BYU basketball: Fredette 'feeling better,' hopes to be 100% vs. Wyoming

PROVO — Nobody's sharing his water bottle, but he's back.

Or at least Jimmer Fredette is prepared to say the worst part of his illness and battle with mononucleosis is behind him.

This is key for BYU coach Dave Rose, whose team climbed to No. 6 in USA Today's Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings behind No. 1 Texas, Kansas, Syracuse, Duke and Kentucky after Saturday's win over Colorado State.

After leading BYU to a convincing 91-47 win over Colorado State Saturday, Fredette told reporters he believes it is ready to return and he'll be fine as soon as he gets himself back to he type of conditioning that can only come from playing in games.

"I'm definitely feeling better. I'm around 90 percent and last week at Air Force I was about 80 percent," Fredette said, who is eager to fully rejoin a team that is winning by 20 points a game this season.

The junior scored 21 points in 24 minutes to lead the Cougars past the Rams on Saturday. It was BYU's 18th win with one loss.

"It's a gradual thing but I'm definitely getting better. Hopefully by the Wyoming game (Wednesday) I'll be a hundred percent. I have to keep eating and get a good day of rest on Sunday and be ready for Monday. "I think I'm on the right track and I feel really good."

Fredette said right now he doesn't have a real bad phase of his day.

"But when I was going through it, the daily routines I had, it was really tiring.

By the time I got to practice I was already tired.

"Now, I'm able to go through my daily routines. When I'm out there, I do get a little winded but I feel pretty good. The winded has to do with not playing much and not being in game shape. So I need to continue to work hard and get in better shape for the game."

Fredette said his white long-sleeved shirt will likely come off for the next game. He wore the tight-fitting shirt under his game jersey to hide a rash that broke out more than a week ago.

"It also helped me keep warm when I was sitting on the bench."

Asked if he felt it inhibited his shot, he said, "Not too bad, it's pretty tight. I've worn it for two weeks and I'm getting used to it like tonight. It doesn't effect me a lot but it does restrict me a bit."

Fredette praised BYU's bench for helping break open a tight game with the Rams by giving the team a surge, one that led to a blowout win where BYU reserves scored 41 points.

"We try to play the same way whether it's close or we're killing a team," he said.

Fredette said if the Cougars get a team down they have to put them away.

"If you don't they get confidence and can come back and we can get a little shaken. If we get above 10 we want to get it to 20 and if to 21 then 30 and we continually emphasize that. We need to put the pressure on them so they're back on their heels and we're moving forward. We talk about that in the huddles and in practice, everywhere."

e-mail: dharmon@desnews.com