BYU coach hoping trip to England pays big dividends

Victoria Sun

Friday, Nov. 12, 1999 | 12:11 p.m.

Cougar Facts

Coach: Steve Cleveland

Coach's record at school: 21-37 (2 years)

Coach's overall record: 21-37 (2 years)

Returning starters: 4

Player to watch: Mekeli Wesley

Player they'll miss: Mark Bigelow

Key newcomer: Terrell Lyday

Marquee game: Against Utah, Jan. 15

Media poll projection: 6th

BYU coach Steve Cleveland knows that there's strength in numbers.

The more the players believe in themselves and each other, the better the chances that the team will win.

So during the summer, Cleveland took his team on a trip to Europe to play against five professional teams in Croatia, England and Italy to help build team camaraderie.

In two years, he's steadily improved a team that was 1-25 when he took over, to a more-respectable 12-16 (6-8 in the WAC) last season.

After a few practices, Cleveland said he has observed a change in the team.

"Our attitude and intensity are different," Cleveland said. "I think the team is a lot closer now."

But that won't necessarily help a team that lacks size inside. The Cougars averaged 32.6 rebounds a game last season while yielding 34.7 to opponents.

The team's strength is in its guard play and without the big men to dominate and grab key rebounds, the Cougars lost all six games of their games that were decided by five points or less.

No one on the team last season averaged in double-digits in rebounding and its something the team definitely needs to improve.

BYU will face an even bigger challenge trying to replace the team's leading scorer and rebounder, Mark Bigelow, who left on a two-year LDS Church Mission. As a freshman, Bigelow averaged 15 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.

For Cleveland, though, the cupboard isn't bare.

Mekeli Wesley, Silester Rivers, Nathan Cooper and Michael Vranes are four starters returning for the Cougars.

While Bigelow is gone, Wesley should be the go-to guy.

The junior earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors when he averaged 13.5 points and five rebounds a game, but cooled off a bit last year after he returned to the team in December after spending a semester at Salt Lake Community College.

During the team's trip to Europe, Wesley led the Cougars in scoring at 22 points a game.

Rivers, a transfer from Utah Valley State College, was solid with 11 points and 5.7 rebounds a game. Without Bigelow, he will need to grab more rebounds to help the Cougars.

Two juniors, Todd Christensen and Nathan Cooper will also be key to the team's success. Both players returned from their missions a little bit rusty, but with a season behind them, they should be in much better shape.

The addition of junior college transfer Terrell Lyday figures to bolster the Cougars offense. At Fresno City College he averaged 17.5 points a game including 102 3-pointers.