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(File/AP Photo)PROVO -- It was bound to happen, but Utah Head Coach Jim Boylen got the ball rolling with his comments on BYU's Jimmer Fredette after Saturday's game, starting the conversation of whether Fredette will decide to turn pro at the end of his current junior season. Boylen said after the No. 12 Cougars beat his Utes 82-69 that Fredette had a big decision coming up after the season and more or less saying that the Wooden Award candidate will have the opportunity to play in the NBA as early as next season.
Fredette has been on a tear lately, averaging 31.5 points per game, 2.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists last week to earn MWC player of the week honors for the fourth time. The junior from Glens Falls, N.Y. fielded questions about the issue after practice Monday, but said that was the first he had heard of Boylen's comments.
So will Fredette follow in fellow Cougars Lee Cummard, Jonathan Tavernari and Trent Plaisted's footsteps and at least put his name in the draft to gauge interest at the end of the season?
"I could, I'm not exactly sure yet. After the season I'll have a good talk with the coaches and my family, obviously, and everyone that's close to me and make a decision," Fredette said. "But it could be an option, but right now I'm not thinking about it too much."
Fredette made it clear he's not interested in discussing the issue until after the season is over.
"I think there's things you consider, but you don't really think about it too much. If you want to put your name in the draft, anybody can," Fredette said. "Then hopefully you can go to some camps or whatever, but that's not too big of a deal right now. I'm not really thinking about it. We've got some big games coming up and you never know what could happen, so I've just got to play well and see how it goes."
Fredette and his teammates' next challenge comes Tuesday night, as TCU (10-12, 2-5 MWC) makes the trip to Utah to visit the Marriott Center. The Horned Frogs have struggled on the road this season going 1-7 overall away from home.
The TCU basketball team has struggled to compete since joining the MWC and this year is no different. With their most notable win coming against Wyoming this season, it would seem the Frogs have their work cut out for them.
Ronnie Moss, a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, leads TCU with 14.5 ppg and currently ranks No. 3 in the country in assists with 6.4 per game.
TCU has struggled to score averaging only 58.9 points per league game. Despite the Frogs' struggles, Fredette said he still expects Tuesday's game to be a tough test.
Tip-off between the Horned Frogs and Cougars (21-2, 6-1 MWC) is set for 7 p.m. You can listen to the game on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM or online at KSL.com beginning with the pregame show at 6 p.m.
