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Arizona-BYU game blog: Fredette, Cougars cruise to big victory

by on Dec. 11, 2010, under Sports

Arizona just can't stop Jimmer Fredette.
Photo by Douglas C. Pizac-US PRESSWIRE

It’s over. BYU cruises 87-65.

That’s 82 points for Jimmer Fredette in two games against Arizona.

“I just felt like I could shoot the ball tonight,” he said on the postgame TV interview. “I was getting open shots and I was making them fortunately. I always feel like I am going to go out there and score.”

* * *

Slowly winding down. This game was a chance for Arizona to get a signature victory this season and launch into the AP Top 25 for the first time in nearly three years. Instead, the game is instructive of how far the Wildcats still have to go. Here’s betting that Sean Miller in his postgame interview talks about the team being a “work in progress.”

* * *

Jimmer Fredette likely is done with 5:25 to go. He has 33 points and nine rebounds. BYU up by 20.

* * *

MoMo Jones has made four 3-point shots in the second half. He entered the game having made only two in the first nine games. The Wildcats can’t make a serious run, though, trailing 75-57 with 7:27 to go.

Jimmer Fredette has 33 points.

* * *

Jimmer Fredette hits 30 points with just under 10 minutes to go. Can he get 40?

* * *

Arizona makes a charge to get within 59-46, but BYU pushes the lead back to 15 at 61-46 on a basket by James Anderson. That’s the score with 11:33 to play. If only the Cats could hit a couple more 3-pointers (3 of 11 so far) …

* * *

MoMo Jones — who obviously read my post at halftime about lousy point guard play — has seven points in the second half. If only the Cats were playing some defense. BYU leads 59-42 with 14:04 remaining.

* * *

Arizona’s deficit grew to 23 points early in the second half, although the Wildcats trimmed that to 55-37 with 15:37 to go in the game. The new problem: Derrick Williams has three fouls.

The Jimmer Fredette watch: 24 points.

* * *

Sean Miller on BYU’s first-half zone: “We became very tentative.”

* * *

Arizona has no points and a mere two assists from the point guard position in the first half. Anybody who was skeptical of the Wildcats in the preseason because of the uncertainty about MoMo Jones at the position, appears to be correct.

* * *

Arizona is struggling on offense and defense and trails 44-25 at halftime. Good news? Jimmer Fredette, who scored 49 against Arizona last season, only has 20 points. OK, that’s not good news. But he did miss a 40-footer or so at the halftime buzzer, so he is human.

The Wildcats, stymied by a 2-3 zone for much of the half, is shooting 28.1 percent (9 of 32). BYU is at 53.6 percent (15 of 28).

* * *

When Jimmer Fredette backs up and hits an NBA-length 3-pointer over double coverage … well, maybe there is no good defense for him. Fredette has 14 points as BYU leads 37-21 with 3:27 before halftime.

* * *

Let’s see a show of hands for all those who think Jesse Perry should start over Jamelle Horne. I’ll start it.

* * *

BYU starting post Noah Hartsock is down after getting knocked in the chin by the head of Jesse Perry, who was making an aggressive drive to the hoop. Hartsock gets called for the foul, and Perry makes both free throws for a 7-0 Arizona run.

* * *

A couple of jumpers — including a 3-pointer from Kevin Parrom — bring Arizona back within 28-15. Will the Wildcats rally from an early deficit as they did vs. Kansas?

* * *

Sean Miller talked this week about BYU not getting enough credit for its defense, and he sure seems to be right about that. Using a 2-3 zone against the Cats, the Cougars are suffocating Arizona’s offense and have taken a 28-10 lead with 8:30 left in the first half. BYU is on a 14-0 run.

It all goes back to one of Arizona’s key questions at the start of the season: Who is going to be the second scorer to Derrick Williams? Right now … no one.

* * *

Jimmer Fredette has 11 points at the second TV timeout. The BYU announcers say he is 4 of 4 from the field, but they are forgetting about his shot that was blocked out of bonds by Derrick Williams. The Cougars led 20-10.

* * *

It’s not Jordin Mayes on Jimmer Fredette. Arizona’s Kyle Fogg gets the call now, and he picks up a foul as Fredette drives to the hoop.

* * *

BYUtv needs HD.

* * *

Each team’s star has come to play and looks unstoppable early. BYU’s Jimmer Fredette has seven points; Derrick Williams has six for the Cats. BYU leads 14-8 at the first media timeout, with 15:42 to go in the first half. MoMo Jones has been guarding Fredette so far; will freshman Jordin Mayes get the chance now? Tough assignment for a freshman.

* * *

Fredette drives for a layup, making him 3 for 3 from the field and forcing Sean Miller to call a 30-second timeout for Arizona. New season, same story so far. BYU leads 12-4 with 16:31 left in the half.

* * *

Jimmer Fredette has five points in the first 90 seconds or so, spinning away from MoMo Jones to nail a jumper and then popping a 3-pointer in transition.

* * *

The usual lineup for Arizona: MoMo Jones, Kyle Fogg, Solomon Hill, Jamelle Horne, Derrick Williams.

* * *

This will be the spot for our in-game commentary and analysis … and, as always, we look forward to your opinions in the comments section.

One note: Backup center Alex Jacobson is not available today due to back problems, according to Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star. Jacobson is outside of the regular playing rotation, but his absence could be a factor if starting post Derrick Williams gets into foul trouble.

I’ll be watching on Comcast channel 289, where the on-screen program description calls this the schools’ first meeting since 1999. Hmmm… and I thought Jimmer Fredette’s 49 points against the Cats last season was fairly memorable.

As we wait for tip-off, here is plenty of pregame reading from the TucsonCitizen.com Sports Network to get you ready:

Javier Morales, WildAboutAZCats.com: Arizona-BYU matchup breakdown

Javier Morales, WildAboutAZCats.com: K-State’s plan against Fredette in NCAA tourney worked well enough for win

Javier Morales, WildAboutAZCats.com: Pac-10 envious of success involving Brigham Young and Mountain West

Scott Terrell, UASports.net: Try again: Arizona aims for first quality win

Anthony Gimino: Video of Fredette’s 49 vs. Arizona; can you beat to watch?

Anthony Gimino: Arizona-BYU notes: Star matchup, rankings, beyond Jimmer Fredette

Anthony Gimino: UA’s focus turns to Fredette; will Wildcats bring the milk and cookies?

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 at 3:36 pm and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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  • http://none Jim Bodkins

    Horne can be a liability. Perry is more of an asset.
     
    Shooting 30 pct is very weak.
     
    Matt just complimented Fogg for his D on Jimmer – who likely will score 40 today.
     
    They will need a major improvement in the second half to be competative. BYU is experienced.

  • http://none Jim Bodkins

    Radio is whining about calls Jimmer is getter. That what an all american does.

    • Anthony Gimino

      He’s really good at drawing contact. He’s just hard to guard.

  • http://none Jim Bodkins

    I will have to see the DVD-r, but Williams doesnt sound as if he is contributing in terms of rebounding. Well,  put it this way, someone isnt.
     
    It sounds as if BYU is better at all positions.

  • Carlos J. M.

    Anthony, it may be double coverage in the theoretical or technical  sense, but there’s a huge difference between tight, suffocating defense – without fouling – and what Miller’s team is playing tonight.  The BYU coach said it best at the half to the TV guy: Fredette’s creating spacing between him and the closest possible defender.  One guy - Lavender - gets screened away and the other one – Fogg - gets shaken off and it’s The Jammer for a drive and score, drive and dish or pull up mid-range J or 3 bagger, virtually unguarded.  Or, it’s like we just saw twice in less than a minute - a foul on Fogg and to the line goes the New Yorker who’d look mighty good in a Knickerbocker uniform.  

    And after 9 games it unfortunately might be time to call off this experiment with MoMo at PG.  I believe it’s run its course, and with little preparation before the games that really count – the PAC-10 games - it’s high time to try Mayes at the point and let the chips fall where they may.  Not that this loss vs. BYU – and it’s looking like it will be another pretty bad one – is meaningless, because it is very meaningful, as sure as you can say Selection Sunday, it is. but this team has to begin preparing now for going into Raleigh and giving the Wolfpack a much better game.  And it all starts and ends at the position of PG.  I don’t know about you guys, but when I hear someone on BYUTV say that Arizona’s little more than a team that stands around and stares at No. 23, hoping he does something, anyhting to get them going, that’s as bad as it gets at PGU.

     

  • http://none Jim Bodkins

    Lots of people wont play much next year. Next year they will have a point and Johnson has an astounding vertical game. I’m betting that someone, mayber Lavender will be let go so that Miller can recruit a spring big man. Which means the current starters will probably get owned by the incoming freshmen and Mayes.
     
    I had hopes. Expecting the team to develop over the year. This team isnt going anywhere. Williams doesnt sound very strong today. The rest of the team seems weak. They will make waves in conference … although that wont mean much really.
     
     

  • Anthony Gimino

    MoMo having a big second half, of course. The reality is, Mayes just isn’t ready to be a 30-minute a game point guard in terms of strength, defense and conditioning. He’ll get his 16-20 minutes a game, and he needs to be good, but Arizona doesn’t have better options until next season.

    • http://none Jim Bodkins

      I was expecting Mayes to come into his own around the end of January or February.
       
      Jones is scoring but is he doing good work at point? Next year in fact I would bet Jones is moved to 2 with Turner and Mayes at point.
       

      • Anthony Gimino

        Overall, no … Jones is not doing good enough work at the point. Perhaps like last season, the light will come on for him early in the Pac-10 season.

  • Carlos J. M.

    Sitting here in front of my computer seeing some guy named Anderson block shots at will and score from just about anywhere he wants.  The guys, what, 6-10?  Wouldn’t it be nice if one – just one – of our bigs – Kyryl or Jacobson – contributed to UA just half of the production this kid does for his team?  And then there’s this other guy for the Cougs named Davies, about 6-9, and… Ah well…Let’s just get out of this place without any injuries to the body (the psyche – that might be another story entirely) and onto finals and more closed practices without any real answers to the big questions for the big games vs. the big guys on UA’s schedule.

  • http://none Jim Bodkins

    I’m still trying to imagine who will lose time to Turner, Johnson, Mayes, Johnson and a possible spring big. Fogg, Perry and Hill will probably play.
     
    So is that it for next year? Fogg, Perry and Hill with Jones and Parrom off the bench?

  • Carlos J. M.

    You know people speculate thatc it may be Bejarano that transfers, but if I’m Miller I see flat-out that this team needs a big man to compliment Williams, or worse, replace him as he checks out for the big pay day.  Kyryl or Jaobson will not – cannot – get it done at this level, and this team and program need their help game in and game out.  Yes, this team and program are in dire straits at PG and SG, but we have help on the way in Josiah and Nick J.  And there’s a young man from North High in Phoenix on that Arizona bench who, if he’s patient, will eventually find himself right in the mix with Turner and Johnson.  That’s all I’ll say.  Other than the fact that there was really no difference in Fogg and Lavender’s play today vs. last year.  That’s all I’ll say.  For now.

  • STR

    Eh Carlos again on Fogg….go hate one somebody else. Like Lavendar for example. Holy cow that guy does not deserve as much playing time as he is getting. Best shooter? Airballs the first shot he gets….again. DB must be terrible on defense if he can’t get any minutes from Lavendar.
    Overall this was a though game. BYU got away with a lot of crap, moving picks. arms extended backwards to prevent the defender from moving into the lane against a driving guard, just plain out hacks under the basket. There is no way Arizona would have won the game even if they had played error free (which they certainly did not).
    I think Kyryl plays hard. It almost seems like he gets called for fouls simply because he is the big foreign kid. Seriously some of those calls were outrageous. And then all the pushing and shoving going the other way. Not to say anything of the crowds treatment of Perry after what was rightfully a no call.
    And what the heck did Horne do? Finally push back???
    Ah whatever, the Cats won’t play a game like this until they play Washington and the refs in Seattle.

  • STR

    Jacobson will be gone next year. Didn’t make the trip because, again, of back problems. He simply is in no health to be on a Div 1 basketball team.

  • Mark B. Evans

    Still not ready for prime time. Disappointing.

    Williams, Fogg and sometimes Jones are the only ones who seem to know what they’re supposed to be doing on defense. The rest seem bewildered at times. Hard to watch.

  • Jack

    If we can’t break a two three zone, we can’t expect to beat good teams.
    Kansas, Fullerton and Byu ran the zone against us and it worked. Fullerton just lacked the players to win. I don’t think Kansas plays much zone but it stopped the Cats momentum in the second half of that game. Byu ate us up with the zone. We can’t depend on making threes every night. The ball has to go to the high post to break up the zone.
     
    This is an obvious flaw. We have to fix it.

  • azcoug

    STR – you cannot sit there and bellyache about the calls.  When you shoot 30 percent from the floor, you will get spanked and spanked hard.  Lost to a better team today. It’s like the article published earlier this week – the PAC 10 is actually envious of what the MWC has for  hoops teams.

    • http://none Jim Bodkins

      You, me, we … I hope that isnt what I think it is.
       
      BYU as a program is at its best and deserves credit. “You” are not a part of that program just as STR is not a part of the UofA program.
       
      Give credit and blame where it belongs – with the programs. You, STR and I dont deserve any of it.
       
      I enjoyed Jimmers performance.
       
      Your advice -
       
      When you shoot 30 percent from the floor, you will get spanked and spanked hard.
       
      - should be directed at the program. Do you have the courage to give that precise advice to Miller?

  • JT

    “BYUtv needs HD.”

    Fully agreed.  It was not the best picture quality.  Supposedly they have a brand new state-of-the-art HD facility and truck.  Not sure when they are going to break it out.  Though there was some mysterious commercial that played a couple of times during the game that said viewers were going to be given some cool gift in 2011.  Hopefully it’s HD viewing.

  • STR

    azcoug, you are right, but some of the fouls were tough to swallow.
    JT, I streamed the game through byutv.org and put it up on the TV. Looked better than a lot of the ESPN3 streams. Not real HD but better than regular cable. Just wish Arizona or the Pac10 had something like this. In this day and age it is actually sad that they don’t.

  • UACat_Tenn

    Im starting to question if its the coaching, it seems as if our guys cant get pumped up for a big game if Miller cant get us in the NCAA tourney by next year its time for him to go and bring in Josh from Memphis he is a true Wildcat.

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