Very big loss for BYU and the conference. Had Plaisted returned, I think BYU would have made a serious run at 30 wins, and the battle for the MWC regular season title would have been an all-out war.
UNLV was already, in my mind, the favorite to win the MWC next season. Now I think they're an overwhelming favorite. And BYU had better pray that Cummard returns. If they lose both Plaisted and Cummard, the Cougars suddenly become a middle of the pack team in the MWC.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Plaisted drafted this year, he's tall, agile, quick, and smart. I wouldn't be surpised to see him on an NBA roster next year. I will be surprised if he is on an NBA roster after the next year or two. Think Travis Hansen, Rafael Arujo, Michael Smith and other former BYU one year wonders.
I gotta agree with MWCguy, if someone does draft this guy, he will get his two years and about $800K total and a ticket to europe. At least he has his degree, that is more than I can say for most of the guy's that make these kind of bad decisions. Good luck TP, I hope it works out well for ya.
Plaisted will get drafted, trust me. He probably wont do anything in the NBA, but he'll get a shot. Losing him hurts BYU a lot. The BYU fans wont admit it, but he was, by far the best center in the MWC over the last 2 seasons, and the Cougars don't have anyone who can fill his shoes next season. They have Miles, who is good, but he's not going to do what Plaisted did for BYU, not next season anyway. Its funny, last season the Rebels were the team that had to worry about playing teams with size, now only 1 team in the conf. can compete with UNLV in that department, and that's Utah, who has no back-court.
I think you are all aware of my opinion on this, but I'll share it again anyway.
I think Plaisted is making a huge mistake. He has too many holes in his game that will get exposed in the NBA. In the NBA, players with flaws don't get the coaching that college players do. Too many games, not enough practice time in the NBA. I think Plaisted will be picked in the middle of the 2nd round somewhere and will be given a chance, but I expect to see him playing in Europe in the next 2 or 3 years.
This loss will hurt BYU, but not as much as people might think. I think with Plaisted returning, BYU again wins the MWC championship and finally gets a win or two in the tourney. Without Plaisted, BYu will contend and possibly get a torunament birth, but I don't expect them to do any real damage. Miles is a very serviceable center. He is bigger than Plaisted and a better defender. I think people will be shocked at how improved he is next season, considering that he returned from a mission before last season and typically RM's take at least a full season to get there legs and their physical shape back. BYU could have possibly done something special next season. This makes them a good MWC team and probably nothing more.
I also think Plaisted is making a mistake. He may get drafted, but I really doubt he will see the first round. That makes him an expendable 2nd rounder.
Unless something changes, he is simply too inconsistent to be considered a serious NBA prospect...and that is on offense. On defense, I don't see the quickness he would need to stay out of foul trouble.
But on the plus side for him, he will make a lot of money in Europe.
As for BYU, it will be back to normal for them. Good, but not great.
Honestly who cares, he was all but irrelevant whenever UNLV played against him and would have been even more so next year with Beas and Massamba tag teaming his ass. You'll see him plying in Turkey in 2 years or an Assistant at BYU.
Its hurts the MWC because, like Backer said, the Cougars would have made a nice run in the NCAA tourney next year, they'll still make it, but I don't think they'll be nearly as strong. I hope some of the other big men step up for BYU, because I'm not sure SDSU can get their stuff together, so the conference needs the Cougars to do well.
