BYU Basketball: Can Carlino Become a Better Player Than the Jimmer?

The headline itself may seem blasphemous to some BYU fans. Jimmer Fredette was so impressive in his senior season that he not only won every single important player of the year award, he was also asked to take all of his classes online because he was too distracting to students and teachers.

That is to say nothing of the only-at-BYU controversy that started when some of the student body started substituting Jimmer's name for deity in scriptural texts.

The 2010-2011 BYU basketball season was the most exciting and meaningful year in Provo since Danny Ainge, with an overtime separating the team from an Elite 8 appearance. Jimmer, no doubt, was the major force behind this run.

Still, I believe that Matt Carlino can become an even more impressive player than the Jimmer (honored be his name).

Through his first nine games, Carlino is averaging nearly 15 points a game, with much of this scoring coming from behind the three point line. He has shot lights out from downtown, shooting just under 47%.

As we all know, the Jimmer could score, too. However, Carlino's three point shooting percentage is higher than Jimmer shot in an entire season.

Some of this can be explained by the constant double and even triple teams Jimmer faced anytime he had the ball. Jimmer could score from anywhere on the court and could create his own shot with his ball-handling.

Carlino has yet to consistently show he can create his own shot. His ball-handling is the biggest thing he needs to improve (as evidenced by his struggles against a pressing St. Mary's team).

While Carlino has been a good scorer, and may be a 20+ per night guy by next year, his overall game is the reason I think he may pass the Jimmer.

While I loved the Jimmer, he was basically only a scorer and—dare I say it?—sometimes a borderline ball hog. I got the impression that Jimmer sometimes took difficult shots instead of passing because he felt like (and was often right) that he had a better chance of making it than a more open teammate. It felt like the coaching staff, as well as himself, put the weight of scoring on his shoulders.

Still, his passing was underwhelming and his defense was non-existent. Growing up an avid Jazz fan, I still prefer a point guard that can score but doesn't have to score to be effective.

Carlino, already, is a much more effective passer than Jimmer was at BYU. He has had 6 or more assists in five of his first nine games. His unselfishness has this BYU team currently overachieving from where I thought they would be.

Also, on defense, Carlino has held his own and is averaging almost two steals a game. BYU now plays five-on-five defense, which was not true in 2010-2011.

Jimmer became a legend because of his incredible work ethic. He got better each year and by the end of his senior year was an impressive physical specimen that looked like he could play running back for the football team.

Through nine games, Carlino has proved he has the skills to be compared to Jimmer. Does he have the work ethic and personality to become an even greater legend and take this team even farther than the Jimmer?

Only time will tell.