Barkley joined ESPN Radio New York with Mike Lupica to talk about his reaction to last Thursday night’s NBA Draft, being impressed by Jan Veseley’s girlfriend marking her territory by kissing Veseley after his name was called as the No. 6 pick by the Washington Wizards, why he thinks it’s terrible for the NBA for the bad teams not to be guaranteed to get great talent early in the draft because of the reality that unready, young talent is constantly entering the draft, how he thinks Brandon Knight will be the better than Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette, the other three guards selected in the top ten, how despite thinking Derek Williams is a great talent how he’s concerned about what position Williams is best suited to play at the NBA level, how big of a miracle it would take for David Stern to help avoid a lockout in the NBA, why he thinks Stern is the best commissioner in professional sports the past 25 years, what he believes are the two biggest issues surrounding the looming labor impasse, how he’s advised his good buddy Michael Jordan (and would do the same to other owners) to stop overpaying for mediocre talent in attempt to just squeak into the playoffs and be bounced early, and why he thinks it’s a better strategy to just lose a bunch of games and ensure that you get high draft picks.

On how much of the NBA Draft did he watch Thursday night:

“I watched the whole draft.”

If he caught the kiss Jan Veseley had with his gorgeous girlfriend after being selected by the Washington Wizards:

“I like the fact that she was marking her territory. She wanted everyone to know that ‘this is my millionaire and nobody can have them.’ I like that. Hey, millionaires don’t grow on trees.”

On which of the following four guards taken in the first 10 picks does he feel we’ll be talking about the most in several years time — Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, and Brandon Knight:

“You know, that’s a really good question. I actually think Knight has the biggest upside out of those four myself. I actually think the best player in the draft was Enes Kanter out of Turkey. If I had the No. 1 pick, I’d have taken that kid out of Turkey. But out of those four guards, I think Knight has got the biggest upside in my opinion.”

On if he’d agree that taking European players is the biggest crap shoot beacuse of how little they’re able to watch them:

“First of all, you’re correct. Even if they watched them play, they couldn’t have watched them…I think to watch a guy play, you have to watch him four or five times. But you can say the same about Kyrie Irving; he only played 10 games basically in college. But also, one of the reasons I don’t like the draft is because I would listen…Jeff Van Gundy is very good and Jay and Jon were good, but like, all you hear all night is ‘he’s a project. He’s got potential.’ See, that’s why I hate young kids coming to the NBA, because that’s not what the draft is for. The draft is designed for bad teams to get help; they’re not supposed to get a project. I think it does a disservice to the game, I think it does a disservice to the fans — because if I’m a fan and my team is a crappy team, I don’t want them drafting a guy that I’ve got to wait to see if he’s going to be any good; that doesn’t help me as a fan. The draft used to be designed as okay my team stinks, I’m going to get Hakeem Olajuwon, I’m going to get Tim Duncan, or Michael Jordan or Karl Malone or someone like that. To draft a kid No. 1 that only played overseas, or a kid that’s only played 10 college games or one year, he’s not going to be no immediate help to my team. That’s why I hate all these kids coming to the NBA.”

On what he thinks of Arizona’s Derek Williams, selected No. 2 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves:

“I think he’s terrific. I think the only problem with him is what position is he going to play. Because in the NBA, you have to be able to play a certain position. The 3 and 4 are like night and day. The 3 he’s going to be chasing guys off picks; the 4 he’s going to clearly be the power forward and supposed to be a dominant defender and rebounder. So I think he’s the classic ‘tweener’. I think he’s good enough to have an impact on the game, but the only reason I wouldn’t have taken him No. 1 is I don’t know what position he’s going to play, to be honest with you because he’s a classic ‘tweener.’”

On the impending NBA Lockout and what a miracle it would be if David Stern would be able to bridge the huge divide between all the various parties involved:

“Well I think, and I’m not saying this because I’m in the NBA, if you go back and look, David Stern has been the best commissioner in sports the last 25 years. It would take a miracle on his part not to have a lockout and I truly believe that. I think there’s going to be a lockout, I think the owners are dug in, I think they want to send a message to these players. I think they’re really upset by this LeBron James / Chris Bosh situation, because their teams don’t have to be really good, but I feel like if they have a star in their market they can make some money. And if all the stars want to play together…we’re almost becoming like baseball where you’ve got a few good teams and the rest of them stink.”

But wait, even though there’s a handful of powerhouse teams in baseball, there’s still been nine different teams who have won the World Series in the past decade:

“Yeah but it’s different because we make all our money on television. And those teams…like the San Francisco Giants can win the World Series if they’ve got great pitching, but they don’t make any money on television like we do in the NBA. Then we have that rule where you can only show a team ‘X’ amount of times. So now we’re stuck. Why are we going to show the Cleveland Cavaliers? Why are we going to show the Toronto Raptors? We can’t do that. Now you’ve got the thing brewing with Dwight Howard, and now you’ve got the thing brewing with Chris Paul, and it’s like why would we show Orlando if Dwight Howard is not there? And why would we show New Orleans if Chris Paul is not there? I think because they’re upset that some of these players all want to play together…..I think the players are going to have to take a really shoddy deal not to have a lockout. And I shouldn’t say a shoddy deal, but they’re going to put some things in play where all these players can’t play together — that’s first and foremost. And I think they are going to bring these salaries down, as far as ‘X’ amount of years. I think they’re definitely going to do those two things.”

On how he feels his good buddy Michael Jordan is doing trying to build a winner in Charlotte:

“Well I think he made the first step [Thursday] night to be honest with you. I’ve been telling Michael — see, first of all under this current system you are correct — but what I’ve told him, and I actually told him two years ago, that team….Jeff Van Gundy was great during the draft last night, and I’ve been saying this for three or four years, a lot of people got mad at me — I wouldn’t be trying to win games if I were a mediocre team, I’d be throwing games. I want to get draft picks and draft space, the exact same way the Miami Heat and New York Knicks did it. This notion where you’re the No. 6, 7 or 8 seed every year and you’re going to lose, I think that’s the silliest thing in the world. Jeff Van Gundy said it last night — he said I don’t understand why these teams…you know, they gave me a hard time in Philadelphia last year; I said they’re going to be the 6, 7 or 8 seed and they’re going to lose in the first round. I said Philadelphia needs draft picks, young players and cap space. And Jeff Van Gundy said it last night, and I’ve been saying it for three or four years. I told Michael two, three years ago — you’re paying Gerald Wallace, you’re paying Stephen Jackson, you’re paying Okafor, you’re going to be the 6, 7, or 8 seed, and you’re going to lose in the first round of the playoffs every year. I personally think you should do it like Oklahoma City do it — they drafted well every year, and now they’re a legit contender. See this is my philosophy: my best player is going to make the most money. I’m not going to pay mediocre players. I think that’s the stupidest thing in the world. I forget the old baseball analogy, but a guy asks for a lot of money and they say ‘hey man, we’ve come in last place with you, we’ll come in last place without you.’ I 100 percent agree with that. I’m  not going to pay guys $10, $12, $15 million dollars and we lose in the first round of the playoffs every year. I think that’s absurd. And the fans, I would tell the fans ‘we’re not very good; we’re going to start over. You guys are going to have to be patient, because the way the system is now, I’m pay three or four guys $10, $12, $15 million dollars, we’re the 6, 7, 8 seed, we’re not going to get a good draft pick.’ And I think that’s the silliest thing in the world to be honest with you.”

Listen here to Barkley with Mike Lupica on ESPN Radio New York

Fredette worked out for five teams, including two that hit very close to home with him. A native of New York who grew up a Knicks fan,  Fredette said after working out with New York that playing at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks is probably his top choice. However, the second best option — and one he would be just as happy with at the end of the day — would be to play for the Utah Jazz. The Jazz of course play just a short drive up the interstate from where Fredette played his college ball at BYU.

One thing is for certain, wherever Jimmer lands, he’ll have some critics and naysayers. Some have said the undersized guard is lacking at the defensive end. Others, like Dan Patrick in the following interview, question whether he can be a distributor after hoisting so many shots this past year. At his height, logic suggests he’ll have to play some point guard in order to not get lit up by the game’s best 2 guards.  We’re inching closer to getting answers to all of these questions.

Jimmer Fredette joined The Dan Patrick Show to discuss where he thinks he’ll go Thursday in the 2011 NBA Draft, whether he has a preference between playing for the Jazz or the Knicks, what he saw in workouts last year that made him go back to school, his thoughts on his fellow guards in the draft, why he didn’t work out with the Bucks, and how he believes he can be a key distributor of the ball and more than just a spot shooter at the next level.

Where will you be playing next year?:

“I literally couldn’t tell you. I’ve heard so many different scenarios. All the mock drafts and everybody has been telling me completely different things. I think I’ll possibly land with one of the teams I worked out for. I worked out for five teams and I think I’ll land somewhere around there but it’s so tough just because you don’t know what’s going to happen. You don’t know who’s going to be there once the team is picking and if there’s going to be trades. I wish I could tell you.”

If I told you you could play for Utah, where you played in college, or the Knicks, your favorite team growing up, what would you choose?:

“That’s a tough question. I have great fan bases in both spots and I felt very, very comfortable in both places. They’re like a 1A and 1B for me, really. I would love either spot. I know they’re my top two choices, but I don’t think I could really pick. … I would probably say the Knicks is 1A.”

What happened in his workout with the Knicks last year that made him realize he wasn’t ready for the NBA?:

“I think the biggest thing was I was just looking for a guarantee from someone and up to that point I didn’t get a guarantee from any team that they would pick me in the late first round or early second round. And I talked to Danny Ainge, who was a big help, and also Allan Houston … guys who came back for their senior year and had a great time their senior year, were able to accomplish a lot and increased their draft stock. … They felt like it was probably more sensible for me to have another great year of college, enjoy it as much as I possibly can instead of going into the NBA and possibly being picked in the second round or not even picked.”

Do you think teams will be making a mistake if they pick Brandon Knight or Kyrie Irving before you?:

“You know, it’s hard to tell. I think that both guards are very, very talented, quick guards that can get into the lane and penetrate. I think that’s what the scouts have seen. They have a tremendous upside, can really play basketball and are very, very quick, very fast. … I don’t think they can go wrong in picking either one of them.”

Why did you decline to work out with the Bucks?:

“I haven’t been a huge part of making the schedule. I’ve talked to my agents a little bit. We felt like it’s probably not as good of a fit for me as these other teams. I think a lot of it’s that they have a great point guard already, a really young point guard in Brandon Jennings and a guy that they’re probably going to build their franchise around. He’s worthy of that; he’s a very good player. They drafted him high and he’s a great player in this league. We felt like it was a better fit for me in terms of these other teams.”

After having the green light to shoot whenever he wanted at BYU, is he capable of being a pass-first player?:

“Yeah, definitely. Like I said before, I haven’t always been the man on my team. This last year was an exception to where I was a guy that had to distribute the ball but I also had to score at a high volume for us to be successful. My first couple years at BYU, my freshman and sophomore year, I wasn’t the guy that was taking all the shots. … We had other guys that were proven and that Coach wanted to get the ball to. … I’ve been in both roles and that’s my plan, to go into the NBA and be able to an impact right away.”

Listen to Jimmer Fredette on The Dan Patrick Show here

Fredette was named just that by the Associated Press heading into the Final Four weekend. Fredette led the nation in scoring and took the BYU Cougars to the Sweet Sixteen. There, however, they lost to the Florida Gators in what was a forgettable night for Fredette.

Now the questions turn to how he might pan out as an NBA player. He tested the draft waters a year ago before deciding to return for his senior season. Soon, we’ll see exactly where he goes in the draft. Fredette says he’s patterned much of his game around that of Steve Nash. How many believe he can be that kind of difference maker at the next level?

Jimmer Fredette joined XTRA Sports in Phoenix with Bickley and MJ to discuss how his story rose to the national level, where the name Jimmer came from, his outstanding range when it comes to outside shooting, ending his career with one of his worst games of the year, patterning his game after Steve Nash and why he believes he’ll be successful at the next level.

What did he make of the way people gravitated toward him and his story this year?:

“It was amazing, really. I never expected that type of media attention when I came back to school this year. I knew that I could play well, I knew that I could make an impact and maybe get some national exposure and be in this conversation for Player of the Year, but I didn’t know the people would love it so much. … It’s been so much fun and I’ve just had a blast with it.”

Where did the name Jimmer come from?:

“My mom. … My real name is James, but ever since I was born, she called me Jimmer. That’s what she wanted my name to be. That’s what happened and she would always get mad if people called me James.”

On his crazy shooting range:

“I’ve shot from pretty far this season. I only do it sometimes, especially when the guy’s playing off of me. The coaches have given me the green light and they have confidence that I can make that shot and so does my teammates. But at the next level, I’m not just going to be out there jacking shots like that, because that’s not what I do. But in this case I was able to do that at some times.”

On ending his career with one of his worst games of the year:

“It definitely wasn’t one of my better games and that happens to people. You just don’t have a great game. Sometimes you get caught up in the moment and you want to get everything right away and try to win the game. … Some of the shots weren’t the greatest shots in the world, but I had some good looks that I just wasn’t putting into the basket. I didn’t play great overall, but we still had a chance to win.”

On patterning some of his game from Steve Nash:

“I’ve watched him my entire life and he’s been a big influence in my game, just the way that he can get into the lane and be able to finish at the rim, no matter how he shoots it. … And just how he can handle the ball and nobody can take it from him. He’s almost daring them to come get it so he can go by them.”

How does he see his draft prospects shaping up?:

“It’s definitely going to be an adjustment, just like from high school to college, college to NBA is an even bigger difference. And I realize that, but I’m determined to play well. I’m determined to go out there and make a name for myself. I know I can do it, as long as I go out there and play my game, play well. I just have to earn the respect of my teammates and everybody in the organization and I know if I do that, I’m going to have a successful career.”

Listen to Jimmer Fredette on XTRA Sports in Phoenix here

Bolstered by the continued dominance of Jimmer Fredette, the Cougars have proved that they can. A leading candidate for National Player of the Year, Fredette is averaging a nation’s best 28.5 points per game. In NCAA tournament victories over Wofford and Gonzaga, he scored a combined 66 points.

That said, now the question is how far Jimmer can carry the team. The Cougars won those two games against mid-major opponents pretty handily, but now face an SEC foe in Florida that knows it is the highest seeded team left in the Southeast Region. The two tangle tonight for a trip to the Elite Eight.

BYU coach Dave Rose joined The Jim Rome Show to discuss the dominant victory over Gonzaga, if his team can keep this up, how he and his staff gameplan knowing they’ve got Jimmer at their disposal, if he still thought he had a Sweet Sixteen team when Davies was suspended, if the school discussed any alternative punishment and his emotions after the Cougars advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

Can his guys play any better than it did in beating Gonzaga?:

“Offensively, we didn’t turn the ball over much and we got really good shots. We shot 14-for-28 from the 3-point line and it’s kind of the makeup of this new group of guys and how we play. If we shoot the ball like that, I think we’ll be pretty tough to beat.”

Can they keep that up?:

“We’ll see. We’ve had four, five, six games this season where everybody has been at their best, offensively. Jimmer has carried us, obviously, offensively, throughout the entire year. … But the game is so much easier for him [when others are hot].”

How much of his gameplan goes into figuring out how to get Jimmer looks?:“I think that’s kind of the uniqueness of this team because for Jimmer to get his, the rest of the guys have to be really active. If they just get caught standing, the opportunities for Jimmer to find space and create space [go down]. … Jimmer does a great job of finding players. So probably most of it is where we spend a lot more time with the other players and let Jimmer read and react.”

When they lost Brandon Davies and got beat by New Mexico, did he still think he had a Sweet Sixteen team?:

“Our staff met and we talked about a lot of different things we could do. We went through big games that we had won when Brandon had been in foul trouble. … We just felt like if we could get some time to kind of work through this, that this team would be good. Jimmer’s terrific. He’s as good an offensive player that I’ve ever been around. … We had a lot of confidence. Our challenge was to get our players to believe that they could still be a really good team.”

Was their any discussion about letting Davies play and finding another punishment?:

“I respect the fact that people don’t really understand what the students here agree to. … But the students that do come, they do understand. It wasn’t a matter of having to explain to our team, ‘Hey listen, this is his review, this is a possibility, this might not happen, this might happen.’ They knew. It was a situation where they accepted it. The team accepts it and you move forward.”

Why was he so emotional after winning to make the Sweet Sixteen?:

“I just know how hard these players have worked and not just this group of players. … We have great fans, a great basketball tradition here, an unbelievable administration and commitment to basketball. And now this group of players has actually got us into a spot in the national tournament where we haven’t been for a long time. I just feel genuine joy for these people.”

Listen to Dave Rose on The Jim Rome Show here

Steve Fisher joined XX Sports Radio in San Diego with Scott and BR to discuss how the Aztecs will attempt to keep a level head as the program enters uncharted territory in the Sweet 16, his view on the Big East’s surprisingly mediocre  performance so far in the tournament, if his team will be intimidated by UCONN, whether guarding Kemba Walker as a team will be in any way similar to the challenge of shutting down BYU scoring machine Jimmer Fredette, and the momentarily scary collision on Saturday when Kawhi Leonard came crashing into him during Saturday’s thrilling double-overtime win over Temple.

How does he keep the excitement from getting out of hand?:

“I think we’re going to be fine. We did what everybody wanted to talk about, we won our first game. … Now we’re playing a storied program in Connecticut. … I think all the hype and all that has faded. It’s a big, big game. Every step of the way the games get more significant, obviously, but I don’t think we’ll have a problem with that.”

His thoughts on how good the Big East really was given the troubles in the tournament:

“When you have one-and-dones, often times the better team doesn’t win. You can go back and look at some of the Big East losses and, without question, say if they played it again, nine out of 10 times, the Big East team would’ve won, but they didn’t because it’s one and done. But the Big East was, without question, the best league in the United States.”

So UCONN is still as dangerous as ever despite the weak start by its conference?:

“Without question. But if you go into their conference commissioner’s office, he would be hanging his head saying, ‘We’ve had a miserable showing.’ … It’s all performance-based. Nobody cares what I’m saying. You win, you move on. But, that league is terrific and those teams are terrific. They weren’t in the game that they played when they lost.”

Could his team run into an intimidation factor given Connecticut’s history?:

“They also know that they got beat by the University of San Diego. Our kids will be ready to play. … They will not be in awe or intimidated by Kemba Walker, Jim Calhoun, the name Connecticut on the front of their jersey. … We’re ready to play and we think, myself included, that we’re the better team.”

Is there a comparison to trying to guard Walker like trying to guard Jimmer Fredette?:

“Maybe a little bit. They’re capable of putting a bigger perimeter lineup out there and they are both big-time, big-time scorers and they do it in a variety of ways. Walker is jet-quick with the ball. … He’s been a handful for everybody, but I do think that we had some experience trying to guard Fredette that that gameplan will be a little bit similar.”

On getting hit by star Kawhi Leonard and sent reeling into the bench:

“I’m an athlete. I took that charge and was ready to move on to the next play. … I closed my eyes and tried to make sure Kawhi didn’t get hurt.”

Listen to Steve Fisher on XX Sports Radio in San Diego here

In the last twenty-four hours we have come to find out the reason why Davies was dismissed and it was due to the fact that he had sex with his girlfriend. Apparently that is a no-no in Cougars land. Here are all the facts on BYU’s honor code, but most sports fan would argue this truly is an atrocity that this young man was thrown off the basketball team due to his off the court relationship with his girlfriend. I think we all understand BYU has an honor code that each player knows of going into school, but maybe there needs to be some revising because honestly can anyone bet that 75% of the team or school follows this rule. At the end of the day it’s a crushing blow to the basketball program as they were demolished by New Mexico, 82-64, in their first game since Davies’ dismissal. Jim McMahon attended BYU before his glory days in Chicago. He chimed in on the BYU honor code madness.

Jim McMahon joined WQAM with Gino Torretta and Steve White to discuss what was his reaction was to Brandon Davies being dismissed from BYU after violating the honor code, how much has the honor code changed since he went to BYU with the advent of the internet, if Jimmer Fredette violated the honor code would he have been thrown off the team, did he know the honor code existed when he first decided to go to BYU and does the administration abide by the honor code that the students are under.

We’ve been talking about the honor code and Brandon Davies. We know it’s BYU, but what is your reaction?

“That doesn’t surprise me. It’s been going on for years there so. I actually just read that on the ESPN deal you know he [Brandon Davies] got kicked out for having sex with his girlfriend. That’s part of their code I guess, but I know it happens. I know it’s been happening for years, but some guys get caught, some guys don’t.”

How much has it changed since you went to BYU with the advent of the internet. Would you imagine it’s the same honor code you had to follow?

“Well I wouldn’t imagine it’s any different. Like you said with all the things going on nowadays the IPhones, tweets, and all this kind of crap, I mean I don’t see the campus any differently. I mean they’re college kids, man they’re going to do things. You know sometimes people will tell on you and sometimes they won’t.”

BYU has the leading the scorer in the country on their team. If Jimmer Fredette would have violated the code would he have been thrown off the team if he violated the honor code?

“Well again that’s…I don’t know what they would have done. Like I said I’m sure there’s other players on that team and probably in the whole school who are still doing things they probably shouldn’t according to the honor code, but  it happens.”

Did you know this honor code existed when you got there? Did they explain it to you?

“They explain it to you. They say ‘Oh we have this honor code. People will probably talk to you about the religion and this and that.’ They said ‘All you have to do is tell them I’m not interested.’ But I have to say I’m not interested for five years before I get out. It was everyday you get hounded by it.”

I gotta think the people who are enforcing these rules are not abiding by all of them? They have to have skeletons in their closet don’t they?

“Well I saw a lot of hypocrisy when I was there and that’s what turned me off about it. Guys in administration, higher ups, sneaking off for coffee, these kinds of things that are supposedly illegal too yet some people get away with it and some don’t.”

Listen to Jim McMahon on WQAM

As the regular season winds down, it’s becoming crystal clear that Jimmer is the best player in America and there is nobody that means more to his team than Fredette. While there are other players that can be dangerous for BYU, without Jimmer, the Cougars would be a team fighting just to get in the NCAA Tournament. Instead they have their sights set on a number one seed in March and a deep Tournament run.

Unfortunately BYU got some bad news that could have a huge impact on Final Four hopes this season. It was announced yesterday that their starting forward, Brandon Davies has been dismissed from the team for the remainder of the season because he violated the team’s Honor Code. This is a significant blow because Davies started 26 of their 29 games and was the team’s leading rebounder as well. Without him, the Cougars lose one of the few big men that they have on their roster and will be forced to play even more up-tempo than they do right now. The Cougars still have Jimmer on their side and while he gives them a fighting chance, this might be a loss that the Cougars won’t be able to recover from this late in the season.

Jimmer Fredette joined Into the Night with Tony Bruno to talk about the atmosphere this past weekend in San Diego, whether or not he thinks BYU will get a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, what he thinks about people saying that BYU is just a one man team, whether or not he wants to play in the NBA, and what he has heard about his NBA Draft stock.

On the atmosphere this past weekend for the game against San Diego State

“It was a great atmosphere. Great college basketball arena to play in, their fans go crazy and are very passionate about San Diego State basketball. Their cheering section is great. They know everything about you and your teammates, they make big signs, and do all these things to try and distract you, so it’s just a lot of fun. It’s what you work hard for. To play at this level you want to play in those types of games. We were fortunate enough to play in one and get a big win.”

If he thinks BYU will get a number one seed:

“I think we’re right there in the conversation. We’re right there in the mix of maybe five, six, or seven teams that could get a number one seed. I don’t know if we’ve done quite enough yet. There’s some great teams ahead of us and it really depends how those big name teams do in their rest of the season and the conference tournament. Maybe if they lose early in their tournament and we win our tournament and win out, we might possibly get one. We’re just focused on one game at a time and if we can win this game against New Mexico next that will be big for us. We will move forward and worry about that when it comes.”

On BYU being more than just a one man team:

“Yeah we have a very good team. I think not a lot of people knew about that because they don’t see us nationally televised a lot. That was the first time I think that we have been on national TV this year so people could see our team and it was a great showcase to show that we have other guys on this team. It’s not just me. I’m definitely a big part of it, but I’m a willing passer and I know that a lot of times teams will double team me and we have guys that can make shots and make plays for themselves and that why we are 27 and 2. It’s not just a one man team and I’m glad that everyone can see that and knows that now.”

Whether or not he wants to play in the NBA:

Yeah definitely. That’s been a goal of mine ever since I was a young child. Now that it’s starting to come up pretty quickly, hopefully those dreams will come true. Just try to work as hard as I possibly can every single year and show everybody that I can play at any level and play against some of the best players. Hopefully a team will take a chance on me and I will be able to prove I can play well.”

What he has heard about his draft stock:

“I’ve heard many different things. I’ve heard lottery, mid first round, late first round and I think most people think I’m going to be in that first round area. I’m just really worried about finishing out the season right and finishing out and playing well for the rest of the season. If I can do that and go into the draft camps with a little bit of buzz then hopefully I will get picked as high as I can.”

Listen to Jimmer Fredette on Into the Night with Tony Bruno here (Audio begins 22:25 into the podcast)

San Diego State is ranked as high as fourth in the coaches poll with a pair of first-place votes. BYU is seventh in the AP poll but received three first-place votes. Somehow, the two teams didn’t move up in the rankings despite winning while just about everyone else above them lost last week.

Either the Aztecs or Cougars could move up after Saturday, when the two teams duke it out on national television. On the line is, most likely, the regular season conference title, but more than that, a bolstered argument to receive a No. 1 seed in the quickly approaching NCAA Tournament.

Steve Fisher joined XX Sports Radio with Scott and BR to discuss San Diego State’s spot in the national polls, where this 27-1 team ranks amongst his best, how hard it is to get this far into a season with just one loss, how to prepare for BYU without having a game in the middle of this week and the magnitude of Saturday’s game.

If San Diego State should’ve moved up in the rankings:

“You listen to all the people talk about why these teams that lost should either or hold the position they’re in, from Duke — who did not lose — to Kansas, who was there, who last at K-State, to Texas, who lost at Nebraska, to Ohio State, who’s lost two now, but at places where both teams are undefeated at home … to Pittsburgh, who lost to St. John’s.”

Where this 27-1 San Diego State team ranks amongst his best teams ever:

“I’ve never, ever, anywhere had a team that was 27-1. … Most programs of major significance, and that’s usually those that have been around at the top of the water for some time, are measured on what they do at the end of the season. That’s what we’re hoping to do. We’re hoping we can continue this marvelous season.”

On how hard it is to go through a season with just one loss:

“This is a really, really tough league and to do what we’ve done and what others have done, you can throw Duke in there, to go through a season with one or two losses, you’re going to have slip-ups. And we haven’t. We had the one where it wasn’t a slip-up. We went in and BYU was probably a slight favorite in their building with 22,000-plus and beat us.”

The week leading up to the BYU game with no mid-week game:

“We are going to practice the rest of the week, but we’ll tailor it in terms of the length and the strength and the pounding that we do as we move through it.”

On the magnitude of the week as two top-10 teams from the Mountain West square off on CBS:

“We are very much looking forward to it. We all know that the way that building has been for every game and it will be that and more for Saturday’s game. I saw they hyped it on their national CBS broadcast this week. They said that Steve Kerr was going to be a part of the announcing crew. I think it will be a great environment and hopefully we play well.”

Listen to Steve Fisher on XX Sports Radio in San Diego here

Now, he’s the leading candidate for National Player of the Year. Fredette is the nation’s leading scorer, has gained notoriety for being able to score in bunches and in different ways and has the Cougars ranked in the top 10.

With March Madness right around the corner, however, there are still plenty of doubters — those who say Fredette can be made to have an off night and BYU will crumble. Few teams, if any, have been able to slow Fredette to this point, however, and Fredette says his team would survive anyway.

Jimmer Fredette joined The Dan Patrick Show to discuss testing the draft waters, if he would have gone pro if he were guaranteed to be a top-15 pick last year, why he has to prove himself every night, the biggest knock on his game, how he would fare in the NBA 3-point shooting contest and how his Cougars will fare in the Big Dance if he has an off night.

On signing kids on the head:

“You just sign it right on his forehead and then I signed a kid’s arm last night. I always try to ask their parents before they do it so I don’t get in trouble and they don’t get in trouble.”

What did he hear when working out for NBA scouts last year?:

“What I was looking for was a guarantee by a team to be able to tell me that they would draft me if I was there at that pick. The teams that I worked out for had picks in the late first round and early second round and that was where I was projected to go. I was just trying to find a guarantee but it was so early in the process that I was everybody’s first workout. … But that’s what I was kind of looking for. They all thought that I could play at that level … but they didn’t know exactly where I was going to be picked.”

If he was a top 15 pick last year, guaranteed, would he have gone?:

“Yeah, I think so. That’s my goal, to play in the NBA, and you never know what’s going to happen, so if you have the opportunity, I think it’s the smart choice to go in and have a chance. If I would have known that and been guaranteed, I probably would have left.”

How much does he feel he has to prove himself every night?:

“I feel like I have to prove myself every night. I think you have to play with that type of an edge and I think that’s what makes me and my team so successful. … Every single night, you can’t be satisfied. You still know there’s a lot of doubters out there … and you have to use that as motivation.”

What’s the biggest knock on his game?:

“Not athletic enough, not able to play against the best athletes and be able to get my shot off or play defense or whatever it is. … I’ve heard that my whole entire life and, up to this point, I’ve been able to stop the critics from saying that. But, at the next level, they still have questions as to whether I can do it or not.”

How he would fare in this year’s NBA 3-point shooting contest:

“Hopefully I would be able to hold my own and be able to shoot well. … I don’t know, but hopefully I’d be able to do all right.”

Can BYU advance in the NCAA Tournament if he has an off night?:

“I think we can. I’ve had off nights before against some good teams and they’ve been able to pick up the slack and make plays. A lot of times, if teams are really, really focusing on me … I have the confidence and my teammates have the ability to make shots. … It’s not a one-man team. We have some really good players.”

Listen to Jimmer Fredette on The Dan Patrick Show here

The Aztecs have kept an unblemished record behind a veteran-laden lineup featuring seniors Malcolm Thomas, Billy White and D.J. Gay along with NBA prospect Kawhi Leonard. They’ve won just three times in 31 meetings with BYU at the Marriott Center, but one of the victories came two years ago.

The Cougars will have their arena rocking and have just one loss on their resume, a game at UCLA last month. If you haven’t seen Jimmer Fredette, the nation’s leading scorer, you have one more reason to watch this can’t-miss matchup.

Find it on CBS College … if you have that channel.

BYU coach Dave Rose and San Diego State coach Steve Fisher joined ESPN Radio with Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo with Rose discussing the hype surrounding tonight’s game, Fredette’s offensive prowess and how his team would do against Rose’s Phi Slamma Jamma team at Houston. Fisher discusses the matchup as well, how his team has remained unbeaten and if his players know much about Fisher’s time with the Fab Five at Michigan.

Rose talks about the offensive numbers Jimmer Fredette is putting up:

“Offensively, as far as his ability to score the ball, he’s got to be right up there at the top [of the best players in the country]. I think that if you watch him play every night and you see the variety of ways he scores the ball, it’s really impressive.”

Fisher on the magnitude of tonight’s game:

“People around here are saying that it’s the biggest game in the history of San Diego State basketball. And then they qualify it, for sure the biggest game, non-tournament game. … I do believe that this is going to be the biggest, most highly talked about and watched game on Wednesday night. You have two really, really good teams. … We’re 1-10 in my 11 years taking a team there, so we know the challenge, but we are excited.”

Rose discusses the hype surrounding tonight’s game with San Diego State:

“The hype is really big and that’s the thing you worry about as a coach is just trying to control it all. … This game has got so much national attention because both teams are ranked in the top 10, but once you start playing the game, it’s a league game. … This should be a game that should be really entertaining.”

Fisher on whether his team is deserving of a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament:

“We’re a long way from talking about that. Somebody asked me today … I’m one of the voters in the coaches poll and would I tell them where I ranked our team. I said, ‘Talk to me on Monday and if we win on Wednesday and Saturday, I’ll tell you exactly where I rated us next Monday. We have a good team, but we’ve got a lot more to play. … If we continue the way we are, and if we go into postseason play with no losses, absolutely we would lay claim to a No. 1 seed, but that would be hard, if not impossible, to do.”

Rose on how his BYU team this year would match up with the Phi Slamma Jamma team that Rose played on:

“They’re so different. … The bottom line is we can score. In league, we’re scoring 89 points a game. … If you can score, you should be able to stay in games, but that Phi Slamma Jamma team would be hard to rebound [against], too. It’d be similar to this San Diego State team. You chuck that thing up and then you can really go get it.”

Fisher talks about whether his team now knows much about Fisher’s teams at Michigan:

“I don’t think that they know the whole thing. They get bits and pieces from it from their fathers, uncles, whoever. Most of them weren’t even born when we did what we did then. … Many casual fans think that the Fab Five was the group that won the NCAA Tournament. They all know we had success in our previous life and are anxious to have some of that at San Diego State. We don’t have a rich history of success. We’ve never won an NCAA postseason game as a Division I school and our goal obviously is to change that this year.”

Listen to Dave Rose on ESPN Radio here and Steve Fisher’s time on the same show here