BYU-Florida quick hits

Does winning a game in the NCAA tournament really have to be that hard? After causing a collective heart attack among Cougar fans, BYU pulled out a 99-92 double-overtime win over Florida. Here are a few thoughts I had during BYU’s first tournament win since 1992:

1) After nearly giving Florida the game with a turnover late in the first overtime and missing two (two!) free throws early in the second overtime, Jimmer Fredette put the game away with two picture-perfect threes. Fredette, who made a lot of shots and forced a lot of shots — par for the course for him this season — finished with 37 points, three assists, two steals and a block. He got to the hoop early and often, then shook off a tough-shooting day from the outside to hit key shots when it counted. At the end of the day, though, he wasn’t even the player of the game for BYU …

2) … that would be Michael Loyd, Jr., who once again provided a spark for the slow-starting Cougars. Loyd went on a personal 10-0 run in the first half to switch the momentum and help BYU secure a two-point halftime lead. Loyd, who finished with a career-high 26 points, was the difference between another cold-shooting one-and-done NCAA tournament and BYU’s move to the second round. He scored each of BYU’s six points in the first overtime, then opened the second overtime with a long rebound and subsequent three. He provided a secondary offensive weapon who took part of the offensive load off Fredette’s shoulders, something the Cougars desperately needed.

3) Florida’s offensive rebounding kept them in the game. The Gators took advantage of their height advantage over Jonathan Tavernari and strength advantage over Brandon Davies to grab 16 offensive rebounds.

4) Memo to Brandon Davies: If you’re going to foul somebody, FOUL THEM HARD SO THEY DON’T MAKE THE SHOT!!! With BYU up 13 and threatening to pull away midway through the second half, Florida converted three 3-point plays on weak fouls by BYU’s freshman center. Zero points and four fouls is not what BYU coach Dave Rose is looking for from Davies (though Davies did grab six rebounds and play solid defense in the second overtime).

5) Is there a worse defender than Jonathan Tavernari? Lacking the quickness to stay in front of practically anybody, he constantly lets his man get past him then pokes at the ball from behind — a tactic that rarely works. He made a few threes, but otherwise crippled BYU’s ability to rebound and stop the Gators. BYU played better with Hartsock or Abouo in the game.

6) On the other hand, Jackson Emery finds ways to contribute even when his shot is off. He had another steal, drew a key foul and made two free throws to stop Florida’s 11-2 second-half run, then made the shot of the day with 1:22 left in the game — a bomb from three feet behind the arc with BYU trailing by four. As usual, Emery did all the little things to help BYU come away with the win.