Top Ten Battle in Provo: San Diego St at BYU

San Diego St Aztecs at BYU Cougars, Marriott Center, Provo, UT
Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 10:00 pm Eastern, TV: CBS College Sports
Opening Line: BYU -5
Current Line: BYU -5
Opening Total: 143
Current Total: 145
Money Line: BYU -240 / SDSU +200

Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars are a 5 point favorite against the undefeated San Diego St Aztecs in Provo. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally.

San Diego St is one of two undefeated teams left in the country along with Ohio St. The Aztecs are 20-0 and 5-0 in the Mountain West conference. They travel to Provo to take on the 19-1 BYU Cougars. BYU is also 5-0 in conference. San Diego St is ranked #4 in the country and BYU is ranked #9. This is the first match-up between two teams ranked in the top ten that aren’t from the 6 power conferences since Memphis played at Gonzaga in December 2005. San Diego St has wins over Gonzaga, St Mary’s (CA), Wichita St, Cal, TCU, Utah, UNLV, New Mexico and Air Force. on the year. They won by 13 68-55 against Air Force at home last Wednesday. They have had a week to rest up as they were off over the weekend. BYU has won 9 straight since losing to UCLA 86-79 the week before Christmas. BYU has wins over Fresno, Utah St, South Florida, St. Mary’s (CA), Creighton, Hawaii, Arizona, UTEP, UNLV, Air Force, Utah, TCU, and Colorado St on the year. BYU won at Colorado St on Saturday 94-85. BYU leads the overall series against San Diego St 46-22. BYU has won 4 of the last 5 straight up and is 3-2 against the spread in the last 3 years. San Diego St is 16-7 ATS in road games the last two seasons. The Aztecs are 8-1 ATS versus teams with winning records this season.

San Diego St has no significant injuries. The Aztecs are led by Kawhi Leonard. He is averaging a double double with 15.7 points, and 10.3 rebounds to lead the team in each category. He also averages 2.6 assists and leads the team in steals with 1.5 a game. Senior point guard D.J. Gay is averaging 12.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists to lead the team. Forward Malcolm Thomas averages 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and leads the team in blocks with 2.1 a game. San Diego St is outscoring opponents 74-59 on the season. The Aztecs shoot 49.2% from the field and 34.8% from 3-point range. Aztec opponents are shooting 40% from the field. SDSU makes 67% of their free throws. The Aztecs average 35.9 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +6.5. San Diego St averages 14.4 assists and 11.1 turnovers a game. SDSU forces 13.1 turnovers a game on defense. The Aztecs average 6.2 steals and 4.7 blocks a game.

BYU has been playing with out reserve forward Chris Collinsworth since conference play began. He is out indewfinitely with a knee injury. Collinsworth averaged only 16 minutes a game and scored 5.9 points a game, but he was one of the Cougar’s top rebounders with 5.6 a game. His little brother Kyle also plays for the Cougars. The Cougars are led by the nation’s leading scorer, guard James Fredette better known as Jimmer. Fredette has a chance to win the Naismith Award for the nation’s best player. He has one of the sweetest shots in the country, and will be a lottery pick in the NBA draft. Fredette is averaging 26.7 points a game, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists to lead the team, and 1.3 steals a game. He is shooting 41% from 3 point range and 90% from the free throw line. Guard Jackson Emery averages 13 points a game, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and leads the team in steals with 2.6 a game. Forward Brandon Davies averages 11.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1 assist a game. Noah Hartsock averages 9.8 points, and leads the team in rebounds with 5.8 a game and blocks with 1.6 a game. BYU is outscoring opponents 85-68 on the season. The Cougars average 46.1% shooting from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range. Cougar opponents are shooting 40.7% from the field. BYU shoots 73.7% from the free throw line. BYU averages 40.2 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +4.4. The Cougars average 15.4 assists and 10.9 turnovers a game. They force 15.4 turnovers a game on defense. BYU averages 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks a game.

San Diego St can’t stop Fredette as no one has this season. His lowest point output this season was against Creihgton when he scored 13 on 5 out of 15 shooting. He has made at least one 3 pointer in every game except against Hawaii. San Diego St’s best bet might be to let Fredette get his but lock down every one else. However, you don’t want him to get too hot. He has scored over40 points in two of his last 3 games played. The Aztecs will guard Fredette with D.J. Gay most of the time, but expect some zone as well. It should be a great game between two excellent teams.