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Provo • Until the past six games or so, Frank Bartley IV was buried at the end of the BYU bench.
The 6-foot-3 playmaker from Baton Rouge, La., endured a five-game stretch Jan. 10-29 in which he played six minutes. He made one basket in that span, a huge 3-pointer that helped the Cougars hold off San Francisco, 78-74.
Then something happened on the way to Bartley's sophomore slump. He showed coach Dave Rose in that three-minute run against the Dons that he could provide some much-needed rebounding, grabbing three big boards. And he played some decent defense.
The performance that night at the Marriott Center was a springboard to more minutes for Bartley. And he has delivered, averaging 14.5 minutes in his past six games.
"I had been playing well in practice, so Coach just gave me a shot, anwd I have just made the most of my chance," Bartley said.
The Cougars will need his rebounding Thursday, when they face the tallest team in the West Coast Conference, Portland, at the Chiles Center (8 p.m. MST).
Bartley's just happy to finally get to show what he can do — again.
He averaged 10.9 minutes last season as a freshman and scored in double figures five times. He's yet to post a double-figure scoring game in 2014-15, but scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds over his past three games.
"Well, it has been frustrating, sitting out, knowing that I could be in the game and helping," Bartley said last week. "But it is all about the team. So when I get my chance, I just have to go in and do whatever I can to help the team win."
BYU coach Dave Rose said Bartley is getting more minutes because of his rebounding and playmaking ability.
"His overall comfort level on the floor has improved," Rose said. "Next year, there will be some opportunities for him on the guard line with Ty [Haws] graduating, and we will just see how that develops. But what he has done in the past month to help this team has just been tremendous."
Off the court, Bartley is getting more and more comfortable in Provo. He's dating Xojian Harry, a senior starter on BYU's women's basketball team.
He credits fellow sophomore Luke Worthington, who just announced he's leaving the team for two years to serve a church mission, with helping him adjust to a culture much different than he experienced growing up in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
As documented by The Salt Lake Tribune in 2013, Bartley was 11 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his family's home in New Orleans and forced them to move to his aunt's home in Baton Rouge, where he became a four-sport star in high school.
After going through that, diminished playing time this season hasn't come close to getting him down.
"I have great teammates like Luke, Jake [Toolson] and Dalton [Nixon] who keep my spirits up, and I meet with coach [Mark] Pope every day. He keeps me upbeat and positive," Bartley said. "So, I am fine here. I talk to my parents and write in my journal and just try to keep working toward getting better."
Bartley said he also works with BYU mental strength coach Craig Manning, who helped him stay positive when the minutes weren't coming.
"I just try to keep a poker face, so maybe people think I'm [unhappy] when I'm not," he said. "I don't like to show my emotions that much. But I am happy we are winning right now. Everything is working out."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU at Portland
At the Chiles Center, Portland
Tipoff • 8 p.m. MST
TV • ROOT Sports
Radio • 1160 AM/102.7 FM
Records • BYU 21-8, 11-5 WCC; Portland 16-12, 7-9 WCC
Series History • BYU leads, 11-1
Last Meeting • BYU 97, Portland 88 (Dec. 29, 2014)
About the Pilots: They are led in scoring by 6-5 guard Kevin Bailey, who has a 14.5 average and scored 30 points in an overtime loss at Pacific last Saturday. … They start a pair of 7-footers from foreign countries, Volodymyr Gerun and Thomas van der Mars. … They are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
About the Cougars • Tyler Haws is seven points away from passing Jimmer Fredette on the school's all-time scoring list. … They have won four straight games, and six of their last seven. … G Skyler Halford is averaging 12.4 points and shooting 53 percent from the field in his last 11 games. —
Bartley's past 6 games
Opponent Minutes Rebs Points
Santa Clara 17 3 3
Pepperdine 13 1 2
Loyola Marymount 7 1 3
Saint Mary's 16 3 9
Pacific 18 4 7
San Diego 16 3 3