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TJ Fredette, the older brother of BYU's Jimmer Fredette, blogs exclusively for ksl.com about BYU and the NCAA Tournament. Check back regularly for his thoughts and reaction to the games and atmosphere.
March 21, 3:45 p.m.What a great trip for my family and me! We got back from Denver late last night and now we are making plans to head to New Orleans.
Denver is truly a beautiful city and I was impressed with how clean the downtown area is. It was wonderful to see the different sites but of course the highlight of the trip was the incredible basketball that we were able to see.
BYU did it!!!
They are on their way back to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the Danny Ainge era. What an exciting time it is to be a Cougar Fan.
I've seen Jimmer extremely excited after victories before, but never have I seen him as excited as he was Saturday night after the win against Gonzaga. The whole team played absolutely tremendous. It might have been the best game overall that they have played all season.
Speaking with some of the players after the game, I could just feel the confidence that has grown within them from this remarkable victory. I am so proud of this team and everything that they have accomplished and I feel that this run is destined to continue, so stay tuned KSL. The excitement is only getting started. I'll do my best to keep the updates coming live from New Orleans!!!!
The saga continues....
TJ
March 17, 4:10 p.m.My family and I made it to Denver late last night; Denver looks like a great city and I look forward to going out and seeing some sites. However, first and foremost, I'm gearing up for the big BYU game at 5:15 p.m.
Already the tourney is buzzing with last second heroics and upsets. What an exciting time of year for college basketball fans!! I have to give a shout out to our boy Talor Battle who is the point guard for Penn State. He played on the same AAU team with Jimmer for years in high school and he played amazing today against Temple. It was an incredible game and unfortunately Penn State lost at the buzzer. Hold your head up Talor, you played like a warrior and you have a bright future in basketball!
Now my attention shifts to BYU. I had my pre-game pep talk with Jimmer and as always he sounds very calm and confident. We really need a great team effort today if we want to advance to the 2nd round because Wofford will certainly be ready to play.
Good luck BYU, let's go get it!!!
Stay tuned ksl, there's no better time of the year for basketball fans then March. I'm anticipating a lot of spectacular play so make sure you tune in!
-TJ
March 16, 3:30 p.m.
Well, I'm off to Denver. This will be my first visit to Denver so I'm looking forward to spending some time there.
I just got done doing a radio interview with ESPN Radio back in Albany, N.Y., which is the area that my family and I are from. The interview went great and it sounds like our home region in New York is really buzzing about the tourney this year.
I know that there are a lot of people back home that wish BYU would have landed somewhere on the East Coast so they could travel to watch the team play, but I think Denver is a great location for the team because it's not far from Provo and I believe they will get a lot of support there. I really wish that more of our family and friends could make the trip to Denver, but we know they are with us in spirit and they will be watching every second of it on TV.
I do have to give a shout out to my good friend Anthony Civitello though, who is driving out all the way from Glens Falls, N.Y. to meet us there. Drive safe man; can't wait to see you there!
Today I was watching President Obama fill out his brackets on SportsCenter. it was so cool to see him pick BYU to reach the Sweet 16 and also to hear him talk very highly of Jimmer.
You made it Jimmer!! Once the President starts to talk about you, you know that you've reached a whole new level, ha ha. It was a really cool thing to see.
Well, I guess the next time you here from me I will be in Denver. stay tuned KSL, I promise to give you some insight from myself, my family, and Jimmer live from March Madness!!!
-TJ
March 16, 3:00 a.m.
Check out TJ Fredette's rap video for the NCAA Tournament
March 15, 11:00 p.m.
The BYU team is off to Denver today to get ready for round 1 of March Madness. I spoke with Jimmer just before he left, and he said he is very confident that they can make a great run in the tourney this year. He and the team are feeling great and they are excited to get started! Jimmer actually has a friend that plays baseball at Wofford and he has given Jimmer a little scouting report, ha ha. They are a great team and we certainly will have to be ready play come Thursday if we want a chance to move on into the 2nd round. It's gonna be a very competitive exciting game to see!
My family and I are leaving tomorrow to go to Denver and I'm anticipating another great opportunity to see more entertaining basketball. Stay tuned, KSL- March Madness is officially underway, and it kicks off for BYU on Thursday. Make sure you get yourself to a TV, because once again, the saga continues; it's gonna be an incredible finish to a magical season!!
-TJ
March 15, 9:45 a.m.
I just got back to Salt Lake after a great trip to Vegas. The conference tourney was very exciting and I'm so glad that a lot of my friends and family were there to share that time with me.
BYU didn't win the title and it is no secret that we really missed Brandon Davies presence in the middle against San Diego St., but the team really battled hard and did what they had to do to lock up a solid 3 seed.
Right now my family and I are relaxing at my sister's house in Salt Lake watching my little nephew practice his game on a "Little Tikes" basket. I have a feeling I could be watching a future superstar in the making right now; the boys got definite potential.
However in the meantime the current college basketball stars are gearing up for MARCH MADNESS!! This is the most exciting time of the year for basketball fans so I hope you're as ready as I am!
Stay tuned to KSL because not only does the saga continue, but it heats up as the biggest tourney in the world kicks off Thursday!
Get ready to witness amazing!!
-TJ
March 12, 4:30 p.m.
What an amazing night it was last night at the Thomas & Mack Center!!!
I witnessed two of the best games I've seen this season in the Mountain west conference. BYU finally got some revenge against New Mexico after losing the last four straight games against them and San Diego State beat UNLV thanks to a game winning shot by DJ Gay.
I have to give a special congratulations to my brother Jimmer for putting on one of the best performances I have ever seen in college basketball by scoring 52 points and while doing so he became BYU's all time leading scorer. I told you yesterday that he gave me a look that made me believe that he might do something special for the Cougar Fans.
Do I know my boy or what? Ha!
I hope CougarNation enjoyed the show. I'm so proud of the way that the whole BYU team came together and battled to get such a remarkable victory.
On a more serious note, my thoughts turn to Darise Gary. He has been an incredible player and a class act all four years that I have watched him in the Mountain West Conference. We wish him the best. Get better soon Darise. You have a bright future in basketball and I can speak on behalf of my brother Jimmer that it has been a pleasure to compete against such a great player.
Tonight if you're not in Vegas or you don't have a ticket to the MWC championship game, make sure you get to a TV to witness the trilogy of BYU/San Diego State, two top ten teams battling it out for the MWC title.
Once again KSL, stay tuned because the saga definitely continues.
-TJ
March 10, 6:30 p.m.The city is certainly buzzing out here in Las Vegas!!
I've been coming to the Mountain West Conference tourney for the last 3 years and every year it gets more and more exciting. Everywhere I go in the city I see people wearing jerseys representing their team.
I'm sitting at the New Mexico/ Colorado St. game right now and the crowd is electric! It was a great atmosphere at the BYU game as well. Unfortunately, it wasn't the greatest game for the Cougars today, but the important thing is that they found a way to win. The mark of a great team I believe is when you can find a way to win even when you are not playing well.
I'm confident that they will have a better game tomorrow.
Certainly I have to take my hat off to TCU though; they battled hard all game and really played well. They definitely can leave the Thomas & Mack Center with their heads held high after the great game they played today. Much respect!
I'm about to take off now to go hang with my amazing group of family and friends who made the trip across the country from New York to Vegas to support Jimmer and the Cougars.
Jimmer gave me a look as he left the court today that lead me to believe BYU fans could be in for a treat tomorrow!
Stay tuned because the saga continues and it's about to get crazy!!!
-TJ Fredette
