BYU basketball: Previewing the Cougars’ backcourt

Nick Emery

Let’s start with the returning starter and new leader of the Cougars, Nick Emery.

Emery showed flashes of brilliance last season, but like most underclassmen, he struggled with consistency.

He scored 16 points or more in 18 games for BYU last season, but scored less than 16 points in 18 games. He also had six contests where he scored 10 or less.

But now with a full season under his belt, and with Kyle Collinsworth playing for the Mavericks, this offense belongs to Emery.

Emery said he’s in a better place this season.

“I felt like as a freshman I was so inconsistent and my mind wasn’t in the right place,” Emery said at media day. “Now, being a veteran player as a sophomore is kind of weird, but it’s an opportunity for me to get better at being a leader and getting guys involved.”

Emery averaged 16.3 points per game last season on 43 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent from three-point range.