Only one key to BYU winning:

Jackson Emery's shooting. If he shoots well, BYU wins. End of story. Welcome to the Sweet 16 BYU.



If he doesn't shoot well, BYU loses and, as was said, this season will be remembered for Jimmer and what could have been.



Since going 6-8 vs Wyoming on senior day, He's gone 12-43 (.279) from the floor and just 5-27 (.185) from three.



If he shoots well, we win. If he doesn't we lose. He's really the only person I'll be watching early on.

You may be right. I think the only alternative may be our defense. BYU has a defense that is capable of keeping Gonzaga away from the basket, batting balls out of passing lanes, and upsetting their rhythm in a big way. If Jackson, Collinsworth, Abouo, Rogers, and Hartsock get in a rhythm and have one of their great defensive nights (it's happened a couple times this season), I think BYU has what it takes to edge Gonzaga even with worse shooting.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Jackson Emery's shooting. If he shoots well, BYU wins. End of story. Welcome to the Sweet 16 BYU.



If he doesn't shoot well, BYU loses and, as was said, this season will be remembered for Jimmer and what could have been.



n.

"....what could have been......."???? Oh you mean the dreaded asterisk? The BD*?



Hey, I didn't say it, Spiff did. Unless you have a plausible substitute for the definition of "what" is.





Anyway, pretty good point. Jackson will even feel charged defensively if he can make shots. My belief is that will not be enough to beat this team. It will take what we did to beat sdsu. Jax AND charles or KC or NH will have to shoot well or we are done. Unless Jimmer goes for 40+ . Or Zags will have to go cold or get out run at elevation. But since byu seems to be Gassed, like Monson suggests, and I agree this time, it may just be equal in that dept.

I'm not optimistic.

GO COUGS! We need ONE more signature game JIMMER. Save us if you can!!



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

While our shooting % needs to improve; I think this game is won or lost based on how well we defend the inside without getting in foul trouble.



If the Zags are getting layups and dunks; we lose.

I'm not sure I get why everyone thinks the team is gassed/tired. They have played 1 game in the last 7 days, they are young and in great shape. They should be able to overcome any residual fatigue by sheer excitement for the NCAA tournament. If they can't get up for a matchup like this in the tournament then they deserve to lose. I think Jimmer, jax,rose and the rest will be more than hungry for this win and will give it their all. If ever a 3 seed could be a Cinderella story, this might be it.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

BYULV wrote:
I'm not sure I get why everyone thinks the team is gassed/tired. They have played 1 game in the last 7 days, they are young and in great shape. They should be able to overcome any residual fatigue by sheer excitement for the NCAA tournament. If they can't get up for a matchup like this in the tournament then they deserve to lose. I think Jimmer, jax,rose and the rest will be more than hungry for this win and will give it their all. If ever a 3 seed could be a Cinderella story, this might be it.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

IMO, its a physical and mental fatigue combo. Its Jimmer playing 40 minutes game after game. Why did byu start so slowly in the 1st half of Wofford? Nervous? Don't think so.

My hope and prediction was that byu was not looking past Wofford, but learning from last year to save something for the 2nd game. So I'm hoping not beyond all hope but beyond my rational assessment, that byu really lights it up today and everybody comes focused excited and brings it today to attain this next goal in their season--Sweet 16.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

The key to winning, as I see it, is whether or not Jimmer hits the buzzer beater to end the game. If so, we win, if not, we go to overtime, and then win it. HA!

Although I agree with Spiff that Emery's play will be key.



I think the single most important key for the game is motivation. We looked flat against TCU, SDSU and for most the game against Wofford. We come out highly motivated and we win.



I like that we're "underdogs" as it adds some fuel to the fire. Go out and hit em hard Cougs and the Zags will be on their heels.

Jimmer needs to be pissed like he was vs UNM. When that happens we tend to play well.

Jackson is hitting thus far! The whole team is playing well. There is foul trouble for Anderson(who is playing well) and Hartsock.

Thank you Jackson



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Maybe it would have been enough to win if Jax was on and no others werent. But, we wont be able to isolate that one variable. But he was aggressive early and not just jackin 3's. His pump fake and dribble into the lane and dish was huge. I have been saying that all year when he jacks 3's and is cold. when he and Kyle and charles and even rogers drove into the key, the defense broke down and we got some nice looks at the hoop. Florida will play tougher defense. BUt a great win.

I think Barkley might have actually said something coherent for once. He said the Cougs were doing "selective running".... It seems when we constantly play transition basketball, to try and counter another teams height or to catch them off guard with more spped. Jimmer has more turnovers and hits front iron alot, I assume because he's tired. Tonight he looked in complete control and yes there were lots of fast breaks but it wasn't an all out sprint like some other games where Jimmer's percentage is way down..



Sweet Sweet win..



It's Jimmmmmer, It's Jimmertime!!!

(Flight of the conchords style...)