College Basketball Predictions 2011: How Will BYU Fare in the Post-Jimmer Era?

As BYU walked out of the arena in New Orleans in late March of 2011, coach Dave Rose had to be thinking the same thing as the majority of the Brigham Young fanbase: "What now?" 

Jimmer Fredette, who would go on to become the consensus player of the year and NBA lottery pick, had carried a typical BYU team to the Sweet 16 on his anatomically disproportionate shoulders. 

Jackson Emery, the Mountain West Conference's defensive player of the year and career steals leader, also graduated, leaving a void almost as big as Jimmer's.

And 6'11" center James Anderson announced that he was quitting the team, widening the hole in an already porous forward position due to the uncertain status of fellow big men Brandon Davies, who had violated BYU's honor code, and Chris Collinsworth who was recovering from surgery. 

The "little" Collinsworth brother, Kyle (6'6" 210 lbs), left soon after the season for an LDS mission to Russia and, on top of all that, Dave Rice, Rose's trusty assistant, accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater UNLV. 

I would have quit. 

Dave Rose, however, went straight to work, creating the tallest BYU team we've seen in years.

Recently returned missionaries Nate Austin and Ian Harward both stand at 6'11" and look like more athletic versions of James Anderson. Fellow freshman Michael Boswell (6'9", 215 lbs) will add depth to that lineup in years to come.  Chris Collinsworth (6'9", 235 lbs) looked a smidgen ragged in BYU's first exhibition game but should pick up steam as he gets his legs back underneath him. 

Brandon Davies bounced back from his suspension nicely, looks to be a more aggressive version of his 2010 self and plays side by side with Noah Hartsock and Stephen Rogers, who both check in at 6'8".  Josh Sharp, a transfer from the University of Utah, is a wiry 6'7" and should see the court often.  Charles Abouo stands taller than his 6'5" frame and might have the strongest hands in the WCC. 

The guard positions vacated by Jimmer and Jackson appear to be somewhat more suspect as UCLA transfer Matt Carlino won't be eligible, per NCAA rules, until December and the only other guard who has put a foot on the floor is Nick Martineau.  Anson Winder showed flashes during the exhibition game and Craig Cusick showed that he can hustle, but the lack of a true leader was immediately recognizable. 

Until such a leader should emerge, former walk-on Brock Zylstra will handle point guard duty.  The 6'5" Zylstra looked unwieldy in his new role as BYU turned the ball over 20 times against Midwestern State.  Highly regarded freshman Demarcus Harrison should emerge as a huge contributor as he demonstrated a fearless quality that should serve him well in years to come. 

Dave Rose has shown that he can coach with the best and with a healthy mix of new exuberance and battle-tested wisdom, his team should stack up as a formidable foe for everyone they play.  Watch for BYU to fly under the radar as they demonstrate that while they lost their best player, they should be just fine as a team.