BYU's Life After Jimmer
Kansas eventually had to play without Danny Manning. Syracuse moved on once Carmelo Anthony departed. At one point, Tyler Hansbrough left North Carolina. Duke took the court with no Jason Williams. We will see how the University of Connecticut reacts this upcoming season without Kemba Walker. We will also see the BYU Cougars play basketball without Jimmer.
For those of you who were perhaps out of the country this past year or in some sort of coma, here’s a quick recap of the Jimmer Fredette experience at BYU last season: he was Paul, John, Ringo and George all rolled into one. He was for the Mormons what…well I can’t think of an analogy that is not inappropriate here; let’s just say he was extremely popular and everyone knew he was Mormon.
He led the team in scoring and assists. His 28.5 points/game were roughly 35% of the total Cougar offense, an offense that finished in the top ten in the nation in points per game. He shot over 45% from the floor (keeping in mind many, too many, of those shots were deeeeep and contested) and over 89% from the free throw line. Every offensive possession ran through him and every opponent knew this was the case and still could not stop it. Jimmer was Brigham Young basketball in 2010-2011.
Thus, Brigham Young basketball in 2011-2012 will be Brandon Davies inside and a lot of players used to having bit parts. In other words, BYU basketball this upcoming season may be in trouble. Yet this is the price a school pays for having such a force as Jimmer was. After the experience is over, they must restart, rebuild around something else.
Much like you may regret eating half a cake after doing so, while eating the cake, it tastes delicious and you never want to stop. BYU had their cake a season ago. Now comes the stomach ache.
Read the in-depth preview for BYU basketball
