Knudson: Let's Get Physical
FacebookBy Mark Knudson, The Mtn. Insider
February 28, 2011
There’s a classic scene near the end of Space Jam, the 1990s movie about Michael Jordan playing a basketball game with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes. In the scene, Bill Murray, making a cameo appearance near the end of the big game, replies to Jordan’s instructions during a team huddle with the quip, “Whoa…no. I don’t play defense…”
In the movie, Murray longs to play with Jordan and Larry Bird in the NBA, where defense is sometimes just optional. For much of this college basketball season, the BYU Cougars looked like subscribers to the same “defense optional” theory. They looked content to outrun and outgun opponents while appearing to use the defensive end of the floor as a place to catch their breath and start planning their next offensive possession.
Those Cougars wanted to play games with scores in the 80s and 90s. Run and gun. Get into a game at that tempo, and they could – and did - run you out of the gym. On the flip side, the prevailing thought was if you could get BYU into a slower paced game and say, keep the score in the 60s, you had a great shot at beating them.
Maybe not.
When push came to shove against No. 4 ranked San Diego State, and it did quite often in front of a raucous crowd at an overflowing Viejas Arena, the BYU Cougars played the Aztecs kind of game; a physical, battle in the paint sort of game. Bodies kept hitting the floor, tempers were flaring, the crowd was off the hook.
The game ended up in the 60s.
For the Aztecs.
BYU won by 13 points.
Again.
Count me among those who were completely surprised and totally impressed with this version of BYU. As much fun as it’s been to watch Jimmer Fredette light up the scoreboard during the first half of the season, watching these Cougars stand toe to toe with the mighty front line of the Aztecs and trade virtual blows, not just hold their own but win many of the so-called “hustle” battles was, well, off the hook.
Led by the spectacular Kwahi Leonard, SDSU was supposed to dominate the boards. Instead, the Aztecs only outrebounded the Cougars by five. Leonard had his usual double-double with 17 points and 13 boards, but SDSU only got 19 points from the combo of Billy White and Malcom Thomas. The Cougar front line played plenty of defense.
There was plenty of the “old” BYU as well. By hitting 14 three pointers, the Cougars were able to answer every Aztec run with their usual sensational offense.
With Jimmer Fredette showing the savvy to accept double teams and hit the open man to the tune of nine assists rather than simply be a scorer, the Cougars unleashed a new group of scorers, led by Charles Abouo (18 points) and Noah Hartsock, who added 15 to pretty much neutralize Leonard in the points column.
Those who doubt Jimmer Fredette’s ability to play at the next level should watch this game a couple more times. He was not just about long range shots and head down drives to the hoop; he was a facilitator, a play-maker. And of course, the game’s leading scorer. And he and his teammates played a nice bit of defense as well.
The NCAA Player of the Year Award should now be a foregone conclusion.
For the Aztecs, it’s now about finishing strong and working toward a third meeting with the Cougars in the upcoming Conference tournament. We all know how hard it is for any team to beat another team three times in the same season. If you’re an Aztec fan, you’re aching for another shot at the Cougars.
For BYU, it’s now about keeping their heads and their focus. Win the Conference tourney and their final season in the MWC plus a No. 1 seed awaits when the Big Dance rolls around.
ALL TIMES MOUNTAIN
