Rose on Fredette: "I'm Impressed"

Joking that he would "have to be careful not to mess up an AP All-American; it's the first time I've ever coached one," BYU head hoops coach Dave Rose met the media after his team's Tuesday afternoon practice.

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It was yesterday that senior guard Jimmer Fredette was named to the five-man AP Preseason All-America squad, and Rose called the honor at separate times "pretty impressive" and "very impressive...I'm impressed."

"He will be a marked man every game, so we're all going to have to really support him, because we know he's a good player and everyone else is going to know he's a good player. The rest of us are going to really have to improve our games to make sure that we can be successful."

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Rose noted that none of last year's preseason AP All-Americans (Luke Harangody, Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins, Patrick Patterson and Kyle Singler) were first teamers at the end of the season, "so that's a challenge."

(Note: Collins was a second team selection in 2009-10; Harangody and Aldrich were third team picks).

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Rose said "I'm really happy for Jimmer," and added that "every recruit that we sign, we expect to be an all-league player; that's why we sign them. Anything after that really depends on how early in their career that happens."

"With Jimmer, when you become first team all-league in this league as a sophomore, then you have a great junior year...you have a pretty chance to get some national awards."

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As for Fredette, he said the AP citation is "the one that everyone looks at, so it's a big thing, and I was real excited to be on the team, and to be mentioned with those great players that are on the list as well."

"It's an exciting thing for our program, it's an exciting thing for myself and my family and friends, but I'm looking forward to proving it this year."

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Fredette said "the biggest thing is to get national attention for our team; that's going to help us out...hopefully people will know about us right at the start of the season and it will be a good thing for our whole program."

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Saying he "is feeling great right now; I feel 100%," Fredette said "it was a frustrating thing, to be up and down like that (while dealing with mono and other illnesses last season)...to try to be at your best and be as healthy as you can, and know that you're not."

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BYU practiced with Jackson Emery (mid-foot sprain during Monday's practice) on the sidelines, while Noah Hartsock (hamstring) was limited in his on-court activities. Hartsock also practiced on a limited basis on Monday. Hartsock's availability for Friday's exhibition game with BYU-Hawaii is still in question. "If he's healthy, then we'll play him. If it's iffy, then we'll hold him out," said Rose. "I'd like to see (Hartsock) get a few minutes," before the season opener with Fresno State.

Rose said he expected Emery to "miss a couple of practices." Emery (to whom I have referred as the "Pain Magnet") has a propensity for picking up injuries, just as he has a propensity for playing hurt. If tonight were a game night, I believe Jackson would be on the floor.

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You can hear post-practice interviews with Rose and Fredette by clicking on the audio links in the "Cougar Cuts" box above.

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Rose previewed Friday night's exhibition affair with the BYU-H Seasiders, saying as opposed to the exhibition opener with Laval (when everyone on the bench played in the first half), the Friday game will feature more "situations with groups that we want to see... combinations, groups of guys we want to play."

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Rose coached with BYU-H head coach Ken Wagner at Dixie College, and worked with BYU-H assistant John Wardenburg for years at both Dixie and BYU. He says facing both on Friday "will be interesting; they know all our tricks. We'll have to play well, because we can't trick 'em."

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