BYU head coach Kalani Sitake seems on throughout sport in opposition to South Florida Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Sitake considers the Baylor Bears, who will go to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, “the usual” within the Large 12. Jason Behnken, Related Press
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda reaches out to tight finish Drake Dabney throughout sport in opposition to Albany in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. BYU coach Kalani Sitake considers Aranda each a mentor and a good friend. LM Otero, Related Press
BYU soccer coach Kalani Sitake spent numerous time praising No. 10 Baylor and Bears’ head coach Dave Aranda throughout his weekly press briefing on Monday, calling the reigning Large 12 champions “the usual” for the league the Cougars will take part 2023.
They're the convention champs and we get to have them right here in Provo. Actually excited for the sport and excited to see how we match up from our sport in opposition to them final yr till now.” — BYU coach Kalani Sitake
The No. 25 Cougars (1-0), who will probably soar a number of spots within the AP Prime 25 and into the Coaches’ Ballot when the brand new rankings are launched Tuesday, play host to the Bears (1-0) on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium (8:15 p.m., ESPN) in a rematch of final yr’s 38-24 Baylor win.
“Actually, actually good workforce, clearly (extremely) ranked,” Sitake mentioned. “They're the usual for the Large 12. They're the champs. They're the convention champs and we get to have them right here in Provo. Actually excited for the sport and excited to see how we match up from our sport in opposition to them final yr till now.”
Sitake mentioned he believes the Cougars have finished a great job the previous 10 months constructing their dimension and power within the trenches, and Baylor might be a measuring stick on how that progress is coming alongside after the Bears manhandled them up entrance final yr.
“This might be a sport that we're enthusiastic about simply to get on the sphere and play and be at house,” he mentioned. “We'll see how we match up in opposition to the convention champs. ... They're the usual. They're the champs. We wish to see how we match up in opposition to them.”
Sitake hopes BYU followers and directors will deal with the Bears in addition to the Cougars had been handled final yr in Waco.
“They're a program that we wish to be like,” Sitake mentioned.
Minor depth chart modifications
The Cougars’ depth chart for the Baylor sport — Baylor’s first go to to Provo since 1984, if that yr means something to BYU followers — consists of Gunner Romney and Puka Nacua as WR1 and WR2 as ordinary however does even have a number of very minor modifications.
Sitake didn’t have an replace on the situation of both star receiver Monday, however acknowledged a number of guys are “questionable” for the house opener Saturday after BYU’s 50-21 win over USF final week.
Sophomore Connor Pay is the beginning middle over senior Joe Tukuafu and junior Harris LaChance is the beginning proper guard. Oregon switch Kingsley Suamataia and sophomore Campbell Barrington are co-starters at proper deal with, carrying the ‘or’ distinction at that spot.
Saturday’s OL starters vs. USF had been Suamataia, LaChance, Pay, Clark Barrington at left guard and Blake Freeland left deal with.
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda reaches out to tight finish Drake Dabney throughout sport in opposition to Albany in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. BYU coach Kalani Sitake considers Aranda each a mentor and a good friend.
LM Otero, Related Press
Hobbs Nyberg stays the listed starter at punt and kickoff return, though Nyberg wasn’t with the workforce final weekend and backup receiver Talmage Gunther dealt with the return duties successfully.
Sitake’s personal excessive customary
Sitake, who lately celebrated the delivery of a daughter along with his spouse, Timberly, mentioned he’s excited to speak with former BYU OL coach Eric Mateos, who's now with Baylor, as a result of Mateos and his spouse predict their first little one quickly.
Sitake is 49-29 at BYU, and might be going for his fiftieth profession win as a head coach on Saturday in opposition to Aranda, who he considers an in depth good friend.
“I feel Dave Aranda does an incredible job operating that soccer program and as a coach and a mentor. He’s obtained an ideal thoughts and I like him. He’s a good friend of mine,” Sitake mentioned. “Again within the day, we (did) numerous skilled improvement, working collectively. Not a lot now, as a result of we're each head coaches and taking part in in opposition to one another. However I've tons of respect for him and admire him as an individual, and undoubtedly him as a coach, too.”
Cougars on the air
No. 10 Baylor (1-0) at No. 25 BYU (1-0)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. MDT
LaVell Edwards Stadium
Provo, Utah
TV: ESPN
Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM