BYU basketball: Cougars show it's not just 'Jimmer Show'

FORT WORTH, Texas — First it was Charles Abouo's 22 points against Utah a week ago. Then it was Stephen Rogers' 15 points at TCU on Saturday.

It's not just the "Jimmer Show" and Dave Rose's bench is delivering. Abouo came off the bench to start against the Utes, while Rogers just role played as a reserve came and scored 15 points in 15 minutes at TCU.

BYU's senior guard tandem of Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery combined for 34 of No. 7 BYU's 79 points in Saturday's 23-point win over the Horned Frogs, but Noah Hartsock and Rogers added 26. The Cougars had double-figure scoring from five players in the win.

BYU will need this in coming days. Increasingly so, BYU is a team of players that are being left alone by defenses as they clamor to stop Fredette. The others have to make shots.

If the Cougars are to hold off a very hot Colorado State team on Wednesday night in Provo and attempt to knock off No. 6 San Diego State again — this time in San Diego, they'll need all the firepower they can get. Abouo and Rogers may just be the required support needed.

"It was a great game for Stephen," said Rose. "The last two road games he's really come in and given us a lift. He's shot the ball real well tonight. They were not only doubling Jimmer but Brandon (Davies) in the post and they left guys open and we were able to find them and convert.

"That's a back breaker when you have guys concentrate on their game plan and then have a guy come in and hit two or three 3s."

The Cougars made 11 of 25 from distance against the Frogs and Rogers equaled Fredette's three treys, going 3 for 5.

"That's what he does — he's a guy who can hit those shots," said Fredette.

TCU cut a BYU lead to just three points in the first half, but BYU answered by exploding to a double-digit lead.

"We have a real competitive group," said Rose. "They get pushed and they're ready to respond. I thought there was a time in the first half where we kind of got flat. They were doing a great job running clock. We were playing very aggressive at the first part of the clock and then the second part of the clock when they were able to score. We weren't as aggressive."

TCU's shooting for the game turned inconsistent with 36.9 percent accuracy and the Frogs couldn't match BYU from beyond the arc — 44 to 26 percent. The Cougars made 11 of 25 from distance compared to 5 of 19 for the Frogs — a difference of 18 points.

The Cougars made as many field goals from distance as they did from inside the arc. Most of that came because Rogers and others were left alone.

Fredette, who scored 23, said the Cougars knew they'd get TCU's best effort, just like they've faced from other teams.

"We are the hunted," he said.

The Cougars host CSU on Wednesday in the Marriott Center. The Rams lost to UNLV 68-61 on Saturday in Fort Collins, Colo.

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