Losing a star player late in a promising season is a story Jimmer Fredette knows all too well. Back in 2011, after BYU’s impressive 80-67 victory over No.
6 San Diego State, the Cougars were riding high, ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25. But just as things were looking up, a twist in the tale emerged.
Center Brandon Davies was suspended due to an honor code infraction, and suddenly, the Cougars' path to the Final Four was fraught with uncertainty.
Fredette recently shared his thoughts on the “Y’s Guys” livestream show, reflecting on that challenging time. “It wasn’t easy at first,” he admitted.
“That first week was definitely difficult. There is some shock value.
That next game we played after Brandon, we got crushed.” Indeed, New Mexico came into the Marriott Center and handed BYU an unexpected 82-64 defeat.
The team had to regroup quickly. “We picked ourselves back up and said, ‘Hey listen, (Brandon) is out.
We’ve got to figure this out. We still have goals and aspirations that we know we can reach with this team,’” Fredette recalled.
It was a rallying cry for every player to step up and contribute more.
And step up they did. Just three days later, BYU bounced back with a commanding 102-78 win over Wyoming. Fredette, as expected, led the charge with 38 points, but it was Charles Abouo who surprised everyone, scoring a career-high 25 points, including 21 in the second half.
In the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas, BYU started strong with a 64-58 victory against TCU. Fredette put up 24 points, while Abouo added 14 and Noah Hartsock chipped in 10. The Cougars then avenged their loss to New Mexico with an 87-76 win, thanks to Fredette’s record-setting 52 points and key contributions from Jackson Emery and Kyle Collinsworth.
Although Kawhi Leonard and No. 7 San Diego State proved too much in the title game, the Cougars showed resilience in the NCAA Tournament.
Fredette consistently delivered high-scoring performances, supported by teammates who stepped up when it mattered most. In their 74-66 first-round victory against Wofford, Fredette scored 32 points, with Abouo, Hartsock, and Logan Mangusson each adding 10.
Against Gonzaga, Fredette’s 34 points led the way in an 89-67 blowout, with Emery, Hartsock, and Stephen Rogers contributing significantly.
The season concluded in the Sweet 16 with an 83-74 overtime loss to Florida. Fredette finished with 30 points, while Collinsworth, stepping in for Davies, grabbed 15 rebounds.
BYU’s 34-5 record remains a standout in program history, remembered as a season of what might have been. Despite Davies’ absence, the Cougars pushed themselves to their limits.
Fast forward to today, and the current No. 23 Cougars find themselves at a similar crossroads, dealing with the loss of Richie Saunders to a season-ending knee injury.
Yet, they have a blueprint to follow. Fredette believes in their potential: “I believe this team has the same capability to do that, but guys are going to have to step up.
You are going to have to define specific roles for guys and say, ‘When you come in, this is what you do. We need you to shoot the basketball.’”
Saunders’ impact wasn’t just about scoring. “We need someone hustling on that offensive glass, getting us extra possessions, tipped balls,” Fredette explained.
“AJ (Dybantsa) and Rob (Wright) are the guys who are going to have to lead this squad now. That two-headed monster is going to have to score a lot of points and make plays.”
The Cougars face a tough test with upcoming games against No. 4 Arizona and No.
6 Iowa State. With the NCAA Tournament on the horizon, they have time to adapt and continue their journey.
Watching Saunders’ season cut short brought back memories for Fredette of his own injury during the 2024 Paris Olympics. “My heart goes out to Richie,” Fredette said.
“For someone who has dealt with an injury during a really prominent time, it’s not easy. I hope that he knows we are thinking of him.
It’s far from over for him, but it’s a very tough thing to see.”
Recently, Fredette experienced a personal milestone as BYU retired his No. 32 jersey. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “The best moment was when the jersey was unveiled.
That makes it so real, and it was just hanging up there and that thing is never coming down. That moment was great when I was just sitting there hugging my kids, watching them, and counting it down.
That is something that is going to be engrained into my mind and heart forever.”