New Mexico vs. BYU Add Comment    Mar 02, 2011

On the day the news reported that the number three ranked Cougars had lost their best big man, BYU had to play their first game of the season with adversity.  The gymnasium seemed empty.  Not that the crowed was not in the game, but that a key player, a BYU family member was missing.  The outcome of the game was not so good.  BYU struggled the entire game, and Jimmer looked rushed and frustrated.  The Cougars looked out manned, out shot and even underdetermined.  This is a tough day for the Cougars Im sure, but the ending of the game told me a lot about BYU Basketball.  This is definitely not the Jimmer show, but a true team dependant on each of its players, even with an All-Star like Jimmer.  It takes an All-Star to get a team to be number three ranked, and without Jimmer they may not be where they are today, but without Davies, BYU may not even receive a three seed and may just end up with a second round NCAA tournament loss.

This loss of Davies will prove to hurt emotionally, and will take its toll on the floor.  Davies was BYU's third leading scorer, number one rebounder and their main defensive presence.  As I watched BYU play tonight, I saw a person missing very badly.  What shocked me most was that there seemed to be no answer for this issue.  New Mexico is a decent team, but not the caliber of team that BYU is, even without Davies presence.  So the question is, did BYU lose tonight based on an emotional week, or is this loss of Davies going to take them out of the potential top seed and final four look all together.

So looking forward, BYU needs to win their last game this week, and take the MWC tournament.  Two more losses (this weekend at home against Wyoming, and the MWC tournament) will take BYU to a lower seed in the NCAA, and a sure second round loss (my prediction).  Keeping the wins coming allows for BYU show that they were not so dependent on one person.  For the MWC tournament, BYU needs this time to learn each other over again, to trust each other, to know who can fill that defensive post, to have and regain the confidence needed to be a top contender in the NCAA tournament.  The next two weeks will tell it all for BYU.

Article written by

Jeremy Vick