BYU Basketball: How does Nick Emery fit into the Cougar’s plans next season?
BYU appears to be getting back a double-digit scorer in guard Nick Emery for the 2018-19 season. But how does he fit in with the team’s plans?
When BYU lost Eric Mika unexpectantly to the pros, they were hoping that the remaining players would collectively pick up the slack. But the team suffered a huge blow right before this season, with junior Nick Emery withdrawing from the school, citing personal reasons.
He averaged 14.7 ppg in his first two seasons, shooting 37% from three-point range.
His absence was felt on the perimeter for BYU, struggling with shooting consistency outside of Elijah Bryant. That was one of the reasons why the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row.
But with no seniors on the roster, the hope is that the Cougars will grow even more to make another run at it. And it looks like they’ll have another weapon to use.
Just had a quick chat with Nick Emery outside the Marriott Center, looks like he's back doing workouts with the team.
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) April 2, 2018
This is big for a team who could desperately use another offensive option besides both Bryant and Yoeli Childs. But there are roster considerations to think about, as well as the style of play.
The first question that comes to mind is whether Nick Emery would even start when he comes back? Right now, Jashire Hardnett is the starting point guard, with TJ Haws at the “two spot” and Bryant playing the “three”.
Emery is a natural shooting guard, so it’s a possibility that he starts and slides Haws as the point guard, where he played the second half of the previous season. But that poses a problem defensively, with athletic guards being able to drive against them as well.
BYU also played a more slow-paced offensive style, which is the opposite of how both Emery and Haws normally likes to play. Another option could be to have him as a reliable sixth man to make sure there’s still an offensive threat, but would the junior except that?
Next: 2018-19 Preseason Top 25
There will be some roster transactions this off-season for BYU Basketball, while Emery being one of them. But how he’ll be used will be one of the biggest questions going forward.