Dynamic Duo - Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery

Dynamic duos sell movie tickets — Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. They save cities from evil villains — Batman and Robin. They make great sandwiches — peanut butter and jelly. They rescue princesses — Mario and Luigi. They also win basketball games — Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery.

Seniors Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery are entering their third season as BYU basketball’s starting backcourt. In the last two seasons starting together they combined for 1,981 points, 490 assists, 229 steals, 254 three-pointers and the most important number — 55 wins. While others have also played key roles during the winningest two-year stretch in Cougar hoops history, the backcourt of Fredette and Emery is a key cog in the BYU winning machine.

“More than anything for Jimmer and I, we’re competitors,” Emery said “We hate losing. When you’re a competitor you find a way to win. Whether it’s scoring points, defending a player so he doesn’t score, rebounding, or making the extra pass to a guy who’s hitting a lot of shots that game, you do what it takes. We just figure out each game how to win and then we execute it that way. We don’t try to pile up our own stats but try to do what the team needs in order to win.”

One of the best backcourt duos in Cougar basketball history was Danny Ainge and Scott Runia, who started three seasons together from 1977 to 1980. Their numbers compare very favorably to those of Fredette and Emery and they led BYU to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Runia and Ainge won 56 games together at a .644 clip, a win total Fredette and Emery will tie with BYU’s first win in 2010-11 and a percentage they will surely surpass if they keep up their current pace (.797).

So what is it that sets Fredette and Emery apart? Who saw this coming and what were the key moments in their development as BYU’s current Dynamic Duo?

There wasn’t much buzz surrounding Emery and Fredette’s first start together on Nov. 18, 2008, at Pepperdine when they were sophomores. In fact, BYU had a different starting backcourt every season since Dave Rose took over the program in 2005. Expectations were high for the multi-tooled Lee Cummard and sharpshooter Jonathan Tavernari and more tempered for Fredette and Emery. Emery was coming off a two-year mission to Mexico. He started six games in 2005-06 but did not see a ton of court time, averaging 10.0 minutes per game. Fredette played 18.5 minutes per game as a freshman but did not make a single start.

While neither Fredette nor Emery made a big splash at Pepperdine, there were glimmers of what was to come. Emery finished with nine points, nine assists and two steals and Fredette contributed 16 points and five assists in an 82-53 win. Not bad for a pair of sophomores.

Soon they were making big contributions and becoming a dangerous pair. Emery established a reputation for his hustle and toughness. At Tulsa that season he jumped high for a loose ball but landed awkwardly on both elbows. Bandages and an elbow pad that he wore the rest of the season did not keep him from diving for loose balls and making big plays.

Fredette burst onto the scene against No. 6 Wake Forest and future NBA draft pick Jeff Teague with 23 points — including 18 in the first half. Later in the season the two combined to save BYU’s conference title hopes at San Diego State. The Cougars rallied from a 14-point second half deficit and put the game away with a 15-0 run that included nine points from Fredette and six from Emery. Fredette finished the game with 28 points with 20 coming in the second half. BYU won its last three regular season games — thanks in big part to Emery’s heroics in the clincher vs. Air Force — and earned a share of the MWC regular season title.

It was obvious that throughout the season, they were becoming more and more familiar with each other’s game.

“We know where the other is going to be,” Fredette said. “If one drives then we know the other is going to be in their spot. Knowing where they are on the floor helps and we know that defensively we’re going to be in the right spots.”

“If Jimmer drives to the middle I know where I’m going to be and he knows where I’m going to be,” Emery said. “We just have a natural reaction to each other of where we’re going to be and where we’re going to end up on the floor.”

While the Cougars failed to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament that season, it was becoming apparent that Rose had a pair of leaders in his backcourt.

Those that knew Fredette and Emery as high school stars would not have been surprised at their early success. Emery was Utah’s Mr. Basketball as a senior at Lone Peak while leading the Knights to the 4A state title. He is Lone Peak’s second leading scorer and all-time leader in steals. Fredette concluded his career at Glens Falls High School sixth on New York’s all-time scoring list with 2,404 points. As a senior he led Glens Falls to the state championship game while averaging 28.8 points.

Both excelled in high school and led their programs to great heights and both learned valuable leadership skills along the way. Those experiences were critical in helping them develop into the players they are today.

“Jackson and I are both winners and have been throughout our careers — in high school and AAU,” Fredette said. “At all different levels we’ve been winners and leaders of our teams. We’re both unselfish players. We just want to win and I think that’s a huge key. We go out there and do whatever it takes to show we can play and win at this level.”

Fredette and Emery continued to emerge last season. Both had notable games early on — Fredette 25 points vs. Bradley, Emery 17 points and five threes vs. Arizona State — but nothing compared to the four-game stretch from Dec. 19 to Dec. 28. The starting guards led an offensive onslaught during which the Cougars out-scored their opponents by an average of 97.0 to 68.2. Fredette averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 assists and 2.0 steals during that stretch while Emery averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals.

Included in that memorable run was Fredette’s record-setting performance at Arizona when he set BYU records with 49 points and nine threes while adding nine assists and seven rebounds. What many do not remember about that game is that Emery also approached a triple-double with 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

The big games and big performances continued into the conference season. Fredette scored 33 at San Diego State, 36 in the Coaches vs. Cancer game against Utah, 36 at Colorado State and 45 vs. TCU in the MWC Tournament.

“Jimmer is an explosive player and plays at his own speed and his own style,” Emery said. “That’s what makes him so hard to play against. You can never really rush Jimmer because he just plays the way he wants to play. He knows exactly how he wants to play. He doesn’t care who’s guarding him or what the defense does; he’s going to do what he does. He’s so versatile on offense that you really don’t know how to guard him.”

Emery had nine conference games with at least three steals, including five vs. San Diego State and New Mexico and six vs. Utah. He also put up 22 points at TCU, 18 vs. Air Force and 17 vs. San Diego State.

“Jackson brings consistency,” Fredette said. “Coach Rose stresses that throughout the year, to be consistent. He’s a consistent shooter. He’s always going to make shots and get rebounds and play great defense and do all the little things for the team to win. Jackson’s a great anticipator. He gets a lot of steals for us. I can always tell when Jackson’s ready to get a steal.”

The 2009-10 season culminated with the biggest win for the program in 17 years, a victory in the NCAA Tournament. While Fredette and Emery weren’t the only stars for the Cougars that night, their leadership, knack for the big play and grit helped BYU defeat Florida 99-92 in double overtime.

The Cougars led throughout the first half, but the Gators rallied and led by as many as seven with 7:02 remaining in regulation. When BYU trailed 74-70 with 1:29 remaining, it was Emery’s three from the top of the key that gave the Cougars life. After Florida hit one of two from the line, Fredette forced overtime with a left-handed layup with 26 seconds remaining. He then scored 10 of his 37 points in the second overtime, including two big threes to put the game out of reach.

With their senior season just around the corner, expectations are high for Fredette, Emery and the Cougars. By now the two know each other so well they almost gave the same response when asked how they compliment each other.

Fredette’s thoughts: “Jackson’s a very athletic player and he can shoot the three ball and from anywhere on the floor extremely well. That plays into my game very well because I like to drive to the basket and get in the lane and make a play for myself or for my teammates. I know that if they help off Jackson and I kick out to him, he’s going to make a three and then they’re going to think twice about helping when I beat my man the next time. That really helps me out because he can spread the floor.”

Emery’s thoughts: “Jimmer’s terrific at one-on-one basketball, breaking guys down, driving and getting to the hoop and drawing a lot of attention to him. I’m kind of the opposite where I’m a great spot up shooter. If you leave me open, if you have to help on Jimmer and he kicks out to me, I take pride in hitting those shots. If you have a guy that can drive and get to the basket and if they collapse on him kick out and have another guy that can shoot it’s kind of a dual threat. On defense we’re pretty active at getting into the passing lanes and creating havoc and creating some offense through our defense.”

The 2010-11 season tips off on Nov. 12 at home against Fresno State. Together, Fredette and Emery have helped take Cougar basketball to a new level of winning. While this season is yet to be written, fans won’t want to miss BYU’s backcourt stars in action. Dynamic duos like this don’t come around very often.

Notables

Jimmer Fredette

Preseason All-America First Team (Blue Ribbon, Athlon Sports, Sporting News, Dickie V’s)

John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50

2010 Basketball Times All-America Second Team

2010 NABC State Farm Coaches' Division I All-America Third Team

2010 Lute Olson All-America

2010 AP All-America Honorable Mention

2010 Sporting News All-America Third Team

All-MWC First Team (2009, 2010)

MWC All-Tournament (2009, 2010)

2010 USBWA All-District VIII Player of the Year

Jackson Emery

2010 USBWA All-District VIII

2010 NABC All-District 17 Second Team

2010 All-MWC Second Team

MWC All-Defensive Team (2009, 2010)

Academic All-MWC (2006, 2009, 2010)

2010 CollegeHoops.net High-Major All-America Honorable Mention

2010 NABC Honors Court

In the BYU Record Book

Jimmer Fredette

Career free throw percentage – 3rd, .874

Career threes – 2rd, 172

Career assists – 8th, 355

Career points – 11th, 1,531

Career steals – 11th, 118

Single season points – 4th, 751 in 2009-10

Single season assists – 4th, 159 in 2009-10

Single season threes – 4th, 77 in 2009-10

Jackson Emery

Career steals – 4th, 148

Career threes – 7th, 138

Career assists – 23rd, 215

227 points shy of 1,000 career points

Single season assists – 1st, 91 in 2009-10

Single season threes – T-2nd, 85

Fredette and Emery in 2008-09
Year      GP-GS  Min--Avg   FG-FGA   Pct   3FG-FGA   Pct   FT-FTA   Pct
Fredette  33-32  1090--33.0 184-383  .480  52-136    .382  116-137  .847
Emery     33-32   942--28.5  85-177  .480  40-106    .377  48-65    .738
Total            2032--61.6 269-560  .480  92-242    .380  164-202  .812
Year      Off-Def-Tot--Avg   PF-FO   A--Avg   TO   Blk   Stl   Pts--Avg
Fredette  18-80-98--3.0      43-0    135--4.1 85   3     50    536--16.2
Emery     16-109-125-3.8     88-5    100--3.0 36   10    47    258--7.8
Total     34-189-223-7.1     131-5   235--7.1 121  13    97    794--24.1

Fredette and Emery in 2009-10
Year      GP-GS  Min--Avg   FG-FGA   Pct   3FG-FGA   Pct   FT-FTA   Pct
Fredette  34-33  1059--31.1 225-491  .458  77-175    .440  224-251  .892
Emery     35-35  1011--28.9 145-298  .487  85-197    .431  61-82    .744
Total            2070--60.0 370-789  .469 162-372    .435  285-333  .856
Year      Off-Def-Tot--Avg   PF-FO   A--Avg   TO   Blk   Stl   Pts--Avg
Fredette  25-80-105--3.1     36-0    159--4.7 93   5     41    751--22.1
Emery     27-129-156--4.5    90-1    96--2.7  42   11    91    436--12.5
Total     52-209-261-7.6     126-1   255--7.4 135  16    132   1187--34.4
Fredette and Emery Two-Year Totals
Min--Avg    FG-FGA    Pct    3FG-FGA    Pct    FT-FTA    Pct
4102--60.8  639-1349  .474   254-614    .474   449-535   .839
Off-Def-Tot--Avg   PF-FO   A--Avg    TO   Blk   Stl   Pts--Avg
86-398-484--7.3    257-5   490--7.3  256  29    229   1981--29.3