A few hits from BYU-New Mexico

Here’s a few thoughts I had during and after BYU’s 76-72 loss to New Mexico at The Pit. It is BYU’s first loss in 16 games.

1) I’m starting to have my doubts about BYU’s depth at center. Miles often plays well, but he’s been foul prone (he only played 11 minutes against New Mexico). Davies oozes potential, but has seemed lost against San Diego State and now New Mexico. James Anderson … why is he on the team again? For the second straight game the Cougar big men got out-muscled down low, and the Lobos’ 16 offensive rebounds were the main reason they came out with the victory.

2) Too much fouling without really fouling. If you’re going to foul somebody, make them feel it. Davies and Anderson both got called for several weak fouls that ended up in three-point plays for the Lobos and put them back on the bench before their chairs even had a chance to get cold.

3) Tavernari taking spot-up threes = good … Tavernari taking fade-away threes off the dribble = bad. Jimmer Fredette made JT look good several times by driving and kicking it out to JT for a wide-open trey.

4) It seems like Fredette makes one or two plays every game that solidify his spot as the conference’s best player. Against New Mexico it was his three-pointer that gave BYU a 62-60 lead with about three minutes left. The Cougars didn’t finish, but Fredette had another great game: 27 points and seven assists.

4) Needing a defensive stop or a quick foul in the last minute of the game, Tavernari inexplicably waited until there was only 11 seconds left on the shot clock to foul New Mexico’s Dairese Gary. Really? I can only imagine how coach Rose feels when he sees one of his players do something so dumb.

5) After a hot start to the season, Jackson Emery has hit only three of his last 22 three-point attempts. Not so good, especially when he shoots six of them per game. Emery is always a scrapper and a tough defender, but his offensive slump has hurt the Cougars the past few games.

6) For everyone who watched the game on television, we all now know that six is divisible by three. Thank you, The Mtn. for your enlightening commentary and expert insight.