Cougs needs Cummard to make big plays

PHILADELPHIA — It's Showtime for Lee Cummard. This is it.

Big-time players make big plays in big games.

Cummard is allegedly a big-time player.

It doesn't get much bigger for the Cougars and Cummard today in the Wachovia Center as pressure mounts for BYU to avoid being one-and-done. Again.

And while we're at it, Jonathan Tavernari's gotta bring the teeter-totter down.

Tavernari can't be the Lone Ranger, but he must find the range. For whatever inconsistency he's got in his hair-trigger shot, the Brazilian star better find a way if the Cougars hope to get their first NCAA Tournament victory in 15 years when BYU tips off against Texas A&M in this sub-regional matchup.

These two members of BYU's triumvirate can't leave all the clutch scoring to Jimmer Fredette. As good as the super soph is, he shouldn't have to prop up this team on this stage today.

If Cummard and Tavernari combine for 44 points today, BYU beats A&M, the Big 12's fourth-place team. Any combo will do. But Cummard can't be passing up shots like he did in the second half against San Diego State last weekend in Las Vegas, and Tavernari can't trigger a pistol filled mostly with blanks.

"Lee is really comfortable at shooting shots where he feels really confident," BYU coach Dave Rose told reporters Wednesday. "He shoots a high percentage. He doesn't have to shoot the ball to feel like he has a real effect on winning. So there are times when we need to encourage him to shoot more. But, for the most part, we leave it up to Lee because he's got a great feel. He's a great competitor. He really makes his teammates better."

Yes, he does.

But today, it would help if he scored 20 or more and went to the line about 10 times.

About a month ago, after Cummard buried TCU in Fort Worth with 24 points, Frogs coach Jim Christian called the BYU senior "the best offensive player in the conference, bar none."

Well, let's see it today.

The season began with Cummard scoring 36 against Long Beach State. The team has changed since then, says Rose. But that doesn't make Cummard any less capable — even if opponent scouting reports focus on beating him up — at all costs.