Payton Dastrup's moment vs UMass seemed to transform the Cougars.
His late game heroics evokes Skyler Halford's shocking solo vs San Diego in January 2014 after what may have been the lowest point of the Dave Rose era following four straight losses to Utah, Oregon, LMU, and Pepperdine. Halford didn't contribute a whole lot the rest of that season after his 28 point barrage, but others did. The Cougars went on to sweep SMC and log a victory over Gonzaga at the MC. The following year Halford went on to lead the team with his impressive senior season and BYU's most efficient offense in recorded history.
Payton hasn't yet provided an encore, but he did gift the team the sweet savor of victory that prepared the way for McKay Cannon's emergence on the subsequent in-State tour which has injected considerable hope and optimism in Cougar Nation.
But more players have to regain their touch to sustain a possible WCC surge. Prospects for the big dance are dependent on the reemergence of marquee 3 point shooters TJ haws and Zac Seljaas. What the Cougars cannot continue to depend upon is their otherworldly > 80% team free throw percentage (ex Alabama) that has carried the offense to decency.
A good bet is that TJ and Zac are about to explode, detonated by the unexpected season saving performances of Dastrup and Cannon.
It happens that way. Recall the painfully slow start two years ago from highly touted 3 point shooters Chase Fischer and Nick Emery. It was the preemie babe Zac Seljaas who led them out of their funk and enabled senior Chase and RM Nick to fire away at close to 40% on some 500 shots for the rest of the season.
It might not be fair to label the 38% accuracy by Zac as a slow start, but we would like to see him launch a few more treys and perhaps raise his conversion rate closer to his WCC leading 50% of two years ago.
But those who know TJ and Zac know they have talent, and also have hearts of champions.
It won't be long now.