Dick Harmon: Brandon Davies' high school coach torn by events at BYU

PROVO — Craig Drury understands team chemistry, emotion and BYU sophomore Brandon Davies.

As one of Utah’s most successful high school coaches ever, Drury coached Davies in his early days.

He knows BYU is figuring out an emotional Rubik's Cube in wake of losing Davies, the team's leading rebounder, something needing a resolution before today's regular season ending game against Wyoming in the Marriott Center.

The university disallowed Davies on Tuesday from playing basketball the rest of the season for breaking the school’s honor code, reportedly for having sexual relations outside marriage.

Drury, the Provo High School coach, who works across the street from BYU, has provided nearly a fourth of No. 3 BYU's roster with Davies and Chris and Kyle Collinsworth.

"Losing Brandon the way they did was more devastating to the team than just losing a player for a game or two," said Drury.

It showed in Wednesday's loss to New Mexico. It was too soon to manage everything in 24 hours, the least of which were Xs and Os. The digestion of everything, a re-settling of the needle that only time can provide, had not happened.

"If they would have lost a player, whether Brandon or somebody else, to a sprained ankle or appendicitis, I don't think it would have been nearly as devastating," said Drury. "Brandon was one of the guys. Listening to players talk after the game, they expressed it. They love and support him and they are emotional about it. Basketball is a game of emotion and whether those guys want to admit it or not, it had to take some of the emotional heart out of them.”

When the Lobos shot out to a lead, you could see BYU's players press. The result was the worst shooting percentage by the Cougars in the Marriott Center this season.

"I couldn't be more proud of them, even in the loss, because they kept getting up after getting knocked down," said Drury. "I watched the New Mexico game to the end because I admired how they kept at it when under emotional stress as players and coaches.

"Brandon has been kind of everyone's little brother on that team. Everyone watches out for him. Everyone wants to take care of him. During warmups, who's been the one in the middle of the circle, gyrating and dancing? It's been Brandon.”