from a # 1 seed to ?

Tuesday the BYU  basketball team went from what possibly was a dream season to a nightmare in a few hours. Sophomore forward Brandon Davies was kicked off of the team because he broke the school's honor code. There is a possibility that he will be welcomed back to the team next year but he's going to have to earn that right.
Davies was the second best player on a team that was competing for the NCAA basketball championship. He was an inside presence on a team that desperately needs one. This situation couldn't have happened at a worse time during the season for the cougars and it could derail all of the momentum that they have created so far.
Last night in their first game without Davies the cougars came out flat and played like their hearts had been ripped out. New Mexico dominated the game crushing the cougars 82-64. BYU will fall from #3 and they have no chance at a #1 seed in the tournament. How will the team react from here? Your guess is as good as mine but this situation obviously makes BYU a wild card in the tournament.
 There are no excuses and the Cougars if they play the kind of basketball they've played  most of the year they should be a sweet sixteen team. Within a week we saw the Cougars play their best game in beating San Diego State and their worst game verses New Mexico. As much praise as they received for the good play they will also be criticized for their gutless play. They went from a team that many people were certain about ,to a unknown team. The final history for the 2010-2011 team has yet to be written but it's not over. The next month of games will be what this team is remembered for and in a suddenly unsure season we don't know how this team will finish.

I've been Cougared!

Last Saturday watching the BYU verses San Diego State game I kept wanting someone to pinch me! Was I dreaming or did the cougars dominate that game from start to finish 80-67. Much has been talked about BYU's star player Jimmer Fredette. The Cougars are way more than Jimmer! He deserves to be the college player of the year. I mean who double teams a player 30 feet from the basketball hoop?

It takes a team to win and that's what the cougars have developed into. A very food team. Ranked #3 in the nation and if they win all of the rest of their games they are a lock at a #1 seed for the NCAA basketball tournament!

Cougar fans have come to expect solid basketball teams from Dave Rose but this team is his best by far. I think the cougars are a lock for the sweet sixteen this year. There defense has been great. They mostly play a zone and are very effective at blocking shots and getting rebounds. They seem to be a mismatch for every team that has played them. Jimmer has a killer outside shot and also is great at penetrating and scoring or finding his open teammates for 3 pointers. The cougars offense is very up-tempo and many times they shot the ball very quickly.

*Photo courtesy of Ignelzi/AP

Many things can happen between now and the first Monday of April when the championship game is played. BYU has as good of chance as any team as winning the championship. Many people would say its because of Jimmer. If the cougars continue to win it will be because they have the best team night in and night out.