Jimmer Scores 14 Against Chicago Bulls (12/29/2011)

In the regular season, Jimmer is coming off the bench for the Sacramento Kings. He is still getting a good amount of playing time, though, and last night he used it to score 14 points against the Bulls -- including 2 three pointers. (Unfortunately, it was not enough to save the Kings, who lost 98-108)

Last summer we did a poll on About Jimmer Fredette that asked whether Jimmer would average 10 or more points per game in his rookie season. The overwhelming response was that he _would_ average 10 or more, and the early indication is that he will, in fact, do that.

Kings Beat the Lakers in Jimmer's First Regular Season Game

Jimmer picked up several assists in addition to his 6 points in tonight's Sacramento Kings victory over the Lakers. Final score was 100-91, as the underdogs stomped all over Koby Bryant and company.

It was a beautiful game and bodes well for Jimmer and the Kings.

Jimmer scores 6 in first half against the Lakers

Critics wondered whether Jimmer could play strong defense and score against the Lakers, but he managed to do both in the first half of tonight's Kings v. Lakers game (12/26/2011).

Jimmer finished the first half with 6 points, coming off the bench. In his first regular season NBA game, he is on track to hit double digits.

Jimmer does not start in his first NBA game (Kings v Lakers)

My first disappointment with the Kings-Lakers game tonight is that they decided not to start Jimmer Fredette. It looks like Jimmer's start in the first pre-season game was just a trial run. For now, at least, he will be coming off the bench.

What Channel is Jimmer Versus the Lakers on? (December 26)

We are minutes away from Jimmer Fredette's first regular-season NBA game, in which Jimmer and the Kings will take on the L.A. Lakers.

To watch the game, you will need the NBA TV channel (or tickets). Let's hope Jimmer does as well tonight as he did in his first pre-season game (21 points). The Kings are definitely underdogs going into this one. Enjoy!

Jimmer Scores 21 Points in First NBA Pre-Season Game

Jimmer started slow but gave us a good, solid performance in his first-ever NBA pre-season game versus the Golden State Warriors. The Kings lost (107-96), but Jimmer proved he is NBA material.

Fredette scored 21 points, contributing 4 rebounds and 4 assists. He was 7 for 11 from the field, including 4 for 6 from the 3-point line. Most importantly for this fan, Jimmer played most of the game. He was on the floor for 34 minutes 44 seconds.

This is all very encouraging for Jimmer fans. We are going to see a lot more Jimmermania -- soon!

Jimmer on track for 20+ points in first game

At the end of the 3rd quarter in the first Kings v. Warriors pre-season game of 2011, Jimmer has 19 points (along with 2 rebounds and 4 assists).

Fredette is easily on track for a 20+ point game in his first pre-season game as a rookie. Not bad at all. I wouldn't say he has been particularly hot this game - in fact, he got off to a pretty slow start. But, just like when he was in college, Jimmer quietly racks up points, and by the end of the game you look at the scoreboard and he has over 20.

Midway through 2nd quarter of Kings v. Warriors, Jimmer playing a lot of minutes

With 5:02 left in the first half of the Kings v. Warriors pre-season game (December 17, 2011), Jimmer has 7 points. AND he has played 13:40, which is hopefully a sign that he will get a lot of playing time in his rookie season.

What Channel is the Sacrament Kings v. Warriors game on?

If you have a subscription to NBA TV, you can watch the game on-line. Unfortunately, there do not appear to be many other options to watch the game if you are outside of Sacramento.

But you can listen to the game here: www.knbr.com (1050 am)

And you can watch live stats at www.NBA.com (even without a subscription)

Jimmer scores his first NBA 3-pointer

With about 5:40 left in the first quarter of the Kings v. Warriors game, Jimmer knocked down his first three-pointer! (and first points)

Jimmer's Kings halfway through 1st quarter against Warriors

The Kings are trailing the warriors 11-13 with 5:56 left in the 1st quarter of this pre-season game. It's Jimmer's first NBA game. He is scoreless so far, but has played all 5:56 and has 1 assist.

Sacramento Kings v. Golden State Warriors -- Jimmer's first pre-season game

We're less than 40 minutes away from Jimmer Fredette's first pre-season game with the Sacramento Kings. He will be starting at point guard, according to Coach Westphal, and we can expect him to have decent playing time. Let's hope he's on tonight!

Jimmer Scores 27 in Exhibition Game at Marriott Center

Last night's "Jimmer's All-Stars" game at the Marriott Center on BYU campus featured the biggest stars among this coming season's NBA rookies. All the big names were there -- Kemba Walker, Kawhi Leonard, Tobias Harris, etc, etc. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Jackson Emery (BYU teammate of Jimmer Fredette) on the floor.

But no star was bigger than Jimmer. As is so often the case with Jimmer Fredette, I thought he was having a mediocre game until I noted he had scored 27 points. Jimmer's team lost 140-126, but it didn't matter. This game was pure exhibition, with plenty of dunks, alley-oops, and crazy plays. And it was a welcome relief from the ongoing NBA lockout.

Jimmer's All-Stars: Buy Your Tickets to Jimmer Fredette's Exhibition Games (in SLC and BYU)

Jimmer Fredette will play two exhibition games (along with other top NBA rookies): the first on Sept. 21 at Salt Lake City's Maverick Center and the second on Sept. 22 at BYU's Marriott Center (see ESPN blog). The games are being billed as "Jimmer's All-Stars."

You can buy tickets for the SLC event, starting at $23 at: Maverick Center. Or buy tickets for the BYU event, starting at $20 at: http://byutickets.com/. Proceeds go to charity.

BYU Coach Dave Rose will coach one team, while San Diego State's Steve Fisher coaches the other. I have to assume Fisher was chosen to remind fans of the epic BYU-SDSU games of last season.

These games are fans' next chance to see Jimmer do what he does best, so I am predicting a sell-out crowd at both venues.

The People Have Spoken: Jimmer Fredette Will Score 10+ Points Per Game in Rookie Season

According to our recent poll here at About Jimmer Fredette, 100% of readers believe that Jimmer will score at least 10 points per game in his rookie season. Here's hoping that we're right about that.

Being as objective about Jimmer as I can, I actually think the poll result is correct. The Kings will give him serious playing time because of his fan appeal, and we know what Jimmer does when he's in the game -- he scores.

Jimmer wins an Espy

ESPN awarded Jimmer Fredette the Espy award last night, for being the top college athlete of the year -- in any sport.

Jimmer accepted his award from Justin Timberlake and NFL player Aaron Rodgers. He thanked his family and friwends, including girlfriend Whitney Wonnacott, his date for the evening.

This is probably the last college award Jimmer will receive, but NBA honors can't be far away.

Will Jimmer Fredette average 10 points or more his rookie season? [Vote in the Poll]

Our new poll here at AboutJimmerFredette asks whether Jimmer will average 10+ points during his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings. Cast your vote over there on the sidebar ----->

Jimmer Fredette drafted by the Sacramento Kings!

Jimmer was the #10 pick in the 2011 NBA draft minutes ago, and is headed to the Sacramento Kings. Too bad for the Jazz, but I think Jimmer will have a pretty good fan base in Sacramento.

NOTE: Jimmer was actually drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, but because of a three-way trade he will end up with the Sacramento Kings.

What channel is the 2011 NBA draft on?

The 2011 NBA draft will be on ESPN. The "NBA Draft Preview" starts at 7:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 23, 2011. The actual draft begins at 7:30 PM EST. Here at AboutJimmerFredette, we Jimmer fans will be on the edges of our seats waiting to see which team snaps up Jimmer Fredette.

NBA Draft is Tomorrow -- June 23, 2011

Jimmer Fredette will be drafted by an NBA team tomorrow, and I am betting it will be the Utah Jazz with their number 12 pick. 60% of respondents in our poll agree (see results on sidebar -->)

The draft starts at 5 pm MST.

Who is Jimmer Fredette's Agent?

Jimmer has an agent. With the NBA draft still weeks away, JImmer Fredette has reportedly signed on with Jeff Austin and Chris Emens of Octagon. You can read the story at the Sports Agent Blog.

Jimmer obviously had his choice of agents. And Octagon appears to be a big-time agency, representing David Robinson, Stephen Curry, and others (see Octagon official website).

Jimmer Fredette is Too Cool for School

Have you ever wondered how Jimmer Fredette manages to attend classes on BYU campus, given his recent fame? The answer is that he doesn't.

BYU's administration has reportedly instructed Jimmer not to attend classes, and to complete all of his last-semester homework from home, to avoid disrupting the courses in which he enrolled. Apparently, students were constantly asking him for autographs and photos, making it difficult for him to even walk across campus.

Jimmer: I'm Not Engaged!

"Is Jimmer Fredette engaged?" That's a question we've heard a lot, and apparently Jimmer has, too. Although BYU cheerleader Whitney Wonnacott has been widely reported to be Jimmer's girlfriend for the past 18 months or so, the couple have not said a lot publicly about their relationship.

When asked about his romantic relationship while accepting his Wooden Award this weekend, Jimmer reportedly stated: "I'm not engaged. I've heard that many times."

Jimmer Accepts Wooden Award with Gratitude

On Friday, Jimmer was named the Wooden Award winner for best NCAA men's player of the 2010-11 season. He accepted the award with his usual gratitude. Commenting about this season, he said:

"I definitely enjoyed the ride. I had a great time being with my coaches and my teammates. It was the most fun I ever had in my life." [Source: Associated Press]

Wooden Award Announcement Today -- Will it be Jimmer Fredette?

The winner of the Wooden Award for men's basketball will be announced today, and Jimmer Fredette is one of the finalists. Jimmer will presumably be in Los Angeles with the other top-five picks for the Wooden Award. Stay tuned to see if he walks away with the trophy...

Jimmer Morningside - Joins Coach Rose to Talk About Goals

In case you missed the link in the comments section of the Jimmer versus Kemba article, here is a link to a firsthand account of Jimmer Fredette's pre-Naismith-award morningside last week: Jimmer Morningside.

Jimmer joined BYU basketball coach Dave Rose at an LDS meetinghouse to talk about goals to an audience of 300 or so. It is definitely worth reading.

Poll: Will Jimmer be drafted by the Utah Jazz?

Today's new Jimmer Fredette poll asks, Will Jimmer be drafted by the Utah Jazz?

That is, after all, the rumor. And with a huge Jimmer Fredette fan base in Utah, you can see why the Jazz might see dollar signs when they look at Jimmer.

Vote in the poll (which is over there ---> on the sidebar), and make your opinion known.

UConn beats Butler, 53 to 41

UConn dominated Butler tonight in the NCAA Championship game. I wish Jimmer Fredette had been in the game -- but it was a great game nonetheless, and the coverage did feature Jimmer's Naismith award win. The UConn Huskies are the national champions tonight.

Poll Results: Will Jimmer be Rookie of the Year?

We don't know which NBA team Jimmer Fredette is going to next year, but we can't help but wonder whether he will be the league's Rookie of the Year. While some people doubt Jimmer's ability to succeed in the pro's, we here at About Jimmer Fredette apparently think he will do all right.

In a quick poll, we asked: Will Jimmer be Rookie of the Year? 8 readers responded, and the vote broke down like this:

Yes - 62% (5)
Too Close to Call - 12% (1)
No - 25% (2)

Naismith winner Jimmer versus Kemba

Yesterday, Jimmer Fredette received the Naismith player-of-the-year award. So, odds are good that your local newspaper has an article like this one today: Jimmer has the trophies; Kemba has a game to play.

Yes, the easy-to-write editorial of the day is the piece that says: Sure, Jimmer Fredette is winning every player-of-the-year trophy in the NCAA, but Kemba Walker is playing for the championship. Here are a few responses to this trite editorial:

1. Any fan of Jimmer's knows he would give up all the personal awards for a shot at the NCAA championship -- so quit hassling him about not being in the top game. It's not like he chose the Naismith over the championship.

2. Comparing player-of-the-year awards to championship games is nonsensical, because the two are not mutually exclusive. You either win player of the year or you don't, just as you either win an NCAA championship or you don't. Kemba might win a championship, but he failed to win player of the year. The converse is true for Jimmer.

3. Failure to win the NCAA championship does not reduce the value of the player-of-the-year honors. Jimmer Fredette was the best player in the NCAA this year. To be the best player, one does not necessarily have to take one's team all the way to the championship. The best player is the best player, regardless of how his team performs.

Jimmer had an amazing season this year, and fully deserves the honors he is receiving.

...no Jimmer in LDS General Conference

Despite on-line speculation and a humorous spoof or two, Jimmer Fredette was not mentioned in the LDS Church's General Conference this weekend. At the Saturday evening session, one speaker referenced the BYU basketball team, though -- so that is kind of a near-mention of Jimmer.

Jimmer Fredette as a Kid -- Home Movies

ESPN posted a video of Jimmer Fredette as a kid, playing basketball. He's really young in these clips, but they show that he was serious about practicing basketball pretty early on: Jimmer the Kid

I should note also that no one watching this video would guess that Jimmer would grow up to be a basketball star. A lot of factors came together to make him the player that he is today.

Is there an official Jimmer Fredette blog?

Jimmer has been hassled on ESPN for not using Twitter. He doesn't use Blogger either. Between basketball, school, and the media, he just has not time to set up an official Jimmer Fredette blog or otherwise create an on-line persona.

So for now we will all have to enjoy this Jimmer fan blog. Given his fame and internet buzz, though, it is just a matter of time until Jimmer or a staff member of his NBA team start up an official blog.

Is Jimmer Over-Rated because he is White?

A piece on BleacherReport.com today suggests that Jimmer Fredette is overrated because he is white. Because there are relatively few white basketball stars in the NBA, some people believe Jimmer has received an extra dose of hype.

I don't know how to measure over-ratedness or over-hypedness, but I know this: Jimmer would be amazing no matter what color his skin was. As always, the bottom line with Jimmer is: Believe the hype.

Jimmer Fredette in LDS General Conference talks?

This weekend is the semi-annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a televised event that is broadcast to LDS (Mormon) people all over the world. And some are speculating that Jimmer Fredette will get a mention or two in the broadcast.

Will Jimmer be featured in General Conference? And which LDS Church leader will mention him? Stay tuned to find out...

Poll: Will Jimmer Fredette be NBA rookie of the year in 2010-11?

The NBA draft is still a few weeks, and we don't know where Jimmer Fredette will be going yet -- but we know he will be going somewhere. He will be a rookie in the 2010-11 NBA season, and we can't help but wonder whether he will be Rookie of the Year.

Do you think he has a chance?

Cast your vote in the new poll, over there --->

Jimmer Fredette Biography -- Poll Results

Last week I posted a poll asking "Would you buy a Jimmer biography?" The results are in:

15 respondents
11 said yes, they would buy the Jimmer biography
4 said no, they would not

I'm still not sure whether there is enough demand to justify writing a biography, but I'm thinking about it...

Jimmer Fredette is AP Player of the Year

Today Jimmer Fredette received another post-season honor: AP player of the year. The Associated Press apparently likes him as much as everyone else does. Way to go, Jimmer!

Jimmer Fredette nominated for Wooden award

The post-season honors continue for Jimmer Fredette. He has been named as a Wooden Award All-American, along with Kemba Walker and eight others.

On April 8, the top five nominees (including Jimmer) will appear in Los Angeles for the announcement of the Wooden Award winner. My money's on Jimmer.

Jimmer Fredette contract re - NBA goal

On January 27, 2007, Jimmer Fredette signed a contract with his older brother, TJ, promising to "do the work and make the neccessary [sic] sacrifices" to make it to the NBA. You can see a picture of the contract here: Jimmer contract.

Jimmer signed the contract, and TJ signed as witness. Obviously, Jimmer has made good on the contract. They say if you want to accomplish a goal, you should write it down...

The NBA draft is June 23, 2011. We will find out then where Jimmer's goal will take him.

Jimmer Fredette on Jim Rome

On January 31, 2011, Jimmer Fredette appeared on the Jim Rome show. Rome asked him about the Kevin Durant tweet in which Durant called him the "best scorer in the world."

Jimmer told Rome: “I think Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the world, so let’s get that straight.”You can listen to the whole interview here: Jimmer on Rome.

Jimmer declined to comment on BYU letter to the editor

This past season, a letter to the editor in BYU's student newspaper (the Daily Universe), led to an epic Jimmer Facebook thread. The letter accused BYU students of "idol worship" for their devotion to the basketball star.

Near the end of a Jimmer Fredette interview posted on YouTube, you can see Jimmer's reaction to the letter: Jimmer Interview. As you might expect, he handles the whole thing pretty gracefully.

Stephen Rogers father knew Jimmer Fredette's father as a Mormon missionary

Jimmer Fredette's father joined the LDS (Mormon) church at age 18. Shortly after his conversion, he got to know a young missionary named Kimball Rogers, who regularly played basketball with him. Ironically, Kimball Rogers is the father of Stephen Rogers, one of Jimmer's teammates on the BYU basketball team.

Jimmer and Stephen Rogers apparently discovered this connection when Jimmer introduced himself to Stephen's father and explained that he was from Glens Falls, New York. KSL has video of Kimball Rogers and Al Fredette together this past year.

Here's a picture of Jimmer Fredette and Stephen Rogers during their time together at BYU: Jimmer Fredette and Stephen Rogers.

Rick Reilly is hostile to religion -- despite what Brad Rock says

Deseret News sports writer Brad Rock defended Rick Reilly against claims of religious bigotry, in the wake of Reilly's "Jimmer grows dimmer" piece, about which I have already posted (see: Rick Reilly).

I suppose Brad Rock is simply defending a colleague -- i.e., a fellow sports writer. Rock ignores Rick Reilly's history, though. Whenever he gets the chance, Reilly writes hostile things about religious people (not just Mormons).

Here are four examples of Reilly's attitude on religion, to get you started:

1. Reilly condemns religious wrestler. Reilly: "Does any wrong-headed decision suddenly become right when defended with religious conviction?"

2. In his book "Sports from Hell," Reilly recounts a nude bike trip he went on. In one paragraph he describes riding naked past a family on their way out of church, including a 9-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy, and notes that "I make no judgment whether what we did was right or wrong." (page 175)

3. In his book "Missing Links" (page 59), Reilly brags about the Christmas when he went around town stealing figures of the baby Jesus from nativity displays. He estimates that he took 35 or so.

4. His novel "Slo-Mo" is the story of a tall boy raised in a cave by a religious cult in Colorado. The set-up probably says it all, but in case you were wondering, the book is full of insulting references (many of them sexual) relating to Christians and Muslims.

So now the burden of proof shifts to Brad Rock -- give us some evidence to support your theory that Rick Reilly demonstrates religious tolerance.

Rick Reilly, part 2

Yesterday, I posted about Rick Reilly's anti-Jimmer-Fredette article, and cited a great rebuttal at BleacherReport.com. The author of that article, Scott Lambson, has published a strong follow-up article addressing Reilly's misuse of a quote by Jimmer teammate Nick Martineau -- definitely worth reading.

Jimmer Fredette a near-unanimous member of the AP All-American Team

Post-season, honors just keep rolling in for Jimmer. 64 of the 65 members of the panel that vote for the Associated Press's weekly top 25 picked Jimmer Fredette for the AP All-American Team. So who is the nut job who did not vote for Jimmer? We don't know.

The next-highest vote getter was Duke's Nolan Smith, with 61 votes. Voting occurred before the NCAA tournament.

Oscar Robertson Trophy goes to Jimmer Fredette

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced today that Jimmer Fredette has won the 2011 Oscar Robertson Trophy -- yet another Player of the Year award for Jimmer.

It is a bitter sweet honor, given BYU's recent exit from the NCAA tournament. Fredette is the first BYU player ever to receive the award.

Rick Reilly's ignorant article about Jimmer Fredette

Rick Reilly is catching some flak on-line after publishing a piece on ESPN.com called "Jimmer grows dimmer." Reilly criticizes Jimmer's performance in the Florida game and says Fredette will not be a great player in the NBA (bookmark the article, because it will be amusing reading after Jimmer Fredette does make it in the NBA).

Where Reilly really crosses the line, though, is when he criticizes Jimmer for his Mormon faith -- implying that Fredette spent too much time reading the scriptures, and mocking BYU fans for their discomfort on Bourbon Street. This is the same Rick Reilly who wrote an idiotic article criticizing the 16-year-old boy who refused to wrestle a girl for a state championship, on religious grounds. Apparently, Reilly is just anti-religion generally.

Scott Lambson has written a good deconstruction of the Reilly piece at BleacherReport.com: ESPN Writer Rick Reilly's Religious Jabs at Jimmer Fredette Outrageously Unjust. Most people in sports respect religion, but there are exceptions. And I'm sure Jimmer will have to put up with a lot of exceptions in his career.

Glens Falls Editorial Praises Jimmer

The Daily Herald has reprinted an editorial from the Glens Falls Post-Star (Jimmer Fredette's hometown paper), and it is worth reading. The piece recalls the pleasure of watching a hometown hero become a national figure this year.

The piece really captures the essence of Jimmer's appeal, including the following:

In an era of arrogant sports stars who drive drunk and beat their girlfriends, who hold out of training camp over million-dollar pay disputes, who stage TV spectacles to announce which team has earned the privilege of paying them, Jimmer Fredette is a freshly washed pillowcase drying on the line in the warm summer sun.

ESPN Tribute to Jimmer Fredette

Over at ESPN.com, Andy Katz has written a great tribute to Jimmer Fredette's senior year at BYU. He credits Jimmer with being the face of NCAA basketball this season, living up to the hype, and giving fans a reason to watch.

This post is definitely worth a read: College Hoops Was Better With Jimmer

New Jimmer Biography?

I am considering writing a biography of Jimmer Fredette (I have written a couple of celebrity biographies in the past), but I want to first gauge whether there is enough interest in it.

Would you buy a Jimmer biography? Please vote in the poll on the sidebar --->

BYU loses to Florida in heart-breaking overtime

The 83-74 score does not reflect how close the BYU - Florida game was. The overtime loss by the Cougars is heart-breaking for BYU fans and, of course, for the NCAA's leading scorer, Jimmer Fredette.

Jimmer and company had several chances to win it, but the shots simply were not falling. But BYU fans can feel pretty good about the game, on the whole. Most sports commentators had Florida winning, and the Cougars really gave them a run for their money.

Florida beats BYU in overtime, 83-74

It was a long, hard, intense game. Unfortunately, Jimmer Fredette and his BYU Cougars couldn't get it done. The University of Florida Gators had a great game and ended with an 83-74 lead at the end of overtime.

Florida and BYU in Overtime!

The game is tied at 68-68, and BYU and Florida are going to overtime. In last year's round 1 NCAA game, the two teams made it to double overtime before BYU won. Let's hope Jimmer Fredette can seal the deal a little faster this year.

BYU-Florida tied with 35.4 seconds left (68-68)

Collinsworth made a 1-and-1 and then missed the second shot, tying the game 68-68. Florida's ball, 35.4 left. So both teams get a shot. It's still anyone's game.

Florida up 68-67, with the ball, 1:10 to play

Jimmer Fredette missed a couple shots. Now Florida has a 1-point lead (68-67) with 1:10 left in the game. BYU will get at least one possession.

BYU and Florida tied again, 67-67 with 2:06 left to play

It's a nail-biter -- BYU and Florida are tied at 67-67 and we have 2:06 to go. This could be a repeat of last year's overtime game.

65-63 with 3:45 left, Florida in the lead over BYU

In one minute of play, Florida scored once for two points, and Jimmer Fredette was fouled. Now Jimmer's at the line, and that pretty well means two points for BYU, sending us back to a tie game, 65-65.

This has to be the best game of the NCAA tournament so far this year.

Epic Jimmer 3-pointer ties Florida game 63-63 with 4:56 to play

It was another beautiful way-outside-the-line three-pointer from Jimmer Fredette, and it tied the game 63-63 with 4:56 left. Jimmer really turned on the offense the last minute or two. No one in the game wants to win as badly as he does.

Florida leading BYU 61-55 with 7:25 to play

In the last couple minutes, Florida has expanded its lead to 61-55. Jimmer missed some shots, and for a minute or so both teams were playing really sloppy basketball with numerous missed shots and turnovers.

Florida ahead of BYU 53-50 with 11:07 left in the game

Florida jumped to a three point lead, aided by a poor offensive foul call against Jimmer Fredette, followed by a technical against Jackson Emery. 11:07 left to play, and neither team has a clear lead at this point.

BYU and Florida tied at halftime, 36-36

Great game so far -- in the last couple minutes of the first half, BYU and Florida were both playing well, lots of fun to watch.

Jimmer Fredette made an amazing reverse lay-up, and then Erving Walker answered with a three-pointer. This is a match-up between two great players, and two great teams. It could go either way -- but I'm pulling for Jimmer.

BYU takes the lead! Up 32-30 over Florida with 2:40 left in first half

Jimmer has started scoring, and BYU has vaulted into the lead, beating Florida 32-30 with 2:40 to go in the first half.

Better yet, Florida has started to flail a bit -- throwing up panicky three-pointers and turning over the ball. Their offense seems to be falling apart, just as BYU's offense is coming together.

Jimmer Fredette gets his first 2 points of the game; BYU down 27-23 to Florida

With 6:02 left in the first half, BYU is down 27-23 to Florida. Finally, though, Jimmer Fredette scored his first 2 points.

The Cougars' game plan seems to be to use Jimmer to pull defenders away from his teammates, and it's kind of working. Ultimately, though, Jimmer will have to turn on the scoring in order for BYU to win this one.

BYU trailing Florida 21-25 with 8:57 to go in the first half

It's a quiet game for Jimmer so far, but the rest of the Cougars are playing well. Still anyone's game.

Florida beating BYU 23-16 with 11:38 to go in first half in New Orleans

Florida has maintained its 7-point lead, but BYU has broken into that lead a couple times, and is scoring at about the same pace as Florida now. We have a lot of game to go, and Jimmer Fredette is still warming up.

Florida leads BYU 17-10 with 14:33 to go in first half

Florida has a dangerous early lead, shooting about 90 percent from the field.

BYU favored to beat Florida -- at least on this blog

Thanks for voting in our BYU versus Florida poll. Readers of "About Jimmer Fredette" overwhelmingly favor BYU to win (by a 90% vote). The game is on -- let's hope that 90% of us are right!

Is Jimmer Fredette a good defensive player?

One of the most common criticisms of Jimmer Fredette is that he is weak on defense. He is, undeniably, careful not to get into foul trouble on defense. So how can Jimmer fans claim Fredette is a strong defensive player?

In today's New York Times, BYU assistant coach Dave Rice explained: "We can’t afford to have him in foul trouble. He’s a much, much better defensive player than he’s given credit for. A lot of that is part of our game plan.”

In other words, BYU's coaching staff has told Jimmer to be light on defense, and he is executing perfectly on that game plan. He might not play the strongest individual defensive games in the NCAA, but he plays one of the best team games -- sacrificing his personal defensive style for the sake of the team.

Jimmer Fredette's girlfriend is reportedly Whitney Wonnacott

Sad news for any swooning coeds out there -- Jimmer Fredette is taken. He is known to have a girlfriend, and sportsgrid.com claims she is a BYU cheerleader named Whitney Wonnacott. Frathousesports.com has some additional photographic evidence that Fredette and Wonnacott are an item (a cozy Christmas photo of the couple). Various other articles and anonymous comments around the web have confirmed this story.

It's nice to see that Jimmer had a girlfriend before becoming a national sports star, because he is basically a celebrity at this point, and that would make dating pretty difficult.

Did Jimmer Fredette serve a mission?

NCAA leading scorer Jimmer Fredette plays for BYU and is widely known to be a Mormon, and that has led many people to ask whether Jimmer served a mission for the LDS church.

The answer is "no" according to USA Today -- after praying about whether to serve a mission, Fredette decided not to, and he believes that his fame as a basketball player has done as much for the church as a mission would have done: "I've had numerous situations where people have told me they've checked out the religion because they knew who I was and they heard about my religion."

At least one fan agrees with him. Scott Lambson at BleacherReport.com calls Jimmer "the greatest Mormon missionary in the world."

CONTINUE TO FULL STORY: Did Jimmer Fredette Serve an LDS Mission?

Last year, Florida got Jimmered; recap of the 2010 BYU - Florida game

A year ago, BYU beat Florida in game 1 of the 2010 NCAA basketball tournament. Jimmer Fredette scored 37 points, BYU's Michael Loyd, Jr. scored 26 points, and Florida lost in double overtime, 99-92. Loyd, as you may recall, was a back-up guard who rose to the occasion and made the difference in that game.

An edge-of-your-seat, double-overtime game like that might be too much to hope for tonight, but we are guaranteed to see fierce competition between the BYU Cougars and Florida Gators, and all eyes will be on Jimmer.

BYU Cougars have to control the tempo against Florida

The key to tonight's BYU-Florida game is controlling the tempo of the game. The ESPN blog got it right with the following commentary:

Simply put, the Gators have to control the game. You can't run up and down with BYU. You have to make Fredette grind it out in the half court, and you have to do your best to pressure him with multiple defenders without giving up easy looks for Emery and Hartsock.

Jimmer Fredette could have a tough time against Florida's set defense (or maybe not), but we know he can destroy them on the fast break. Remember BYU's MWC loss to San Diego State? In that game, Jimmer and company lost control of the tempo, and ended up looking tired and out-of-sync. Tonight, BYU needs to wear Florida out with a fast-paced game.

Florida knows that Jimmer Fredette is not the only star on BYU's team

While NCAA fans' number one question of the day continues to be whether Florida can contain Jimmer Fredette, the Gators know that Jimmer has a strong supporting cast.

Florida's Chandler Parsons (6'10" forward) said: "It's not just Jimmer Fredette. The other guys are very good players, and they understand their role."

A number of BYU stars, including Jackson Emery and Charles Abouo, have risen to the challenge in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Florida can't triple-team Jimmer tonight, because BYU's team is more than one man deep.

New Orleans not a big deal for BYU fans - but the press thinks it is

Die-hard Jimmer fans have made the trip to New Orleans for tonight's BYU-Florida game. While visiting New Orleans is not a big deal for most BYU fans (who are overwhelmingly Mormon), the press apparently thinks it is ironic for LDS types to be wandering around Bourbon Street.

Two national newspapers -- the New York Times and the Washington Post -- are running stories about this issue today. Here are the highlights --

New York Times blog ("B.Y.U. and Big Easy: Just Basketball, Thanks"): "When asked about his plans on Wednesday night, Fredette chuckled. It’s a little bit different for us,' he said. 'But it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great city and there’s a lot of fun things to do here. We’ll go out tonight and have something to eat. I’m excited to try some of the food here. Then we’ll go back to the hotel and sleep.' And if he walked by a strip club? 'Just keep walking,' Fredette said. 'Just keep walking.'"

Washington Post ("BYU and its fans are acclimating just fine to New Orleans"): "'We come for the basketball, so anything else is icing on the cake,' Mike Peterson [a BYU fan visiting New Orleans] said. 'And unlike some other folks, we remember it in the morning.'”

Celebrate game day with epic Facebook thread about Jimmer

Remember the epic Facebook thread that resulted when "Michelle" wrote a letter to BYU's Daily Universe (student newspaper) complaining about Jimmer-mania? It's still funny.

With twelve hours to go until the Florida game, why not pass some time by giving it one more read: Jimmer Facebook thread. The ESPN blog write-up about it will give you all the background you need.

And pass another couple of seconds by voting in the poll (see sidebar --->). So far, 11 out of 11 voters say BYU will win.

Who will win -- BYU or Florida? Vote now!

Just 24 hours to go until the BYU v. Florida showdown. Will Florida get Jimmered, or is this the end of the line for BYU?

Make your prediction in a quick poll on the sidebar --->

Jimmer Fredette: New Mormon Pop Culture Star?

BYU's Jimmer Fredette has quickly become a college basketball superstar this season -- thanks in no small part to Twitter.

He is amazing at what he does, and what he does has virtually nothing to do with religion -- but the fact that he is LDS (Mormon) seems to pop up in about half of the articles written about Jimmer.

Fredette has, therefore, joined the ranks of other Mormon pop culture stars like Stephenie Meyer (author of the Twilight series) and Brandon Flowers (lead singer of the Killers). All three are amazingly talented entertainers who are frequently identified with their Mormon faith.

Most popular Jimmer Fredette video on YouTube

There are a lot of >100,000 view Jimmer Fredette videos on YouTube -- but which clip has the most hits?

The answer, oddly, is the video entitled "BYU's Jimmer Fredette scores 49 points against Arizona" (with 493,000 hits), which you can watch right here:

Where are the NCAA tournament highlights? Jimmer's long three-pointers set to music? 52 points against New Mexico in the MWC tournament? I don't know. For some reason YouTube viewers like seeing Arizona get Jimmered.

BYU Florida Game: Who will guard Jimmer Fredette?

If last week's Gonzaga game is any indication, several University of Florida players will get a chance to try to guard BYU's Jimmer Fredette. But which Gator will get the first shot at guarding Jimmer?

Coach Billy Donovan says Kenny Boynton will be the first to guard Fredette this Thursday. But remember that Boynton sprained his ankle last Saturday during the UCLA game. So expect Scottie Wilbekin and/or Casey Pratherto to take over the Jimmer assignment early in the game.

If the rest of the Cougars are as hot as they were last Saturday, shutting down Jimmer will not be enough for the Gators. But this is guaranteed to be a close, tough game, and the outcome could go either way.

What Channel is the BYU - Florida game on?

Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars will be playing Florida this Thursday (3/24/11) on TBS. The time is 5:27 MST (according to KSL), but check your local listings to make sure you don't miss it. Should be a great game!

Sporting News Player of the Year: Jimmer Fredette

Sporting News has named its 2011 College Basketball Player of the Year, and it is Jimmer Fredette of the BYU Cougars. You can read the announcement at: Sporting News.

On winning, Jimmer showed his usual humility: "Player of the year is a great thing. Just to be in the conversation is a great thing itself, and to win it is a whole different ballgame. The best college players ever have won that award."

Magic Johnson says Jimmer Fredette is "the Real Deal"

Chalk up one more celebrity endorsement for Jimmer Fredette, because Magic Johnson reportedly tweeted the following message to his followers: "For all of you out there questioning Jimmer Fredette of BYU, he is the real deal."

Magic, as you will recall, dominated both in college and in the NBA. It sounds like he expects Jimmer to do the same.

Where will BYU and Florida play? (NCAA round 3)

As noted previously, BYU plays University of Florida this Thursday, 3/24/11, at 5:27 PM MST (according to KSL -- check your local TBS listings).

As for where the game will be played, the location is New Orleans, Louisiana, at the New Orleans Arena.

Naismith Award Finalists named: Jimmer Fredette, Kemba Walker, and Jared Sullinger

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, but BYU's Jimmer Fredette has been named as a finalist for this season's Naismith Award for best college basketball player. The other two finalists are Kemba Walker of UConn and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State.

Of the three, Jimmer seems to pretty clearly be the front runner. Because he has already been named player of the year by a couple of other organizations, though, it is possible that the Naismith Award could decide to surprise us.

What time is the BYU versus Florida game? (NCAA tournament round 3)

Jimmer Fredette and company will play the University of Florida Gators Thursday, March 24, 2011, and KSL has the game tipping off at 5:27 PM Mountain Standard Time. The game will be broadcast on TBS (with radio on KSL). Obviously, check your local listings to make sure the time and channel are correct for you.

Should Fredette Trademark "Jimmer"?

Plenty of sports commentators have discussed Jimmer Fredette's trademark name - "Jimmer" - but I have not yet heard anyone seriously suggest that the name should be trademarked. Until now.

Follow the link for an article in which I make the case that Fredette should trademark "Jimmer": Trademark Jimmer

Jimmer Fredette felt honored to play in front of John Stockton

In last night's BYU versus Gonzaga game, Jimmer Fredette got to show his stuff in front of John Stockton, who was attending to watch his son David Stockton play for Gonzaga.

Jimmer said: "It's cool. Just to be able to play in front of him is an honor, I think." [Source: NYPost]

BYU will play Florida Gators in Round 3 of NCAA Tournament

While BYU was busy beating Gonzaga 89-67 tonight, the University of Florida Gators pulled out a 73-65 win against UCLA. Going into the Sweet 16, the only surprise in the Southeast is Butler's upset of 1st-seed Pittsburgh. You can see the current bracket at ESPN.com.

BYU and Florida play on 3/24 (Thursday). As you may recall, BYU beat the University of Florida in round 1 of last year's NCAA tournament, 99-92 (see Jacksonville.com for more details). Florida will be back with something to prove, but Jimmer Fredette is going for a championship, so don't count the Cougars out.

Jimmer Fredette's BYU beats Gonzaga 89-67

BYU moves onto the Sweet 16 after beating Gonzaga 89 to 67. With 34 points, Jimmer had a solid game, but so did everyone else on the Cougar squad.

BYU beating Gonzaga 82-59 with 4:19 left

Looks like BYU has this one in the bag.

BYU beating Gonzaga 75-55 with 8:17 to go

Jimmer Fredette's Cougars have pulled further ahead since the half.

BYU up 65-55 with 11:44 left in Gonzaga game

Gonzaga made a bit of a run a minute ago, but BYU still has a safe lead.

BYU leads Gonzaga 45-38 at the Half -- NCAA Game 2

Jimmer hit a number of three-pointers in the first half of BYU's second-round NCAA tournament game against Gonzaga, but the BYU Cougars are playing well as a team, with solid contributions by many of Fredette's teammates.

In a quick interview on his way off the floor, BYU coach Rose acknowledged that Gonzaga is killing BYU inside, but the score doesn't show it.

BYU leads Gonzaga 31-24 with about 6 minutes to go in first half

For most of the first half, BYU and Gonzaga were neck and neck, but Jimmer Fredette and his BYU Cougars have now developed a healthy lead. Jimmer is having an average game (for him) with 11 points so far.

John Stockton Watches Jimmer Fredette Versus Gonzaga

Gonzaga alum and Utah Jazz legend John Stockton was at Gonzaga's first NCAA game to watch his son, David Stockton, play. We have to assume John Stockton will be at game two, as well, as Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars fight Gonzaga for a spot in the Sweet 16.

Why does this matter? Because Jimmer might be the next John Stockton. He could even end up on the Jazz. And we know he's a big fan of John Stockton. I just hope some reporter gets Stockton on the record talking about Jimmer.

Gonzaga Gets Ready for Jimmer Fredette -- NCAA Tournament Round 2

Tomorrow night we get to see the BYU Cougars take on Gonzaga in round 2 of the NCAA tournament. Pre-game media coverage is focusing on what Gonzaga must do to slow down Jimmer Fredette.

Gonzaga assistant coach Donny Daniels says, "We've got to have three guys on him," while guard Steven Gray mused, "He's been hitting just ridiculous shots. Every time you watch him, you're like, 'He didn't just shoot that.'" [see the Seattle Times].

This is the big puzzle for every team facing BYU. Jimmer looks unstoppable, and I am guessing he's going to put on a show against Gonzaga on Saturday.

BYU Wins 74-66 Despite Wofford Refs

Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars managed an 8-point win (74-66) over Wofford this evening, despite horrible refereeing (about which I have already ranted in two prior posts).

In a well-referreed game, fans hardly notice the refs. Tonight, though, the zebras were center stage, calling obscure fouls on BYU players and ignoring aggressive behavior by Wofford. In an evenly refereed game, I think Jimmer's crew would have won by 30.

Refs continue to rip off BYU in Wofford game

Mid-way through the second half, the horrific refereeing in the BYU-Wofford game continues. Wofford is smacking Jimmer Fredette and company around pretty hard -- but you can't blame them because the referees are letting it happen.

The Cougars have a healthy lead of 8 points, but 5 BYU players are in foul trouble. Seriously -- where did they find these refs?

Forget Wofford -- It's Jimmer versus the Refs

I don't know what BYU did to tick off those first-round NCAA refs, but the first half of BYU v. Wofford has been a showcase of one-sided refereeing. Jimmer Fredette has been hacked hard several times, but the refs are looking the other way.

At the half BYU leads by 4, and I don't think winning will be a problem for the Cougars -- it's just frustrating to see Wofford getting all the calls.

Will Jimmer play for the Knicks?

With the NBA draft three months away (June 23), rumors are circulating about which team might draft BYU star Jimmer Fredette. He grew up as a Knicks fan in Glen Falls, NY, where his family still lives. They want him to go to New York -- but does Jimmer want that?

It could be cool to go there [to the Knicks], but you never have any idea where you're going to go. Right, now I'm not focused on that. I'm focused on this tournament, this game we have ahead and what we have to accomplish here first. [Source: NYDailyNews.com]

Jimmer is going somewhere early in the draft, but we'll have to wait to see where. For now, we can enjoy his final few college games -- starting with Wofford tonight.

Bill Walton's favorite story of the year is Jimmer Fredette

NBA legend Bill Walton weighed in on Jimmer Fredette recently. He told Slam Online:

“My favorite player and my favorite story in college basketball this year is Jimmer Fredette, who I just think is fantastic. He’s a combination of Pete Maravich, Larry Bird, Danny Ainge and JJ Barea. Just exemplifies everything you look for in a player. And what makes it so much fun for me is he’s a little, skinny, scrawny guy, which is what I used to be. ... Our world has become one of power, of size, of strength, with nothing but the winners of the genetic lottery. And there’s little Jimmer Fredette, out there just torching them all."

Last I checked, Bill Walton was 6'11", so it's funny that he identifies with the "little guy." But it's no surprise that he's a Jimmer fan -- every NBA legend on record lately seems to cheering for BYU's #32.

President Obama says Jimmer is "Unbelievable"

Discussing the NCAA tournament, President Barack Obama made the following observations about Jimmer Fredette: "Unbelievable. Best scorer in the country, obviously. Great." (see SLTrib).

So even the most powerful man in the free world is impressed by Jimmer. The Commander-in-Chief has BYU losing to Florida in Round 3, but it sounds like he might be happy to see the Cougars make it a little further, if only to watch Fredette.

Jimmer's Working-Class Roots

Jimmer Fredette grew up in a working-class family in a working-class town, and it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the work ethic that surrounded him turned out to be an essential part of his basketball dominance. Jimmer's dad, Al, explained, "Myself and my wife and other people, every day we had to work. Our neighbors, the community, the area, we had to work and work hard and Jimmer understood that."

The quote comes from a brilliant article at Philly.com, titled "Jimmer Fredette's unlikely path to becoming a star," written by a reporter familiar with Fredette's home town of Glen Falls, New York.

Where Jimmer's Name Really Came From

In a glowing MSNBC piece about Jimmer Fredette, sports writer Matt James reveals where Jimmer got his name. While it is well known that Fredette's mother named him James but then nicknamed him "Jimmer," it turns out that she did not invent the nickname.

A high school classmate of hers had a little brother named James, who had been nicknamed "Jimmer" by his uncle. Today, that kid -- now 53-year-old Jimmer St. Clair -- compares himself to the other Jimmer by saying "we're nice guys and we're both religious," but readily admits that Fredette is better at basketball.

The MSNBC article says winning the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament would make Jimmer Fredette a superstar. I suspect that he and his BYU teammates have their sights set a little higher than round two.

Wofford Coach Has Kind Words for Jimmer

On Thursday, the BYU Cougars will play round one of the NCAA tournament against Wofford. While Wofford's coach, Mike Young, is of course making plans to deal with the threat posed by Jimmer Fredette, he also had some kind words for Jimmer recently.

The ESPN blog quoted Young as follows: "[Jimmer Fredette] is as competitive as any human being I’ve ever been around... All the accolades and everything that's come his way, he deserves every bit of it. I love watching him play."

What number is Jimmer Fredette?

During his time at BYU, Jimmer Fredette has worn the number 32 -- made famous by Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, and others. Hopefully BYU will retire Jimmer's jersey soon after he leaves for the NBA, and number 32 will be hanging from the rafters in the Marriott Center.

Tough Loss to San Diego State in MWC Tournament

Jimmer Fredette scored 30 points tonight against San Diego State, but it wasn't enough. BYU lost 72-54 in a game that was hard to watch for Cougar fans.

From the beginning, Jimmer looked tired (understandably after his amazing 52-point performance last night against New Mexico), and the rest of the team was about the same. BYU's shooting percentage was unusually low (I believe one of the announcers said they shot 25% in the second half).

Still, Fredette and company destroyed San Diego State twice during the regular season. If they were to meet again in the NCAA tournament, I would still put my money on BYU.

Jimmer Fredette is Player of the Year!

We already knew Jimmer was the NCAA's star basketball player this year, but now it's official!!!

Will the Utah Jazz Draft Jimmer Fredette?

The NBA draft is a few months away still (June 23, 2011), but basketball fans are already speculating about where top players -- including Jimmer Fredette -- will go.

The BleacherReport.com is speculating that the Utah Jazz might use their #7 pick to get Jimmer Fredette. That seems like a long shot, but it's interesting. Obviously, Jimmer has a huge fan base in Utah. Could he end up being another John Stockton for the Jazz? He has named Stockton as one of his basketball idols in the past, and it looks like he might have a chance to follow pretty closely in his idol's footsteps.

Will BYU Retire Jimmer Fredette's Number?

Jimmer Fredette's senior year at BYU is over, and BYU basketball fans will definitely miss him. One day after the final game, people are already asking whether the school will retire his jersey (see today's Daily Herald).

Jimmer is so popular with the fans, that I think it is virtually certain that his number will be retired. Two things that could make it even more likely are: (1) Jimmer winning NCAA player of the year, which could easily happen, and (2) the BYU Cougars performing well in the NCAA tournament.

We will have to wait until next year to see if number 32 (Jimmer's jersey) gets retired. But in the meantime we can see the Cougars play next in the Mountain West Conference tournament, March 9 through 12. You can see the MWC schedule here.

BYU's first MWC game is March 10 at 12 pm PT (broadcast on The Mountain). Assuming they win, they will then play March 11 at 6 pm PT (broadcast on CBS College Sports). If they win again, they will play in the championship March 12 at 4 PM PT (broadcast on Versus). *** The MWC website says that all of these times are subject to change, so be sure to check the schedule regularly. ***

Wyoming Got Jimmered

As predicted in my last post, Jimmer Fredette and company was back on top today. They crushed Wyoming, 102 to 78, with 38 points from Jimmer.

The message of the game was clear: BYU can win games without Brandon Davies (which is unfortunately necessary at the moment). Granted, Wyoming is not the toughest team out there -- but today's game should restore the team's confidence.

This was also Jimmer's last game in the Marriott Center. The regular season is over for BYU's seniors, including Fredette. We will hopefully see plenty more BYU games in the post-season, though.

Jimmer Fredette Will Survive Loss of Brandon Davies

Last night's 82-64 BYU basketball loss to unranked New Mexico was horrendous to watch. And, predictably, everyone is blaming the loss on BYU's dismissal of starter Brandon Davies for an honor code violation (see, for example Slam Online's account of the game).

While I agree that Davies' departure probably caused the loss, it was not because Jimmer Fredette and company can't win without Davies -- it was because the team was shaken up emotionally after losing a friend and player. Fredette talked about the pain of losing a friend in the post-game interviews, and even during the game it was clear that he was not focusing mentally.

This Saturday (March 5), the Cougars play Wyoming, and I am guessing we will see a completely different team than we saw last night. Jimmer Fredette is tough (he learned to play basketball in prison, for crying out loud!). He will be back with a vengeance, and the team will have made adjustments to compensate for the loss of Davies. It's not over yet for Jimmer's NCAA championship dreams.