Wild Bill drops some knowledge on "Occupy the Spectrum", Utah State's BYU camp out

Utah State kicks off their season at 9:05 tonight against heated in-state rival BYU, and as you might expect, the fans -- those fans we all know and love oh-so-much -- are quite fired up for the game.

How much so?

Thousands of them camped out, arriving as early as 3:00 am on Wednesday, in temperatures that reached down into the teens for the right to sit at the front of the student section Friday night. The Spectrum reserves about 4,000 seats for students, but for big games such as BYU, those seats go relatively quickly. Hence the camping. Here, let Wild Bill educate you:



It gets better. BYU showed up at The Spectrum at some point last night, and they were greeted by a raucous crowd screaming "Welcome to hell!":



You see this? All of this?

This is why we are taking a road trip to The Spectrum this year.

No more explanation necessary.
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Brandon Davies finally speaks out

Brandon Davies made headlines last March when he was suspended from BYU for breaking the school's honor code.

The rule Davies broke was, reportedly, sleeping with his girlfriend before they were married. The suspension created a bit of a media conflagration -- the story was a perfect storm of racial injustice, religious intolerance, sex and a nationally relevant basketball team and superstar in Jimmer Fredette.

Now reinstated at the school and with the program, Davies spoke for the first time publicly about the suspension:



Davies is pretty impressive throughout the interview, handling himself with grace and dignity and what was assuredly a trying situation. He admitted that he considered leaving school -- which, I assume, means he considered turning pro because he said later in the interview that he wasn't in contact with other schools about transferring -- saying "there were a lot of thoughts that went through my head just trying to deal with it all."

He played off a tough question of whether or not he thought BYU handled is situation correctly. "It doesn't matter what I had to go through to get here," he said, "I'm just glad to be here, back with my teammates and here where I'm supported and loved by so many."

"I was definitely treated more than fair. Just being able to make it back here and be a part of this team again is a blessing."
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2011-2012 Season Preview: What's the opposite of a "sleeper"?

Last week, we gave you a list of teams that we believed are primed to have a season that will be better than we expect. But for every team that exceeds expectations, there is a team that fails to live up to the hype. Every season there is at least one team in each conference that underwhelms, disappoints, implodes or regresses. We are here to take a look at the teams we think will do just that this season.

But first, please note that we aren't hating on any of the teams here. We are simply trying to project a teams lack of success based on conference strength, lack of experience, lack of roster depth and so on. We are just trying to do our jobs. After all, not every team can go undefeated, and we aren't here to hand out "participation trophies" to all 346 teams.

Atlantic Coast Conference: Florida State
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 3rd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The only thing working for this team is that the ACC is very thin outside of Tobacco Road. True, they do have Michael Snaer, and talented wing who has flown under the radar for a long time. But who else will step up? Who do they have to replace Chris Singleton? Okaro White should see an increase in production, but who do they have after that? Their back court is weak and their front court is thin. There really isn't anything about this team that makes me think they will be better than nine other teams.


Atlantic-10: Richmond
Preseason Ranking: 5th Place
Where we ranked them: 8th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
After Xavier and Temple, the rest of the A-10 is a jumbled mess. So it is hard to picked a team that will underwhelm this year. But based on all the losses to the Chris Mooney's program, it is hard to see this team being too successful. Outside of Darien Brothers and Darius Garrett, this team doesn't have a terrible amount of talent. With teams like Saint Louis, St. Bonaventure's and George Washington set to breakout this season, Richmond looks like a team that will regress.


Big East: West Virginia
Preseason Ranking: 7th Place
Where we ranked them: 10th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
This one is pretty easy. 1) They play is a 16-team mega-super-conference. 2) They return only three players from last years squad. 3) Eight freshman will suit up this season. 4) They lost their first exhibition game of the season, to Northern Kentucky (DII). West Virginia is going to be good eventually, just not right now. But the thing is, they could be even worse than expected.


Big-Ten: Purdue
Preseason Ranking: The Big-Ten does not release a preseason poll
Where we ranked them: 6th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
What exactly do we know about Purdue? Sure, they have Robbie Hummel, but it's been a long time since he's played competitive basketball. Outside of Hummel, Purdue is full of question-marks. Who is going to be their front-court presence? Will Lewis Jackson finally start to produce? What about their depth? Luckily for the Boilermakers, the bottom of the Big-Ten is pretty dreadful, so a 6th-8th place finish is probably a reasonable expectation;.


Big-XII: Kansas
Preseason Ranking: 1st Place (Tie)
Where we ranked them: 2nd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
If Kansas finishes anywhere in the top three in the conference, Bill Self should win Big-XII Coach of the Year honors. This team has almost no depth whatsoever, and the guys who were supposed to be leaders, Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor, got suspended by coach Self two weeks ago for violating team rules. If teams can properly game plan to shutdown Thomas Robinson, it will be very difficult for the Jayhawks to win a lot of games.


Colonial Athletic Association: James Madison
Preseason Ranking: 5th Place
Where we ranked them: 4th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
It's not like JMU is expected to do great things this season, but due to Denzel Bowles' graduation and Devon Moore's eligibility issue, the Dukes could be in for a long season. They do have Rayshawn Goins and Julius Wells up front, but the CAA should feature a handful of teams with talented front courts. The lack of a solid back court is going to hurt the Dukes.


Conference-USA: Central Florida
Preseason Ranking: C-USA does not conduct a preseason poll
Where we ranked them: 4th Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
This team should be good, I think. At least I want to think that they will be. But then I remember about last season's epic collapse, and the fact that they're, well, Central Florida. This team is like a drug addiction. The highs are great, and the lows are absolutely miserable. That's how the 2011-2012 season will play out. Plus, @DanWolken won't stop chirping about UCF, and he's rarely wrong. I think.


Horizon League: Detroit
Preseason Ranking: 2nd Place
Where we ranked them: 2nd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
When Eli Holman left the program two months ago, it was a huge blow to the Detroit program. He was the guy that would put them over the edge this year. Ray McCallum may be the team's star, but Holman was their top front court producer, averaging nearly a double-double per game. In a mid-major conference like the Horizon League, having an elite big-man can put a team over the edge. The Titans won't be terrible this season, they'll be somewhere around the top four or five. But without Holman up front, they will struggle to assert themselves as legitimate contenders for the Horizon League crown


Missouri Valley Conference: Creighton
Preseason Ranking: 1st Place
Where we ranked them: 1st Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
OK, OK, just hear me out. I don't doubt that this team is the best in the MVC, but, like, who is going to play defense this year? Last season they ranked 187th in the conutry in defensive efficiency. Sure, they have more talent than any other team in the conference, but with the expectations that are being placed on them this season, anything less than a perfect conference record would have to be considered a disappointment.


Mountain West Conference: UNLV
Preseason Ranking: 2nd
Where we ranked them: 2nd
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The Mountain West is going to stink this season, and since UNLV will be good, but not nearly as good as New Mexico, I have to list the Runnin' Rebels here. Teams like SDSU and Colorado State aren't expected to do anything special, so it's impossible for them to fail. UNLV doesn't have anything to gain, other than winning a really sub-par conference.


Pac-12: Arizona
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 1st Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
Unless you're John Calipari, it's rather difficult to ask freshman to carry the bulk of the workload for a top-level BCS-conference program, and that's exactly what Sean Miller is going to have to do this season. With Derrick Williams gone to the NBA Lockout, MoMo Jones gone to Iona, and Kevin Parrom still recovering from bullet wounds, the Wildcats are going to need a lot of production from their standout freshman class. But the Pac-12 will be much better than in recent seasons, and it just seems like a tall order for this squad. Plus, they lost an exhibition game to Seattle-Pacific. That doesn't exactly help their cause.


Southeastern Conference: Vanderbilt
Preseason Ranking: 2nd Place
Where we ranked them: 2nd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The Commodores lack that killer instinct that great teams need to possess. Last season, they were 1-5 in games decided by three points or less and and seven losses were by four points or less or in overtime. Factor in the back-to-back first round exits in the NCAA Tournament, and the injury to Festus Ezeli, and you have a team primed to disappoint. This team has serious talent, and have a bunch of experienced players. But the problem is that none of these experienced players have any experience winning close games. You kinda have to be able to do that if you want to keep playing games late into March.


Western Athletic Conference: Utah State
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 3rd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
The Aggies have had a stranglehold on the WAC for the last couple of seasons, but their grip could start to loosen this season. While they do return Brockeith Payne, one of the conference's top players, Utah State lost a lot of veteran leadership and front court production. Gone is Taj Wesley, their All-Conference center, Brian Green, their crafty distributor and key contributors like Nate Bendall, Tyler Newbold and Pooh Williams. Even with guys like Payne and forward Brady Jardine, this team has to find out what they have rather quickly.


West Coast Conference: BYU
Preseason Ranking: 3rd Place
Where we ranked them: 3rd Place
Why we think they won't do as well as expected:
They don't have Jimmer Fredette anymore, do they? Jimmer put this team over the top. Sure, they have a solid crop of experienced players in Brandon Davies, Noah Hartsock, Chris Collinsworth and Charles Abouo, but without Jimmer, this team simply wont be the same. This season could turn out to be a huge wake-up call for the Cougars.


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Brandon Davies will be Cougar once more

Andre Drummond wasn't the only big man making national headlines on Friday night.

BYU finally announced that center Brandon Davies will be re-admitted into school and allowed back onto the team this season.

Davies created a national stir back in early March when he was suspended for the rest of the year by BYU for violating the honor code -- reportedly by sleeping with his girlfriend. It may have cost the Jimmer a shot at making the Final Four, a sacrifice that had many saluting BYU for making while also creating just as strong a voice of opposition -- what's so bad about a college kid having sex?


But that's neither here nor there. The bottom-line is that, as expected, Davies will be a Cougar for BYU's inaugural run through the WCC. The importance of Davies to that team cannot be understated. Let's ignore, for a second, the fact that they are losing Jimmer Fredette, a once in a generation talent and lottery pick. Jackson Emery, Fredette's back court side kick, graduated while Kyle Collinsworth, a promising freshman small forward, is going on his Mormon mission next year. Meanwhile Kyle's older brother Chris is coming off of season-ending knee surgery while reserve big men Logan Magnusson and James Anderson have left the program. All told, the Cougars lose three of their top six players and have a key post presence dealing with knee problems.

Without Davies, BYU may have been the fourth best team in the WCC, behind St. Mary's, Gonzaga and Santa Clara.

That's not exactly the way that the Cougars envisioned introducing themselves to their new conference rivals.
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Brandon Davies sighting?

BYU's basketball will be in rebuilding mode next season.

Let's ignore, for a second, the fact that they are losing Jimmer Fredette, a once in a generation talent and lottery pick. Jackson Emery, Fredette's back court side kick, graduated while Kyle Collinsworth, a promising freshman small forward, is going on his Mormon mission next year. Meanwhile Kyle's older brother Chris is coming off of season-ending knee surgery while reserve big men Logan Magnusson and James Anderson have left the program. All told, the Cougars stand to lose at least three of their top six players with a key post presence dealing with knee problems.

I say "at least three" because the key to the Cougar's season in 2011-2012 comes in the 6'9" form of Brandon Davies.

Davies, if you remember, was suspended in early March last season for violating BYU's Honor Code by having premarital sex with his girlfriend. Its no secret that the Cougars will be in trouble without Davies, but BYU beat writer Jay Drew made a promising observation yesterday:

Davies practiced "against" the team today in the Marriott Center, wearing a green jersey along with former players Lee Cummard, Trent Plaisted, Lamont Morgan and Logan Magnusson and going hard against BYU regulars in an early-practice 5 on 5 scrimmage.

BYU is going to play in Greece and Davies won't be going on the trip. There is also no new information yet as to whether or not Davies will be allowed back into school next year.

But the fact that he is scrimmaging with and against the current Cougars is a good sign.
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Jimmer Range is deeper than we thought

"Jimmer Range" was a commonly used term during the 2010-2011 season.

Its because The Mormon Moneymaker hit shots from here. And here. And, well, just watch this.

Fredette decided to show off his range to a bunch of kids at his basketball camp, and in the process he made this look like a rhythm jumpshot:



I, regrettably, count myself among the people that got sick of the over-coverage of Jimmer Fredette's season. Once Sportscenter got ahold of him, getting "Jimmer'd" was no longer an inside joke for us college basketball junkies.

But looking back through those videos -- watching the highlights of the 39 points he dropped on UNLV and the 43 points he put on SDSU and the ridiculously deep threes he hit all year long -- brought me back to just how entertaining this kid was to watch. All season. Even after Scott Van Pelt (bless his heart, he's a college hoops diehard and by far my favorite ESPN personality) turned Jimmer from a niche-sport secret to a nationwide sensation.

I can't help but think that the Mormon jokes and Brett Favre-level media crush made us take a once-in-a-generation player for granted.
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Playing for a Utah state title? Yes, please!

College hoops in the state of Utah is currently in the midst of some drastic changes.

BYU not only loses the most popular Mormon this side of Joseph Smith, Jr, but the Cougars are leaving the Mountain West for the WCC. Utah's changing conferences as well, heading to the newly-named Pac-12. Utah State hasn't left the WAC quite yet, but Nevada, Fresno State, and Boise State all have. The only constant is Weber State, who is a favorite to win the Big Sky next season.

Basketball fans in Utah are rabid which is part of what makes the rivalries between the in-state programs so intense. But with the changes in conference affiliation, there is no guarantee that these rivalries last. Take Utah and Utah State, for example. A game that has been played every season since 1944-1945 and 223 times since 1908 won't take place in the upcoming year. With the Utes moving to the Pac-12 an adding a couple of conference games, there isn't room for the Aggies, who were scheduled to play host the game this season. Utah is also apparently worried about scheduling tough, non-conference road games playing in a stronger (Is the Pac-12 actually going to be stronger than last year's MWC?) league.

BYU and Utah saved some face. The two schools signed a four-year contract guaranteeing that they would play each other once each year in mid-December. But mid-December games -- when the students may or may not be on campus -- don't really hold the same kind of intensity as conference rivals battling in late February.

But according to the Deseret News, Utah AD Chris Hill has some interesting ideas about how to keep the rivalries afloat:

As such, he's floated an idea with Utah Jazz officials and BYU athletics director Tom Holmoe about bringing the Utes, Cougars, Aggies and Weber State together at EnergySolutions Arena to start each season in an effort to build some excitement and allow the teams to play each other. The Utes are contractually committed to playing at Weber State in 2011, but there is no agreement between the Wildcats and Utes beyond this year.

Umm, YES!

This would be AWESOME!

Play a two-day tournament. Make the tournament be for the "state title". Put something on the line. You don't think that would pique the interest of fans? Being able to have state-wide bragging rights for an entire season? I would certainly watch it, and I live on the other side of the country.

Colleges don't capitalize on regional rivalries like this enough anymore. Indiana is trying to do it, as Butler, Notre Dame, IU, and Purdue are playing in the Crossroads Classic. But that is simply a double-header. Its not a tournament. As everyone knows, tournaments are always more fun than regular games.

So take advantage of this, Utah!

You could build yourself a marquee event in December, something that you don't see often in college hoops.
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NBA Draft Profiles: Jimmer Fredette, BYU

Bjorn Zetterberg of SwishScout.com will be helping us out with all of our NBA Draft Profiles this year. You can follow him on twitter @swishscout.

To browse through the latest prospect profiles, click here. To see a complete list of the players we have profiled, click here.

Stats: 28.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 3.5 t/o's, 39.6% 3PT

Age: 22, senior

Size:

• Listed: 6'2", 195 lb
• Official: 6'0.75" (no shoes), 6'2.25" (with shoes), 6'4.5" (wingspan), 8'0.5" (reach), 196 lb

Strengths: Everyone in the country knows what Jimmer Fredette's strengths are. Without a doubt, he was the best scorer in all of college basketball this past season. He is an unbelievable three point shooter, with range out to about 32 feet. He can hit three's and mid-range jumpers as a standstill shooter, off the dribble, off of a curl, and off of a ball-screen, and can do so even if his defender plays him perfectly and contests the shot hard. Fredette also has an ankle breaking handle, routinely making very good defenders look silly with his crossover. While his jumpshot is his bread and butter, Fredette is also adept and getting into the paint. He's not a big time leaper, but he's an incredibly crafty finisher, using a wicked array of floaters and scoop shots to avoid being blocked. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Fredtte's game is his passing ability. He was the focal point of BYU's offense the past two seasons, but he has proven to be a capable and willing passer when need be.

Weaknesses: The biggest question mark with Fredette is his ability to defend. The last two seasons, he hasn't just been a question mark on the defensive end of the floor, he hasn't even shown any interest in performing at that end. He's rarely got his knees bent in a defensive stance -- especially when he is playing off the ball -- and he shows little to no interest or effort in getting through screens. Making is defensive effort all the more perplexing is that Fredette tested out as one of the quickest and strongest guards in this draft class, which makes one believe that his performance on the defensive end was the result of a questionable desire to be a quality defender more than an inability to stop his man. A lack of toughness is a term that you will see often in scouting reports involving Fredette. Offensively, he doesn't have many question marks, but the biggest is how well he is going to be able to finish at the next level. Will the trickery of his shots around the rim work against bigger and better front courts?

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Somewhere between Steve Nash and Stephen Curry. Both Nash and Curry lack the kind of athletic explosiveness that you see point guards like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Derrick Rose, but they make up for it with an incredibly high basketball IQ and a craftiness and understanding of changing speeds. Like Nash and Curry, Fredette is a lights-out shooter with deep range but also a will and capable creator off the dribble.


• Worst Case Scenario: Eddie House. If all else fails, Fredette is always going to have his jump shot. He is the kind of player that is hot the second he steps on the court. He is capable of scoring points in a hurry, and hitting three or four -- or more -- jumpers in a row. There is always going to be a place for him in the NBA as a guy that can come in and be a spark on the offensive end of the floor.

Outlook: Fredette is the most polarizing draft prospect in this class. Some folks love him. Some think that he has a unique ability to score the basketball. Others believe that his success in college will be negated by his struggles on the defensive end and his lacking athleticism. There are a couple of points that need to be noted here. Being a successful defender is more about mindset than talent. There are sensational athletes that can't stop anyone because they simply don't care and there are guys that have the athleticism of a 40 year old gym rat that can defend some of the best in the NBA because they simply believe. Fredette has not proven to have that kind of toughness, but it may be that his lack of desire on the defensive end in college was a result of his coaching staff telling him to get his rest. He carried such a big load for BYU offensively that Dave Rose could have very well not wanted Fredette to spend his legs stopping an opponent's third best perimeter scorer. Based on his quickness and his strength, he is -- on paper at least -- a solid defensive prospect.

Fredette's success at the next level may depend on finding the right system. If he can land with someone like Golden State or Pheonix or New York, a team that likes to get up and down the floor and doesn't mind quick, deep jump shots, he should be fine. If he ends up with a team that values every defensive possession, he could end up getting buried on the bench and out of the rotation. Whatever the case may be, Fredette is going to be a very, very interesting player to follow during his career.

Draft Range: Late Lottery to Mid 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "There's no player in the draft who can divide NBA scouts the way Fredette does. Some see his toughness, shooting ability and basketball IQ and are convinced he'll find a way to be a serious NBA player -- either a point guard like Steve Nash or a big-time shooter like Ben Gordon or Stephen Curry. Others see an undersized 2-guard who lacks lateral quickness and doesn't have a position. They scream Adam Morrison at worst, Eddie House at best. Fredette has been awesome on the big stage in the past. If he can take an undermanned BYU team deep, he's probably a lottery pick."


• Draft Express: "One of the reasons Fredette has become such a popular figure with fans and NBA scouts alike is the way he carries himself on the floor. Never one to pump his chest, despite the incredible manner in which he produces, he lets his play on the court speak for itself. Incredibly poised and humble, he's a true competitor who plays with a self-confidence that borders on cockiness. Even if his physical attributes don't like ideal, and there are few successful players in the NBA in his mold, there is clearly something special about Fredette that sets him apart. We've learned not to bet against players like this in the past. As the ground-swirl of excitement grows, and with it his draft stock, so do the expectations about what type of career he'll need to have to be labeled a success."


• Swish Scout: "Crafty scorer who has a text book, quick release jumper and unlimited shooting range from literally anywhere on the floor. Questions about Fredette’s effectiveness in the NBA come from being undersized, limited athletically, and his below average perimeter defense, but he should be able to play a role for a team in the league off the bench."

Highlights:




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BYU will be in trouble in Brandon Davies can't return to school

Late last week, news broke that Brandon Davies had finished up his winter course work and had withdrawn from BYU. The plan, it appears, is for Davies to work with the dean of students in an effort to become eligible to return for next season.

If you remember, Davies was dismissed from the basketball team in the middle of BYU's run to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament due to a breach of the school's honor code, which most believe was the result of premarital sex with his girlfriend.

Cougar fans better hope that Davies is allowed to return to school.

Because without their junior center in the lineup, it could be a long season in Provo.


Both Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery have graduated. Promising freshman Kyle Collinsworth will be spending the next two years in Russia on his Mormon mission. Logan Magnusson and James Anderson also won't be back next season. Losing Davies could be devastating. You see, the 6'9" power forward really began to show the depth of his talents this season. He became a legitimate scoring threat on the block as well as an improving rebounder and shot blocker. As the leading returning scorer on the roster, Davies has a chance to break out as the focal point of Dave Rose's offensive attack.

Without Davies, however, BYU could be in some trouble in their new conference.

In 2011-2012, BYU will be a member of the now-nine-team WCC. And while that league was dominated by Gonzaga in years past, it is one of the most-improved leagues over the past few years, the CAA's west coast counterpart. St. Mary's is consistently in the conversation for an at-large bid, Santa Clara is a dangerous team, and San Francisco, Loyola Marymount, and Portland have all had quite a bit of talent pass through their program in recent seasons.

Both Noah Hartsock and Charles Abouo return for their senior seasons, and former-UCLA recruit Matt Carlino should be eligible to play in December, but without Davies, BYU may have trouble competing at the top of the WCC.
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No more class for The Jimmer

Generally speaking, we like to complain when a college basketball star stops going to class when his season finishes and he prepares for the NBA Draft and his upcoming professional career.

Not so with Jimmer Fredette.

In fact, its the other way around. Jimmer would like to attend classes, but BYU has asked him not to. He's too popular. His presence disrupts class, as he routinely gets mobbed anywhere he goes on campus, or in Provo for that matter, but autograph seekers and fans looking for a photo.

"It was getting too disruptive," said Al Fredette, Jimmer's father, told the Glen Falls Post-Star. "He can't go anywhere in Provo without being recognized."

"I asked him what he does on campus when he goes out," said Al. "He said he wears a hoodie and tries not to make eye contact."

Fredette will, of course, be finishing up his course work. He'll just be doing it online.

Its the price you pay for fame and success in the sporting world. But hey, how many of us would have loved to have been asked not to attend those three hour lectures senior year?
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VIDEO: Jimmer's 52 points

Well, Jimmer Fredette did it again.

Without Brandon Davies, going against a New Mexico team playing with their season on the line, Fredette went ham in the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, scoring 33 points in the first half and finishing with 52 on the game.

It really was an incredible performance.



But its not necessarily a good sign for BYU.

Fredette took 54% of BYU's shots last night. Throw in the four assists that he had, and the Jimmer accounted for 26 of BYU's 34 field goals. This coming on a team that got all of 21 minutes and a single point from their bench. It was an incredible performance. But its not the kind of performance that is going to be replicated night in and night out. One-man teams with six-man rotations are not generally a safe bet to make.

The Cougars advance to face San Diego State for the third time this season as the Aztecs knocked off UNLV thanks to a game-winning floater from DJ Gay:



SDSU has a ton of size up front, and without Brandon Davies in the lineup, BYU will be at a severe disadvantage. With Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas, and Billy White on the floor at the same time, the Aztecs attack the glass as well as anyone in the conference.

If the Cougars do happen to pull out a win, there is still a chance they would be able to earn a No. 1 seed. A three game sweep of San Diego State, with the third game coming without Davies, is pretty impressive.
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Previewing the Madness: The Mountain West (Sponsored Post)

The Mountain West probably won't be getting the four bids we all expected them to get coming into the season, but that doesn't mean that this wasn't one of the toughest leagues in the country.

The MWC boasts two of the top ten teams in the country. BYU and SDSU shared the regular season crown, but that was mostly a result of Brandon Davies getting suspended by the school due to Honor Code violations. The Cougars, led by The Jimmer, knocked off the Aztecs twice this season.

While those two are the face of the league, they are far from the only talent. UNLV is a tournament team once again, paced by an excellent defensive back court. Colorado State probably has the most dynamic front court in the conference with Andy Ogide and Travis Franklin. And then there is New Mexico, who has struggled this season with all of their new additions and a banged up Dairese Gary, but with the way Drew Gordon has been playing of late, this Lobo team is absolutely a threat to make a run in Vegas.

Where: Las Vegas

When: March 9th-12th

Final: March 12, 7:00 pm, Versus


Favorite: San Diego State

I know that they lost to BYU twice. I know that. But I am also a huge fan of the San Diego State front court. Kawhi Leonard is the perfect small forward for this roster -- a slasher and terrific rebounder that has added some perimeter skills this season -- anchoring a talented front line that also features Malcolm Thomas and Billy White. On the perimeter, DJ Gay has turned into very good possession point guard that doesn't turn the ball over and can really shoot it from the perimeter. With James Rahon and Chase Tapley providing some scoring balance, its no wonder this team has climbed into the top ten.

• Other Contenders: BYU has to be considered a contender as long as they have Jimmer Fredette on their roster. The Jimmer has struggled a bit with his shot and turnovers down the stretch, but he is still the most potent scoring machine in the country. With Davies out, Jackson Emery and Charles Abouo are going to need to absorb some of the scoring load while guys like Noah Hartsock and Stephen Rogers are going to need to up their physicality inside.
  

Sleeper: UNLV

Its tough to call the Runnin' Rebels a sleeper, but they have to be as they are no where near the level of BYU or SDSU. The issue with this team is on the offensive end of the floor. As many talented players as Lon Kruger has amassed, this team lacks a certain creativity with the ball. UNLV can defend and force turnovers with the best of them, but they get far too many tough looks on that end. Tre'Von Willis is the name you will know, but Anthony Marshall is the glue to this team in the way that David Lighty is Ohio States glue. Also keep in mind, this tournament will be played at the Thomas and Mack Center, UNLV's home floor.

• Deeper Sleepers: Colorado State is talented and has two big time scorers in their front court. There are some red flags on this team, but if both Ogide and Franklin both find a rhythm this week, the Rams will be a tough out. As will New Mexico, who has underachieved this season. But that doesn't change the fact that these Lobos have all-conference caliber talents in Gary and Gordon.
  

Players to Watch:

• Anthony Marshall, UNLV: Marshall can do everything. He's the teams best on the ball defender, he can create with the bounce, and he is a tremendous athlete.
  
• Will Clybrun, Utah: This one of tough, but Clyburn is a heck of a player. He is the second-leading scorer in the conference and the third-leading rebounder.
  

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Don't give up on BYU just yet

BYU lost 82-64 to New Mexico.

At home.

And they will be without arguably their most important non-Jimmer for the rest of the season.

Time to panic, right?

Wrong. Let's all take a deep breath.


Over the past two seasons, BYU has been one of the better basketball teams in the country. They have arguably been the best team in the MWC, amassing a 26-5 record in that time. And they are 26-1 against every team in the conference not named New Mexico.

Face it. Steve Alford owns BYU. Whatever the trick is to beating the Cougars, Alford knows it. BYU is 0-4 against New Mexico the last two years and 57-5 against the rest of the country.

On top of that, the Cougars are just one day -- one freakin' day -- removed from learning that Brandon Davies is done for the season. They are 24 hours removed from learning that one of their teammates may be forced to finish his collegiate career at a different school. (Ed. Note: Apparently, the BYU team found out Monday Davies would be done. My point still stands.)

And we are saying this team is finished because of one loss to a team that has dominated them the past two seasons?

All is not lost, folks.

Give the Cougars a chance to recuperate. Give Dave Rose a chance to figure out how to play without his starting center. Give this group of college kids a chance to deal with the loss of a teammate and a friend.

We are all quick to overreact to the outcome of one game. I may be the worst at it. But BYU was dominated in all facets of the game tonight, not just on the interior.

If the Cougars lose to Wyoming on Saturday, I'll be singing a much different tune.

But until then, can we all layoff the doomsday scenarios?

Please?
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Wednesday's Pregame Beat: Talking about BYU's Final Four chances

10:00 pm: New Mexico @ No. 3 BYU: This is the game that everyone will be watching tonight. Just a day after news broke that Brandon Davies has been kicked off of the BYU team for a violation of the school's Honor Code (a violation that was not criminal in nature), the Cougars will be taking the court for the first time without him.

The consensus around the blogosphere is that Davies' removal has cost BYU a chance at reaching the Final Four. I don't necessarily agree with that. There is no question that Davies is an important piece for the Cougars -- especially considering that Chris Collinsworth is already out for the season with an injury -- but the Cougars still have Jimmer Fredette. Fredette had a four game stretch earlier this year, which included games at Utah, at Colorado State, and against San Diego State, where he averaged 40.8 ppg. He scored 39 at UNLV. He had 37 against Florida in last year's first round matchup. He went for a career-high 49 at Arizona in the regular season last year.

Fredette can carry this team. The field is weaker this year than it was in 2009, when Stephen Curry led Davidson to within a missed three of the Final Four. BYU will be a much better seed than Davidson (who was a No. 10), meaning they will get an easier path. I'd also argue that Jackson Emery and Noah Hartsock are as good as, in not better than, Jason Richards and Andrew Lovelace.

Yes, the loss of Davies makes it that much more difficult for the Cougars to get to Houston. But it certainly doesn't mean that it is impossible for BYU to make a run. Hartsock and Kyle Collinsworth are going to need to up their scoring, and Stephen Rogers and Logan Magnusson both are going to have to provide interior defense.

I wouldn't bet on it happening. But certainly don't rule it out.

Bubble Games

• 9:00 pm: Clemson @ No. 4 Duke
• 7:00 pm: No. 13 North Carolina @ Florida State
• 11:00 pm: No. 21 Utah State @ New Mexico State
• 6:30 pm: Iowa @ Michigan State
• 7:00 pm: Memphis @ East Carolina
• 7:00 pm: UAB @ Southern Miss
• 7:00 pm: Maryland @ Miami
• 7:00 pm: Richmond @ St. Joe's
• 7:30 pm: Colorado @ Iowa State
• 8:00 pm: Cincinnati @ Marquette
• 8:00 pm: LSU @ Georgia
• 9:05 pm: Marshall @ UTEP
  

Other Notable Games

• 9:00 pm: No. 22 Texas A&M @ No. 2 Kansas
• 9:00 pm: No. 5 Pitt @ South Florida
• 7:00 pm: Providence @ No. 11 Louisville
• 7:00 pm: No. 16 UConn @ West Virginia
• 7:00 pm: Temple @ UMass
• 7:00 pm: Charlotte @ Xavier
  

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REPORT: BYU's Brandon Davies done for the year for an honor code violation

BYU's starting center Brandon Davies has been suspended for the rest of the season due to an Honor Code violation, the school said in a release it sent out.

"Due to a violation of the BYU Honor Code, Brandon Davies will not represent the university on the men’s basketball team throughout the remainder of the 2010-11 season," the release said.


This is a huge loss for the Cougars. Davies started 26 of BYU's 29 games, averaging 11.1 ppg and providing the Cougars with their only interior scoring threat.

Davies' suspension couldn't have come at a worse time, either. After knocking of San Diego State on the road on Saturday, BYU had the inside track for a No. 1 seed. Already without Chris Collinsworth, the Cougar's bench is now incredibly thin.

BYU's Honor Code is pretty intense. The standards are listed here. It forbids things such as coffee, cursing, and facial hair.
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The Case for No. 1

The top four teams in the country all lost this week. All four of them received votes for No. 1 in last week's polls. The three teams behind them all have an argument to move up. There could very well be seven teams that draw first place votes in this week's poll. Here's how I would rank them, and why they have an argument to be No. 1.


1. Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio State was the consensus No. 1 team in the country before last Saturday's loss to Jordan Taylor and Wisconsin. It wasn't just because they were the last undefeated team in the country, its because they were, in fact, the best team in the country. Just because they lost at Wisconsin and at Purdue doesn't change that fact. The Badgers and the Boilermakers are a combined 30-0 at home this season. No one wins at Mackey Arena or the Kohl Center, not even the best team in the country.


2. Kansas Jayhawks: There may not be a more talented team in the country that the Jayhawks. They are deep, they are balanced, and they have one of the most efficient star tandems in the country in The Morrii. Like OSU, Kansas has just two losses on the season -- to Texas on the day after the death of Thomas Robinson's mother, and at Kansas State on Monday in a game that the Wildcats just dominated the Jayhawks. The problem? This team keeps showing flashes of maturity issues (technical fouls, intentional elbows) and they have actually only beaten three teams that are NCAA Tournament locks -- Missouri, Arizona, and UCLA.

3. Pitt Panthers: I don't think people give the Panthers enough credit for what they proved without Ashton Gibbs two weeks ago, beating both West Virginia and Villanova on the road. How important is Gibbs? He had 26 of their 59 points in the loss at St. John's. Don't confuse that with a bad loss, either. The Johnnies have now dispensed of five top 15 teams at home, and three of the other four (Notre Dame, UConn, and Duke) were blowouts. Pitt lost on a ridiculous reverse layup by Dwight Hardy.

4. Texas Longhorns: Defensively, the Longhorns are scary. They've completely shut down some very good opponents for ridiculously long stretches this season. The issue I have with Texas is on the offensive end of the floor. Rick Barnes has always had the reputation of being a guy who rolled the ball out and let his kids play. That works when you have Kevin Durant and DJ Augustin. But, like against Nebraska, what happens when Texas runs into an opponent that makes it difficult for them to score?

5. Duke Blue Devils: I know the theory is supposed to be win and you drop, but I'm still not ready to say that Duke is a better team than Texas. Why? Because of the body of work. Duke has, for better or worse, one quality win this season -- unless you consider disappointments like Butler, Michigan State, and Kansas State quality wins -- in UNC. Texas can also claim a victory over UNC, and has many more impressive wins, including one at Kansas. Duke may go farther in the NCAA Tournament, but they cannot be ranked ahead of the 'Horns right now.

6. San Diego State Aztecs: The Aztecs have just one loss on the season which came to BYU at the Marriott Center when The Jimmer went for 43 points. Just like Ohio State losses at Purdue and Wisconsin, no one was beating BYU on that night. The problem is that the Aztecs just don't have enough depth on their resume. They've beaten all the good teams out west -- Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Long Beach State, Wichita State, Cal -- but none of those teams are a lock to go to the NCAA Tournament. That's what makes this Saturday's matchup with BYU so important.

7. BYU Cougars: BYU actually has a fairly solid resume. They beat teams like Arizona, Utah State, St. Mary's, and, of course, SDSU. The issue with BYU? Those pesky road losses to New Mexico and UCLA and the thought that this team is too reliant on Jimmer.
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Don't mess with The Jimmer

I saw the letter to the editor last night.

I saw it was written by Michelle Peralta. I googled Michelle Peralta. I searched for her on facebook (to no avail, damn you privacy settings). I even found another angry letter she wrote to the Universe, BYU's student run paper.

It only made sense that once BYU students came across the letter, they would unleash on poor Michelle Peralta. You see, she made the mistake of posting her thoughts on facebook, and once the folks over at CougarBoard.com figured out who she was, it was all over for her facebook page.

Take a peak at the comment section of her post. The best part about it? It may be some 700-800 comments long, but its not vulgar. Its not full of hate. Its not threatening. Its good-natured, friendly ribbing full of references to Chuck Norris quotes, the most interesting man in the world commercials, and Mormon scripture that I don't quite understand.

But most of all, its hilarious. JimmerPOY.com pulled some of the best.

And it gets better. The BYU student section offered Michelle and her husband Oswaldo free season passes to the BYU basketball games:



Goddamn, I love the internet.
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The Emery Board: Week 13

College basketball has not seen a team go undefeated since Bobby Knight's Indiana Hoosiers went 32-0 in 1975-1976. The closest we have seen since then was a Jameer Nelson-led St. Joseph's team that went 27-0 in the 2003-2004 season before losing to Xavier in the Atlantic-10 tournament. Every season a team flirts with the notion of an undefeated season, but every season that notion slowly fades as January turns to February and February turns to March. BYU's senior guard Jackson Emery, has made the bold prediction that his team, a Cougar squad that finished with a 27-4 record last season, will in fact go undefeated this season.

We have decided that, in honor of Emery's swagger, we will keep a watch on the BYU Cougar's schedule, see if they can walk-the-walk. We will also keep tabs on any other undefeated teams who try to make a run at the perfect season.

Week 11:
I must be the only one who actually took Jackson Emery seriously, because he's said only two things to the press this season, and has been wrong about both of them. I am still waiting to hear him reshuffle his predicition and proclaim that BYU will win the Mountain West Conference Tournament. But that actually is something they could accomplish, unlike his other two statements.

After suffering their second loss of the season, The Cougars bounced back with two victories, a seven point road win at Wyoming and a 14-point win against UNLV at home. Against Wyoming, Jimmer Fredette had an off night yet still managed to score 26 points, including a perfect 16-16 from the charity stripe. Against UNLV Fredette overcame more smacktalk from Tre'von Willis and finished with 29 points which made him the all-time leading scorer in Mountain West Conference history. The previous record was held by San Diego State's Brandon Heath with 2,189. For his efforts last week, Fredette received his 14th career MWC Player of the Week award, which is also a conference record. Of his 14 PoW awards, seven have come this season.

But this post isn't just about Fredette. This team continues to play well together and looks like a legitimate threat to make it to at least the Sweet-16 this season. Jackson Emery continues to be under-appreciated. he is a steady 3-point shooter and is the team leader in steals and assists. I've been really impressed lately with the play of big-man Brandon Davies. He only had four points against UNLV but was plagued with foul trouble much of the game. He has shown a nice ouch around the basket and provides the Cougars with a solid interior presence.

The Cougars take on Air Force on the road and cap off rivalry week against Utah. Neither of these games should be a real test for BYU, but they certainly don't want to overlook either team.

Next Game: 2/9 at Air Force
Next Possible Loss: 2/26 at San Diego State


Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Ohio State: 24-0 (11-0)
Last Win: 82-69 at No. 20 Minnesota
Next Game: 2/12 at No. 14 Wisconsin
Next Potential Loss: 2/12 at No. 14 Wisconsin

The Buckeyes are firing on all cylinders at the right moment because they begin their toughest stretch of conference play this week. They have to travel to the Kohl Center to take of Wisconsin, then play a collapsing Michigan State squad, then travel to Purdue, followed up with a home game against Illinois. It's entirely possible that tOSU beats all four of these teams, but it is in this stretch of games that they are most likely to suffer their first defeat.


Undefeated Conference Teams
Since only one team in the entire country has yet to lose a game, why not take a look at the small group of teams that have yet to lose a game against their conference foes? Plus it gives me something to track for the next couple of weeks.

Coastal Carolina: 22-2 (13-0 in Big South)
Next Game: 2/10 at Presbyterian (10-15,4-9)
Next Potential Loss: None

The Chanticleers have not lost since the Charleston Classic, when they were defeated by Georgetown 810-61. That was 20 games ago. It doesn't look like any team in the Big South will come close to Coastal Carolina. They already defeated the second best team, Liberty, twice, and went on the road for four straight games and won them all. Barring a shocking upset in the conference tournament, this team will be dancing.


Princeton: 16-4 (4-0 in Ivy League)
Next Game: 2/8 vs. Penn (9-9, 3-1)
Next Potential Loss: 2/8 vs. Penn (9-9, 3-1)

The Tigers we the pre-season favorites in the Ivy league, but up until this past week, it was Harvard that was looking like the Ivy league team most likely to make the NCAA tournament. Princeton defeated Harvard 65-61 on Friday to claim the top spot in the league. They followed that up with a 15-point win over Dartmouth. But Princeton now has to face Penn, who just lost their first conference game, to Harvard, in a 2OT thriller. If Princeton can defeat Penn, they will set themselves up well to pick up the automatic bid.


No. 21 Utah State: 22-2 (11-0 in Western Athletic Conference)
Next Game: 2/9 at Idaho (13-10, 6-5)
Next Potential Loss: 2/19 at No. 23 St. Mary's (BracketBusters)

Like Coastal Carolina, the Aggies have not lost since they played Georgetown some 17 games ago. They have rolled thru conference play and are 4.5 games in front of the second-place team. Utah State is home to the best home court advantages in the country and will not lose a conference game this season. They will travel to Moraga, CA to face St. Mary's in the marquee BracketBusters game.


The Bottom of the Barrel:

It would be rude of us to include the "have's" and but not the "have-not's". After all, planetary balance is very essential. For every team that hasn't lost a game, there has to be a team still fighting for their first win.



Centenary: 0-25 (0-13)
Next Game: 2/10 at Southern Utah (7-16, 3-9)
First Potential Win: 2/10 at Southern Utah (7-16, 3-9)

The Gentleman only have five more chances to claim their first victory of the year. Unfortunately they only stand a chance of doing so in one of these games. I just don't think they will get a win this season.

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The Emery Board: Week 12

College basketball has not seen a team go undefeated since Bobby Knight's Indiana Hoosiers went 32-0 in 1975-1976. The closest we have seen since then was a Jameer Nelson-led St. Joseph's team that went 27-0 in the 2003-2004 season before losing to Xavier in the Atlantic-10 tournament. Every season a team flirts with the notion of an undefeated season, but every season that notion slowly fades as January turns to February and February turns to March. BYU's senior guard Jackson Emery, has made the bold prediction that his team, a Cougar squad that finished with a 27-4 record last season, will in fact go undefeated this season.

We have decided that, in honor of Emery's swagger, we will keep a watch on the BYU Cougar's schedule, see if they can walk-the-walk. We will also keep tabs on any other undefeated teams who try to make a run at the perfect season.

Week 11:
You know, it's kinda funny. We've been so enamored with the recent explosion of JimmerJam2011 that we lost sight of what the Emery Board was all out: playfully ripping Jackson Emery. If you recall, after BYU's first loss of the season, a head-scratcher to UCLA in Anaheim, Emery clarified that although they had lost, he still thought they could go the rest of the season without losing another game.

Well, I guess Mr. Emery forgot to remind his teams of his statements following their emotional home victory against SDSU on Wednesday. Because going into The Pit for a conference match-up against a team desperate for a signature win is not an easy thing to do. The Cougars played well, but new Mexico played better. BYU got only 9 points from their bench, all from Charles Abouo, and while Jimmer did drop 32, he did so on 12-26 shooting.

As for Mr. Emery, he had a somewhat-cold week. In the last two games, he has shot a combined 3-for-15, including 2-for-12 from behind the arc, and recorded only a mere five assists.

Things don't get much easier for the Cougars from here on out. They travel to Wyoming on Wednesday then host UNLV on Saturday night. Yes Wyoming is only 1-6 in the conference but that one win came at home against the same New Mexico squad that just beat BYU.

Next Game: 2/2 at Wyoming
Next Possible Loss: 2/26 at San Diego State


Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Ohio State: 22-0 (9-0)
Last Win: 58-57 at Northwestern
Next Game: 2/3 vs. Michigan
Next Potential Loss: 2/6 at No.18 Minnesota

"There can be only ONE!". Well no not really, but there's only one undefeated team left in the country, and it's tOSU. The Buckeyes' other sensational freshman, Aaron Craft had a big week, scoring a combined 24-points on 9-for-17 shooting and dished out nine assists in Ohio State's two wins. This team is loaded with talent from top to bottom, has experience, size, great coaching, and well, pretty much everything a team needs to win six consecutive games in March. The Buckeyes have shown they can win close games on the road, and can win games in which the opponents force them to play a different style of basketball. And to think I just wrote an entire paragraph about tOSU and didn't even mention Jared Sullinger. That's how good the Buckeyes are.


Drop-Outs

No. 6 San Diego State: 21-1 (6-1)
First Loss: 59-71 at No.9 BYU

"They have been weighed, they have been measured, and they have been found wanting." Or you could just say they lost a hard-fought game on the road in one of the toughest arenas to play at in the entire country. But on the plus side, Kawhi Leonard was battling flu-like symptoms prior to the game and still had a large night. Circle Saturday the 26th on your calenders, because that's when the SDSU fans get to return the favor to BYU.


The Bottom of the Barrel:

It would be rude of us to include the "have's" and but not the "have-not's". After all, planetary balance is very essential. For every team that hasn't lost a game, there has to be a team still fighting for their first win.



Centenary: 0-23 (0-3)
Next Game: 2/3 vs. North Dakota State (10-11, 5-6)
First Potential Win: 2/10 at Southern Utah (6-15, 3-6)

Another week, and another couple of losses for the Gentlemen. They capped-off a four-game road trip by getting smacked by Summit League leaders Oakland 100-70, and finally get a chance to play in front of their home crowd, if they have one. With only seven games left, it's looking less and less likely that they will get that elusive-W.





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Jimmer's not a cult icon anymore

Joseph Smith, Jr., founded the Latter Day Saints movement, but right now I think even the father of the Mormon Church is the second most popular man in Utah.

Before he popped off for 43 points in a 71-58 win over San Diego State on Wednesday night that gave BYU sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference while handing the Aztecs their first loss of the season, Jimmer Fredette was revered by BYU fans. He had developed quite the cult following from hoops fans nationwide before he spent this week with his face plastered on ESPN

And after this performance, which was on CBS College Sports, not ESPN?

Fredette is a legend, a player whose devoted following grows every time he goes for 40 (which has been three times in his last four games).

Don't believe me? Take a peek at this picture that came across my twitter feed tonight:


Kevin Durant, who had 47 points and 18 rebounds himself tonight, tweeted "Jimmer Fredette is the best scorer in the world!!" John Wall said that "Jimmer Fredette is cold." Derrick Williams, the Arizona forward who has been on the receiving end of a 49 and 33 point game from Jimmer, tweeted that "the only way your stopping Jimmer is when the game ends." Fredette led off Sportscenter. Again.

Jimmer isn't just a basketball player. He's a celebrity. He's Justin Bieber. Hell, he doesn't even need a last name anymore. Look at what he did to my twitter feed last night:


And that's just a tiniest of tiny samples, and it just so happened to come after Jimmer buried another 25 footer, this time at the end of a shot clock with DJ Gay playing defense about as well as anyone has on him this season. Imagine that kind of twitter traffic last for well over two hours, and that's not including the flood of tweets in the hours leading up to the game.

What makes Jimmer so popular?

Well, for starters, he doesn't look like he should be a good athlete, let alone a good basketball player. He's a stocky, 6'1" white kid with floppy hair and an awkward gait. He's capable of storybook scoring feats on some of the best teams in the country, has in the gym range whether he's guarded or unguarded, and has the ability to make a defender look this silly:



The fact that Jimmer is this popular is a bit confounding. Whenever someone puts out a most-hated players list, the top tends to be populated with players of a paler complexion. JJ Redick was despised outside of Durham, NC. Tyler Hansbrough had more fans outside of the Tar Heel faithful, but he wasn't exactly winning popularity contests with the fans. Adam Morrison was ridiculed for his hair and his tears after losing to UCLA in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. I still see jokes on twitter from time to time regarding Greg Paulus and Eric Devendorf.

Maybe its because Fredette has such an endearing personality. Maybe its because he has the stones to pull from anywhere on the court at any given time. Maybe its because of his religious faith and the fact that the country knows he's getting less tail on campus than your run of the mill college hoops blogger.

I don't have an answer for it. But I also don't want to question it.

We should all just simply enjoy the ride.

The Jimmer Show rolls on.
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