Are BYU fans ready to face life without Jimmer? If the Cougars don't beat Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament today, that will be their fate. No more Jimmer. Just think about it. The greatest and most famous basketball player in the history of the school, gone. Just like that.
Nobody else in BYU history has had first name only status. Steve? Ty? Danny? They don't work. Only Jimmer. And if he can't put the Cougars on his shoulders once again and score 40 or 50 today, I think Jimmer's brilliant BYU career is going to come to an end. Gonzaga is too big and playing too well right now, and the Cougars really haven't looked that good since the Brandon Davies suspension.
Having said that, if Jackson Emery suddenly regains his shooting touch, or Noah Hartsock knocks down four or five 3-pointers, or Charles Abouo rebounds like the monster he can be, BYU won't need Jimmer to do it all himself and they'll have a chance to win.
But Gonzaga is much better than an 11-seed. That's why they're actually favored to beat a 3-seed. They destroyed one of the beasts of the Big East, St. John's. It wasn't ever close. If the Bulldogs play like that today, then the greatest basketball player in the history of BYU will never put on a Cougar uniform again. That will take a while to sink in. Let's just hope he has at least a few more games left in him. He's been so fun to watch, I don't think anybody wants to see his college career end.
Then again, maybe he'll get drafted by the Jazz.
