College Basketball: Why Jimmer Fredette and BYU Can Reach the Final Four

In a much closer game than many people expected (or than the score would indicate), BYU was able to squeak out a 72-59 win over its in-state rival Utah on Saturday.

The Cougars came out and played well, but the Utes were able to match them throughout most of the game.

Charles Abouo started for BYU, and he played like he should have been there all day long. Abouo carried the Cougars early, scoring 12 of the first 16 points. He finished the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds, giving him his first collegiate double-double.

Jimmer Fredette struggled much of the game. At halftime, he had just eight points—significantly less than the 32 points he had in the first half the last time the Cougars met up with the Utes.

He shot just 7-for-19 and finished with 23 points and five assists.

However, Fredette was nowhere near disappointing.

With the game tied at 48, he took over. BYU went on a 12-0 run—well, Fredette went on a 12-0 run—scoring 12 points in a row to give the Cougars a 60-48 lead.

From that point on, BYU didn't look back, finishing the game strongly and eventually pulling it out.

The astounding thing for me was to watch the way Fredette took over even though he struggled all game. Performances like that impress me even more than the 40-point games.

When a player's shot is on, points can get put on the board in a hurry. Good players are always capable of catching fire and scoring 30.

But when a player is having a bad shooting day and can still manage to take over the game down the stretch, that's what makes him great.

All of the best NBA stars can take over games when their teams need them most: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steve Nash and Deron Williams do it now, and perhaps the best ever was Michael Jordan. When crunch time comes, they are at the peak of their respective games, and it doesn't matter if they are 10-for-10 shooting or 0-for-10.

Fredette displayed that ability today.

The real story of the night, however, was the way that BYU's role players stepped up and contributed. Jackson Emery hit big shots and Abouo really played well.

There are many skeptics who say BYU is just a one-man team.

Tonight, the Cougars proved all the skeptics wrong.

BYU doesn't always need Fredette to go crazy; he can struggle and the team can still win. If BYU's role players can consistently play like this and Fredette can snap out of his slump quickly, this team will be scary good.

With role players stepping up and Fredette being that great player a team needs, BYU can make a deep run into March. Many believe that the Cougars will end up with a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance, and if they do, don't be surprised to see BYU in the Final Four.

They are simply that good.