Jimmer Fredette struggles as Florida advances to the elite eight

BYU and Florida needed two overtimes to decide a winner last year in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Cougars and the Gators met again in the sweet sixteen this year and once again needed an extra period to decide the winner.

Although Jimmer Fredette scored 32 points, he really struggled and was harassed by the Florida defense for the entire game. Fredette went 11 for 29 from the field and shot a career high 15 threes but only made 3 of them. The SEC player of the year Chandler Parsons said about his team making it difficult for Fredette to score, "That's just a credit to our guys on defense especially Kenny Boynton. He stayed with him and made it difficult for him out there." Fredette didn't get a lot of help from his teammates, as no other Cougar was in double figures. BYU shot 37 threes and only hit 10 of them. The Florida head coach Billy Donovan said, "I know there's a lot made of Jimmer Fredette, and he's a great player, but we really felt coming into the game the key was to shut down the other four players on the floor... I think the biggest thing was we were able to hold all their guys under double figure points other than Fredette." Jackson Emery began the game very hot, as he hit his first 3 three pointers and had 9 points. However, Emery had to go to the bench after he picked up his 2nd fouls with 11:41 remaining in the first half. Emery didn't score another point for the rest of the game and missed four three pointers in the second half and overtime. 

Alex Tyus was the difference maker down in the post for the Gators, as the Cougars couldn't guard the big 6-8 forward. He only missed one shot the entire game, going 8 for 9 from the field. Tyus had 19 points and 17 rebounds. When BYU came to double team him down low, Tyus kicked the ball out to Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker, and Chandler Parsons for open threes, which finally began to fall in overtime. Florida coach Billy Donovan said, "The thing about Alex is he never really gets fazed with the moment or with what's going on. One of the things I've tried to pull out of him and get him to see is that when he has a lot of activity and he's flying around the court, because of his athleticism, he's got a great ability to impact a game." BYU really missed their 6-9 forward Brandon Davies, who was suspended because he broke the schools honor code by having sex with his girlfriend. The cougars were forced to constantly double team the post because they had nobody who could guard Tyus down low. 

The game was very close throughout with the score tied at halftime and at the end of regulation. With 48 seconds remaining in the second half, Kyle Collinsworth made one of two free throws to tie the game at 68. Although Kenny Boynton missed a three pointer with 25 seconds left in the game, Erving Walker ran down the ball to give Florida the final shot. Walker said about the play, “It was so big because they could have easily gone the other way. Fredette is so good at drawing fouls and taking a last shot. It would have been game over for us. That was a big rebound.” Fredette also realized the importance of that rebound by saying, “We had a chance, we got a stop, but we had a chance to get a rebound and they got the offensive rebound and put it out. And you never know what could have happened if we got that rebound. But they definitely had fresh legs and they were ready to go in that overtime. Chandler Parsons missed a difficult shot at the buzzer and the game went into overtime. The extra period was all Florida as they outscored the Cougars 15 to 6. Fredette struggled in the overtime missing two three pointers and committing two costly turnovers. Kenny Boynton and Chandler Parsons both hit three to secure the victory and a regional finals appearance.

The win sends Florida into the elite eight and one win away from returning to the final four since they won the second of their back to back championships in 2007. They will play Butler in the regional finals on Saturday, as the Bulldogs beat Wisconsin 61 to 54. Donovan has been very appreciate of his teams performance this season by saying, "It’s been so rewarding for me to see them make the journey they’ve made to this point right now. It’s been very rewarding and fulfilling for me, and I hope in some way I’ve been able to give them as much as they’ve given me."