Cummard learned early in his career that if he can just play a lot of minutes that his numbers will take care of themselves. So far this season he's doing a better job of avoiding foul trouble, as playing nearly 32 minutes per game would attest.

Rose says Cummard seldom takes bad shots and is as good as anyone he's coached at staying in the flow of the game.

"He just, in the course of the game, gets himself in position to where he can really help this team. That is his best asset as a player, and that's what will help him most at the next level," the BYU coach said.

Cummard's goals for his final season at BYU are clear and simple: He wants another MWC championship, wants to win the conference tournament, and mostly wants to win in the NCAA tournament as well.

"We left some things on the table last season," he said. "I feel like there's more for this team and more for myself."

And the dream to play in the NBA remains. Barring a major injury, Cummard's stock should be on the rise next time around.

"Everyone who plays basketball, and in my experience everyone I played basketball with, always dreams of getting to the next level and keeps pushing themselves and having something to work for, and that's no different with me," he said.

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E-mail: jimr@desnews.com