The best player you AREN'T talking about.

          Whos the most underrated player in the country???? You maybe surprised to hear that its from the #10 team in the country, you also maybe surprised to hear that the number 10 team in the country is that of BYU. This guy is from upstate NY, yes not the city, but upstate NY. Glens falls to be exact. His name is Jimmer Fredette. He is a 6'2 junior guard. Jimmer is averaging 20.2 pts per game and 5 dimes to add to that while shooting .482 % . Alright so you maybe saying big deal this guy "Jimmer" is averaging 20+ pts per game in a mid major (mountain west), big whoop. Well its not exactly that. In a game at Arizona earlier in the season Jimmer post 49 pts, 7 boards and 9 assists in a win for his cougars. Hes also posted 33 @ Nevada... also a Cougar win. 11 of his 19 games he has posted 20 or more points, but the most important stat is that his team is 20-1 (5-0).

            BYU is also 2-0 against RPI top 50 and 8-1 vs the RPI top 100. He is by far the most important player on the #10 team in the land. BYU does play a respectable yet not out of body remaining schedule (11 regular season games + up to 3 conference tourney games) so it is concievable that they can put up atleast 30-33 wins before entering the BIG tourney. Last season they entered the MWC tourney as the number 1 seed, won their first game but lost the SD state in the semi finals, yet still entered the big tournament (Fredette posted 18 pts and 4 steals in a loss to Texas A&M) IF THEY DO run the table which means they will win their remaining 11 games and their conference tournament that would slate them with a 34-1 record. With a 34-1 record as a mid major does BYU tender a number 1 seed for the big national championship tournament? With a 34-1 record if Jimmer's numbers improve to roughly 24+ points per game, does he deserve player of the year and first team all american consideration? Potentially, but he is going to have to have a big finish to his regular season and a MONSTER conference tournament. Conference tournament games for the MWC are on National TV on Versus, and it is important to showcase on TV when ever you can. Personally back to the first question....that is a tough one lol. I feel that it is a very tough question, a question that if it does occur will most definately cause controversey, either way if they do or don't. Consider a big "BCS conference" school with 29-30 wins but a few more losses, do they deserve it over the Cougars? You can't argue wins and losses, but you CAN argue SOS (strength of schedule) with the cougars roughly slateing a SOS of 30. Compare that to a big conference team with less wins but a top 10 SOS, then you have controversey. Personally I feel they would make a nice high 3 seed or a low 2 seed depending on the regional this is because simply I cannot give a mid major a number 1 seed just like you cant give a mid major the BCS championship game in football. As of now ESPN's Joe Lunardi has them projected as a number 3 seed in the Salt Lake City Regional, which as you may know is VERY close to their home city of Provo. This location can help BYU tremendously as they will have their home fans and could spring board them to a final four bid.

BYUs next game is January 27th @ New Mexico. (10PM)