BYU basketball: Cougar youngsters have grown up during season

PROVO - There were times this season when the BYU Cougars could point to youth and inexperience when things didn't go right.

Not any more. After 30 games, that's not an excuse or crutch that the Cougars plan to use as they advance to this week's Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas, and likely on to the NCAA Tournament the following week.

"There are no longer freshmen," BYU co-captain Lee Cummard said following the Cougars' win Saturday night over Air Force. "Guys have had enough experience at this level that we've got to play hard and play to win or we go home."

But when the season started, that wasn't necessarily the tune. Cummard was the only returning senior starter from last year's team. Junior Jonathan Tavernari was BYU's only other returning starter. Sophomore guard Jimmer Fredette and junior center Chris Miles were mainly reserves last year. Senior Archie Rose saw limited minutes last year, and BYU's third senior Gavin MacGregor missed last season with a foot injury. Sophomore Jackson Emery and freshman Noah Hartsock were on missions. James Anderson, Matt Pinegar and Lamont Morgan redshirted last season. Charles Abouo came in as a true freshman.

That's really not much experience for a team that was picked in the preseason to finish second in the MWC.

Early, when the Cougars sat in the middle of the MWC standings with a 3-3 mark, it was pointed out often how many returning seniors with experience the other teams had and which the Cougars lacked. But with a 9-1 finish in conference play, something evidently neutralized that experience factor.

"The guys figured it out (after) the first couple of road experiences," BYU coach Dave Rose said.

The contributions this season from Cummard and Tavernari were pretty much expected. But when looking at the progress of Miles, Emery and Fredette, it's safe to say that each has steadily improved with each passing game.

Rose said even that improvement can be credited directly to the senior leadership BYU does have.

"If you watched our team over the 30 games and saw how much we relied on Lee early in the season, especially to win close games and win tough games, not only offensively but in defensive game planning, then you could see how teams were really focusing on Lee and other guys had to step up," Rose said. "JT's been consistent throughout the whole year but I think Jimmer has really stepped forward, and I think one of the real positive pieces to this team has been Chris Miles, and his ability to improve and get better."