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BYU Basketball: Analyzing the Cougars’ 2018-19 rotation

By Tristan Freeman

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Head coach Dave Rose of the Brigham Young Cougars yells to his players during the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Head coach Dave Rose of the Brigham Young Cougars yells to his players during the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 06: Head coach Dave Rose of the Brigham Young Cougars yells to his players during the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 06: Head coach Dave Rose of the Brigham Young Cougars yells to his players during the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

BYU Basketball has a few new faces that look to make an immediate impact on next season’s team. How will it impact the returning Cougars for 2018-19?

Another year, another finish behind the Gonzaga Bulldogs for BYU Basketball in the West Coast Conference standings. They also finished way behind Saint Mary’s as well and struggled to stave off the others to stay in third place.

But the goal will always be to win either the regular-season and/or conference tournament in the WCC, and the Cougars are optimistic that the roster for the 2018-19 season will do the trick. However, they’ll have to first replace the lost production that departed the program from last season.

The biggest loss was Elijah Bryant, who led the team with 18.2 ppg and grabbed 6.3 rpg (second on the team) last season. He opted to go pro early, making it the second year in a row that the best scorer for BYU departed early. Another player who left was Payton Dastrup, who transferred to Oregon State after receiving inconsistent minutes with the Cougars. From a talent perspective, the 6’10 forward had the highest ceiling on their frontcourt. Fellow forward Braiden Shaw left the team due to medical reasons last month as well.

The good news for Dave Rose and BYU is that the 2016 recruiting class will be available, after spending two years on various Mormon Missions. Those three players bring a much-needed skill set that has been missing with the Cougars in recent seasons.

This article will give a look at the projected rotations for BYU with the roster now finalized, using traditional positions. With the exception of a few players, the minutes for everyone will be both volatile – and not guaranteed.