The Cougars are led by potential All-American Jimmer Fredette. He is a consistently excellent shooter, averaging 49% from 3-point range and an amazing 90% from the foul line. He is averaging 21.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Joining him in the rotation is Jackson Emery, who sports similar numbers (40% from 3-point range, 48% from the field overall, and 75% free-throw percentage). The big guy on the team (which actually is pretty small – no true center that really contributes) is Noah Hartsock, a 6’8” sophomore forward. He is 60% from the floor and pulls down five boards a game. It might help the Cougars to play him a little more, since he is money from the floor and foul line.
This strong offensive team has the folks in Utah stoked for the tournament. They should pull a decent seed, which will allow them to easily get into the round of 16. Putting it all together against better competition after that will be the Cougars’ big challenge.
Two reasons that BYU will make the Final Four:
1. This team is an offensive machine. Statistically, they are in the top ten in many offensive categories, including free throw percentage (ranked 1st in the NCAA), 3-point percentage (3rd nationally), and field goal percentage (ranked 8th). The Cougars are 5th in scoring offense and 2nd in scoring margin, and they make 8 three-pointers per game. They will need to continue this performance in order to get into the Final Four.
2. They are a balanced, well-coached team. They protect the ball, turning It over only 12 times per game. This smart, careful play will serve them well come tournament time.
Two reasons that BYU will not make the Final Four:
1. This team is young. There is only one senior (Jonathan Tavernari) who makes a significant contribution to BYU’s play. The young players may find the Big Dance too big a jump from Provo.
2. BYU plays in the Mountain West. The reason they have such a great record is because they don’t play anybody. The only other team in the Mountain West that is ranked is New Mexico. Playing the likes of Wyoming, Air Force, and Colorado State does not prepare a team to play Kansas, Kentucky, or Syracuse in the tournament.
