some good feedback from people, but I think he's really focused on his senior year here," Rose said.
Rose said BYU is still waiting to hear back from the NCAA on Nate Austin's medical-hardship waiver, but spoke as if Austin will be a non-scholarship player if the extra year is granted. And there's still concern that some of Austin's injuries could be chronic.
Forward Jamal Aytes is expected to be a key contributor in 2015-16, but Rose said the UNLV transfer has suffered a "setback" in his recovery from ankle surgery and isn't participating in offseason pickup games and the like just yet.
For sure, Rose's coaching staff will change because four-year assistant Mark Pope is the new head coach at Utah Valley University and he is taking basketball operations director Cody Fueger with him as an assistant coach.
Rose said he is around 3-4 weeks away from naming their replacements, saying no formal interviews have taken place and citing BYU's arduous hiring process due to its LDS Church ownership.
Pope said when he took the UVU job that he would like to start up a series with BYU. Rose said Monday that he would be in favor of that as well, but stressed that it would have to work for both schools and could be difficult to set up.
"There's a place for that game. I don't know where that is, or when that is," Rose said. "But the most important thing is to make sure when you get to the end of the season and look back, you can say, 'our schedule was good enough to get us in the [NCAA] Tournament.'"
BYU will also have to replace its all-time leading scorer, Tyler Haws. The senior is drawing a lot of interest and offers to play professionally from overseas clubs, but is training hard and has hired agent Bill Duffy in hopes of hearing his name called during June's NBA Draft. Duffy also represents former BYU star Brandon Davies.
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU basketball developments
• Coach Dave Rose said he's about three weeks away from naming a replacement for departed assistant coach Mark Pope, who took the head coaching job at Utah Valley University
• Rose said he doesn't expect any players to leave the program this offseason, except those who are going on missions or graduating
• Point guard Kyle Collinsworth has given every indication that he plans to return for his senior season
• Tyler Haws has hired an agent and hopes to be picked in the NBA Draft. —
More coverage online
For more on BYU basketball coach Dave Rose's end-of-season discussion with BYU basketball beat writer Jay Drew, go to http://www.sltrib.com/Blogs/BYUSports