POY: Probably Owning You

For those of you who have been lost at sea or working in outerspace during the last couple of weeks, you may not know about the season NCAA men's basketball player Jimmer Fredette (BYU) is having. Spoiler Alert: He's a leading candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, which is given to the NCAA's outstanding player of the year (or POY).

A lot can be and has been said about Mr. Fredette. Like how Jimmer isn't his real name (duh!), how he's leading the NCAA in scoring (27.4 ppg), how he's able to shoot from anywhere on the court (no really, LITERALLY anywhere), or how his dad is Mormon and his mom is Catholic. Or, my personal favorite, his brother TJ is an aspiring rap artist who frequently writes lyrics about Jimmer.

(here's one such track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsMauWl02vI)

All this is fine and good, but there are some other things being said about the point guard from Glens Falls, NY, that are really starting to make me wonder about the intelligence level of some so called "experts".

Specifically, how he's in a "3 man race" for POY. The other two candidates? Kemba Walker, G, UCONN, and Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio St.

Now, Kemba Walker is a bona fide NBA prospect, as probably is Sullinger because of his size and strength. But to say either of them is having a better year than Fredette is absurd!

In fact, many ESPN, FoxSports, and SportsIllustrated reporters believe Sullinger holds the slight edge over Fredette as the favorite to win the award. I could try and explain to you in words why I believe this to be absurd, but I can do better than that.

I'll let the numbers do my talking for me.

I sat down and compared Jimmer Fredette's offensive statistics to those of both Walker and Sullinger. The leader in each category is listed first, with the margin of difference between the two players given in +/- form.

The results:

Fredette vs. Walker

Games Played: Fredette +2
Fredette: 21
Walker: 19

Minutes Per Game: Walker +1.9
Fredette: 34.1
Walker: 36.0

Points Per Game: Fredette +3
Fredette: 27.4
Walker: 24.4

Field Goal%: Fredette +.038
Fredette: .482
Walker: .444

3 point%: Fredette +.072
Fredette: .421
Walker: .349

Free Throw%: Fredette +.070
Fredette: .901
Walker: .831

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Fredette vs. Sullinger

Games Played: n/a
Fredette: 21
Sullinger: 21

Minutes Per Game: Fredette +3.8
Fredette: 34.1
Sullinger: 30.3

Points Per Game: Fredette +9.6
Fredette: 27.4
Sullinger: 17.8

Field Goal%: Sullinger +.094
Fredette: .482
Sullinger: .576*

3 point %: Fredette +.199
Fredette: .421
Sullinger: .222*

Free Throw%: Fredette +.171
Fredette: .901
Walker: .730

*Sullinger plays Forward, so he shoots closer to basket (better FG%, poor 3P%)

Moral of the story: If it truly is a 3-way race between these players, Jimmer Fredette is clearly the obvious choice to win the Wooden Award, judging by the numbers.

You know what they say: Numbers never lie.

NBA Tonight: 20 Words or Less

Here is tonight's NBA schedule; each game has a quick "what to watch for" note in 20 words or less. Enjoy!
*all times Mountain Standard Time*

New Jersey at Indiana 5:00 PM: New Jersey looking for 3^rd win in a row/ Indiana trying to avoid 7^th straight loss

Memphis at Philadelphia 5:00 PM: Philly looking for 4^th win in a row

Milwaukee at Toronto 5:00 PM: Toronto trying to avoid 10^th straight loss

New York at Atlanta 5:30 PM : New York 12-12 on the road

Denver at Cleveland 530 PM : Cleveland has lost 18 in a row; Denver has 7-13 road record

Detroit at Miami 5:30 PM: Miami is a less than stellar 5-5 in last 10 games

Orlando at Chicago 6:00 PM: Chicago looking for 4^th win in a row

Washington at Oklahoma City 6:00 PM: Wizards have not won a road game yet this year

Minnesota at Utah 7:00 PM: Utah will look to avoid losing 7^th straight game/ Deron Williams sitting out with injured shooting wrist.

Charlotte at Golden State 8:30 PM: Charlotte trying for 3^rd straight road win and 5^th win in last 6 games

Sacramento at LA Lakers 8:30 PM: Lakers averaging 7.5 more points than opponent this season; 3^rd behind Boston (7.8) and Miami (7.6)

Boston at Phoenix 8:30 PM: Rondo (12.7pg) and Nash (11 pg) lead NBA in assists

BYU 71 SDSU 58: Jimmered

I went to the BYU vs SDSU game tonight for the radio station. It was the biggest game in the nation, pitting #4 SDSU against #9 BYU. Jimmer Fredette was phenomenal offensively, as has become custom. ESPN carried his post game comments live, which I found out later meant that my questions were on the air waves of the Worldwide Leader in Sports. Pretty cool moment for me personally.

Anyway, since I don't have the opportunity to blog the game live, I just take notes throughout and then post them here. Pretty interesting to go back over them afterward and "relive" the game that way. (The thoughts I shared on Twitter are underlined, in case you are wondering what that means)

Here you go:

No question who the crowd came to see…and it’s not Cosmo

SDSU wins tip from Davies

Shot clock violation on opening possession for SDSU

Jimmer coast to coast layup goes begging hard off glass

Davies fouls SDSU on 3 attempt, makes 2 of 3 foul shots

Lots of break ups for BYU D

Jimmer first bucket of game with layup off Davies block SDSU dunk attempt

After looking very rattled the first few possessions, SDSU calms down and seems to be thriving off environment

First timeout: BYU trails 8-6. Davies strong showing to start the game. SDSU adjusting well to raucous environment of MCenter. Jimmer 2 pts.

Jimmer hits pull up 3 from 2 ft behind arc: Crowd causes seismic reaction in earth’s platonic system

Davies hits pull up 20 , BYU up 13to 12, first lead of night

-Cougars’ shot selection seems to be selfish: all want to light up the crowd

SDSU answers with 3 ptr, quiets crowd after two BYU misses

Timeout SD: 10:14 left in 1st, tied @15.Jimmer hits pull up 3 from 2 ft behind arc:Crowd causes seismic reaction in earth’s platonic system

Jimmer another layup, tied at 17

Jimmer Fredette creates and scores a baseline jumper: Smooth

TIMEOUT 7:21 left in 1^st tied at 19: Fredette splits defenders from right elbow and drives to hoop, met at rim by SDSU center, goes back with right hand and flips it up: rims out twice; very acrobatic/athletic creation

Both teams go ice cold: No one scores until 5:14 mark – free throws from #15 Leonard of SDSU (21-19 Aztecs)

Jimmer gets 12^th point on 3 from right elbow: being covered very tightly by SDSU

TIMEOUT: 3:34 left in 1^st 24-22 SDSU / up tempo pace working in SDSU’s favor, mostly because BYU is missing shots

Jimmer Fredette killer crossover sends SD defender into 3^rd row; Jimmer hits step back 3 from right elbow

2 minutes left in 1^st half, crowd rises and wills SDSU into turnover: Fredette goes C2C and is fouled at the hoop

All I can do is shake my head as Jimmer splits defense to the hoop and lays up over two giants with right hand: really a talented player

Kawhi Leonard made Three Point Jumper.

31-30 SDSU at half

Fredette with first points of 2^nd half

Emery shows serious “ups” getting block on breaking SDSU ‘s Leonard: but alas, goal tending

Davies’ free throw bounces 100 times on rim and falls….BYU’s omen?

Jimmer hits 3 from right elbow: started way left, willed in by other source….living right on and off???

Fredette being doubled

Biggest lead of night 42-38 BYU off Fredette fake pass in lane, up and in at hoop. Timeout SDSU

Fredette fakes pass in key and makes resulting open flip in. SDSU calls timeout down 42-38. Crowd ready to go to war for this Cougar team.

Jimmer works to hoop, kicks to left corner for Emery: Feeds Hartsock on left block, wrap around pass to open Davies for right handed stuff.

Davies blocks SD shot, Jimmer other way for 10 ft jumper

Jimmer sees shot clock at 7, pulls up for left elbow 3 from about 3 feet behind the arc. Dude is in the NBA with THAT shot alone

Jimmer sees shot clock at 7, dribbles left and hits left elbow 3 from about 3 feet behind the arc with D all over him. Dude is in the NBA.

Not sure what was said at halftime in respective locker rooms, but BYU sure heard it and responded whole heartedly. Aztecs look like they’re running in mud.

7:58 left in game: BYU up 7, 56-49. Jimmer Fredette trying to stretch that lead further. Has played like POY, as every sign in place agrees.

Big 3 from SDSU James Rahon to cut lead to 4, 56-52. Leonard and White (starters) back in for ‘Tecs.

Charles Abouo blocks SDSU dunk attempt, Hartsock down with board, fouled. Abouo races to other end of court and gives warrior yell to crowd.

Worst missed call I’ve seen in a long time as Fredette runs fast break to basket, puts it up off the glass for a layup but SDSU man blocks it after it hits glass (VERY obvious goal tend). No goal tending called. Replay confirms missed infraction.

SDSU with one timeout left: 5:35 to go in the game. BYU up 56-52

Jackson Emery gets loose ball, drives to basket and fouled on layup attempt. Wanted to dunk, not enough room to try. Makes both free throws.

BYU wins 71-58 as SDSU panics down stretch, missing 3 after 3 and free throw after free throw. Crowd rushes court. Jimmer refuses to let fans lift him up on their shoulders. Wise decision.

Kevin Durant calls Fredette greatest scorer of all time via Facebook. Fredette disagrees; says that Durant may be that guy.

___________________________________________________________________

Pretty cool night! Should have become friends with Jimmer when I had the chance as a student there. Oh well, you live and learn.

O'Neill Chambers: The Legend Continues

Tonight I was representing the radio station at the BYU-TCU basketball game in Provo, UT. My full attention should have been on the game: BYU went into the game ranked 9th in the national polls and is currently a projected 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament according to several online "bracketology" musings.

And my attention was on the game, honest! I sat right behind the TCU coaches and could hear most of their conversations; I could feel the adrenaline rising from the court just a few feet in front of me. I had my laptop open, notebook and pen at the ready, and the game notes fully embedded in my brain....everything was fine and how it should have been.

And then it was halftime.

Expecting BYU to blow TCU out of the building, I decided that if I were going to make it through what would undoubtedly be a rough 2nd half of basketball I was going to need some dinner. So I ventured into the tunnels in search of some victuals. However, when I reached the luncheon room, the line was out the door and down the hallway, and I am not the waiting type. So I continued down the hallway and rounded a corner.

Then, I got lucky.

O'Neill Chambers, the wide receiver who had been kicked off BYU's football team mid-season in 2010, was standing next to me.

I should mention that I was fortunate enough to help cover BYU football for the radio station last season, and that I had tried on many occasions to get Chambers to talk to me about the whole situation and what happened, on record. He always either declined or was very closed and vague in his responses. I always suspected he feared retribution from his coaches or the school if he said how he felt, no holds barred, on record.

But now, here he was. A regular student. Someone who is free to talk to who they want, when they want, and about what they want without it being cleared by the sports information office first.

I couldn't resist.

I introduced myself and reminded him of who I was and what I do for a living. Once I was sure he remembered (or at the very least realized my intentions), I began asking him about his current situation. He was very open, warm and friendly, not to mention cordial, always responding with "Yes sir," or "No sir." Even asked me how my holidays went for me and my family. I'm starting to believe I had Mr. Chambers pegged all wrong.....

Here is a rough transcript (from memory) of our conversation after exchanging pleasantries:

Me: "So do you know what your plans are regarding football and where you might transfer to?"
Chambers: "I'm staying here. I've been working out with the team in the mornings. I gotta get better."
Me: "Oh really? Are you back on the team?"
Chambers: "I will be. I'll be back this year."
Me: "So everything's good and ok with that whole situation then?"
Chambers: "Yes sir, it's all fine."
Me: "You're serious? Are you willing to go on record with that?"
Chambers: "Sure, no problem."

At this point I had a billion and one questions running through my mind and I was without my mp3 recorder. We agreed to meet at that same spot following the basketball game's conclusion. I told him I'd be there with my recorder and we'd have a legitimate, professional interview. But after the game I couldn't find Chambers anywhere, so that will have to wait for another time and place.

Chambers was at the game with Ross Apo, another WR on the football team who missed most of last year with a hand injury. Apo could not comment to me about anything regarding the football team without prior consent from the sports information directors at BYU, as he is still on the current roster.

Since I wasn't able to speak with Chambers again after the game, I tracked down Brett Pyne, BYU's Associate Director for Athletic Communications. He wasn't able to confirm or deny anything Chambers reported to me, but did provide a little insight:

1-Chambers is most likely participating in a class offered to students who wish to tryout or walk onto the football team; this is held in the mornings as a weight lifting and strengthening class.

2-Chambers is still enrolled at BYU and is therefore not barred from trying to rejoin the team, at the coaches' allowance.

3-Chambers still has a redshirt year available to him, so that may factor in somewhere along the way.

Pyne then said he would try and get a comment from a coach or two in the next little while, but mentioned it might be hard as most of them are gone on recruiting trips at the present time.

When I got home tonight I did send O'Neill a message over Facebook inquiring whether or not he would agree to sit down for a formal interview. He replied in a matter of minutes that he would indeed be willing to do so.

Whether or not it will happen, that's a different story. When I told another BYU beat writer about all this, he chuckled and exclaimed, "You trusted O'Neill Chambers?!?!?"

I guess I do. It's either that or just continue to assume and speculate my way through life. And we all know what happens when we a$$-u-me things.......

So, that's it. That's the whole story as of right now. More to report in the near future, hopefully.

Oh, by the way, BYU won 83-67...I paid just enough attention to the game to give you that at least!

Welcome to the NBA, Rookie

Except for the sensational Blake Griffin and John Wall, there really isn't any other rookie who is truly jumping off the stat pages this season. Granted they are rookies, and usually don't get a lot of playing time. However, this season there are more rookies playing more meaningful minutes than any recent years in my mind. Maybe this is why most of the Association is having a rough time getting the W's.

All that said, here is my 1st and 2nd All Rookie Teams to this point in the season:

Western Conference:

1st Team:
G Eric Bledsoe, LAC (Kentucky)
-----PPG: 7.3/MPG: 26.4/GS: 22/FG%pg: .427/APG: 4.4 /RPG: 3.2/SPG: 1.0
G Wesley Johnson, MIN (Syracuse)
-----PPG: 9.5 /MPG: 28.4/GS: 30/ FG%pg: .453/ APG: 2.1 / RPG: 3.1
F Blake Griffin, LAC (Oklahoma)
-----PPG: 21.5 /MPG:36.9/GS:33/ FG%pg: .524 / APG: 3.2 / RPG: 12.4
F Gary Forbes, DEN (Massachusetts)
-----PPG: 5.8 /MPG: 13.0 /GS: 4/ FG%pg: .478 / APG:4.4/RPG: 3.2/SPG: 1.0
C DeMarcus Cousins, SAC (Kentucky)
-----PPG: 11.6 /MPG: 25.2 /GS: 15/ FG%pg: .416 / APG: 1.5 / RPG: 7.7

2nd Team:
G James Anderson, SAS (Oklahoma State)
-----PPG: 7.0 /MPG: 17.7 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .418 / APG: 1.5 /3%pg: .500
G Gary Neal, SAS (Towson)
-----PPG: 8.4 /MPG: 18.1 /GS: 0 / FG%pg: .418 / FT%pg: .865 / 3%pg: .400
F Al-Farouq Aminu, LAC (Wake Forest)
-----PPG: 6.9 /MPG: 17.9 /GS: 14/ FG%pg: .440 / 3%pg: .464 / RPG: 3.6
F Gordon Hayward, UTA (Butler)
-----PPG: 3.4 /MPG: 11.8 /GS: 6/ FG%pg: .430 / 3%pg: .370 / RPG: 1.8
C Nikola Pekovic, MIN (Montenegro)
-----PPG: 5.0 /MPG: 13.3 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .460 / FT%pg: .772 / RPG: 3.2

Eastern Conference:

1st Team:
G John Wall, WAS (Kentucky)
-----PPG: 15.8 /MPG: 36.3/GS: 15/ FG%pg: .408/ APG: 8.5 / SPG: 2.0
G Landry Fields, NYK (Stanford)
-----PPG: 10.0 /MPG: 32.0/GS: 32/ FG%pg: .508/ APG: 1.7 / SPG: 1.0
F Derrick Favors, NJN (Georgia Tech)
-----PPG: 6.4 /MPG:18.7/GS:0/ FG%pg: .564 / BPG: 0.5 / RPG: 5.1
F Ed Davis, TOR (North Carolina)
-----PPG: 5.7 /MPG: 24.0 /GS: 2/ FG%pg: .493 / APG:4.4/RPG: 5.9/BPG: 1.0
C Greg Monore, DET (Georgetown)
-----PPG: 4.9 /MPG: 19.3 /GS: 3/ FG%pg: .440 / APG: 0.8 / RPG: 5.0

2nd Team:
G James Anderson, SAS (Oklahoma State)
-----PPG: 7.0 /MPG: 17.7 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .418 / APG: 1.5 /3%pg: .500
G Gary Neal, SAS (Towson)
-----PPG: 8.4 /MPG: 18.1 /GS: 0 / FG%pg: .418 / FT%pg: .865 / 3%pg: .400
F Paul George, IND (Fresno State)
-----PPG: 5.2 /MPG: 15.3 /GS: 0/ FG%pg: .388/FTpg: .875 / RPG: 2.7/SPG:1.0
F Trevor Booker, WAS (Clemson)
-----PPG: 3.9 /MPG: 12.7 /GS: 2/ FG%pg: .512 / FTpg: .733 / RPG: 2.4
C Larry Sanders, MIL (VCU)
-----PPG: 3.9 /MPG: 14.3 /GS: 8/ FG%pg: .382 / BPG: 1.3 / RPG: 3.0

That was a LOT of work for something NOT that exciting, but at least now it's all here in one place for future reference. Moral of the story is: Rookies are usually terrible, keep your expectations low.

That's the bottom line.