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Provo • Despite having played for BYU for only two seasons, senior guard Chase Fischer says he is going to savor every last moment in the Marriott Center on Saturday night when the Cougars play host to Gonzaga in the regular-season finale.
That's fitting, because teammates say there's never a dull one when "Fisch" is around.
Another senior who will be honored before the 6 p.m. showdown (ESPN2) between teams still battling for a piece of the West Coast Conference regular-season title, Kyle Collinsworth, said the word that describes his good friend the best is energy.
"Just a good passion for the game," Collinsworth said. "That's one thing since Day 1 that I have respected about Chase, is his passion for the game on the court, and [doing] every little thing leading up. … He takes everything seriously — all the little things: weightlifting, eating, stretching, and that's been my approach, too."
Fifth-year senior Nate Austin, who has played in the most games, 146, of any player in BYU history, will also be honored.
Coach Dave Rose said all three seniors have contributed mightily to the success of the program, albeit in different ways and for different amounts of time. Fischer is the short-timer, having transferred to BYU after two seasons at Wake Forest, but his two years in Cougar blue after sitting out a season due to NCAA transfer rules have been as productive as any two-year player in recent memory.
"I think Chase got exactly what he wanted when he decided he wanted to change venues," Rose said. "He found a place where he could come, and win, and be successful, and be a real big part of it."
The irony is that the BYU assistant coach who persuaded the non-LDS team captain to make the 2,000-mile trek west, first-year Utah Valley coach Mark Pope, is no longer around. But Fischer says his heart now belongs to BYU, the school he knew little about three years ago, except that it produced the high-scoring Jimmer Fredette and favored an up-tempo style of play.
"I think it has definitely been a good fit on both sides," Fischer said. "I played at two different colleges, but BYU is definitely where my heart is, and where I kind of resurrected my career."
Fischer led BYU (22-8, 13-4 WCC) to its 99-81 win over Portland on Thursday with 21 points, and now needs just eight points to become the 48th player to score 1,000 or more points at BYU. He made 103 3-pointers last year, second-most in a season in school history, and has 90 this season.
"I have really appreciated my time here," Fischer said. "Obviously, it is not over yet, so I don't want to get too in depth. But I love playing for BYU. I've met some of my best friends, and some great teammates. So I have had a great second half of my career."
Fischer has made a 3-pointer in 19 straight games, the fifth-longest such streak ever at BYU, and has made three or more threes in a game 18 times this season. Only Fredette (22) has done that more. He's been every bit the shooter the Cougars thought they were getting when he committed three years ago, and this year has added more weapons to his arsenal, including the ability to penetrate and get shots off in traffic.
"Me and coach Rose have been on the same page since Day 1," he said. "They told me what they expected of me, and it lined up with what I expected of myself. I think I came in these three years and I've been a good leader, and I've played well, and we've been a good team."
While Collinsworth, Austin and Fischer will be playing on the MC court a final time — barring an NIT bid and a home game in that tournament — freshman Zac Seljaas likely will be playing at home for the last time until the 2018-19 season as he's said he plans to go on an LDS Church mission this spring.
"It will be one of those senior nights where it is emotional," Rose said. "As a coach and player, the relationship with each one of those guys is unique. What I always go to, and the emotions for me, is that I am just really grateful that they committed to come to BYU and chose us and then came here and played their hearts out."
Collinsworth said when the Cougars start practices next year, Fischer will be missed, and not just for his scoring ability.
"Next year, they are going to enter their first practice and they are going to say, 'Where's Chase? Where's that energy? Where's that passion? That vocal leader?' Once he leaves, the coaches and players are going to realize how big of an impact he had."
Rose concurs.
"I think Chase has been a guy that is doing exactly what we thought he could do, when we recruited him, and maybe a little bit more," Rose said. "The one thing about Chase is he is a great guy to be around. He's a great teammate. He's really dialed in on off-the-court commitment to be great on the court. I think that has really rubbed off with a lot of players in our program."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Gonzaga at BYU
P At the Marriott Center, Provo
Tipoff • Saturday, 6 p.m.
TV • ESPN2
Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM and Sirius XM 143
Records • BYU 22-8, 12-4 WCC; Gonzaga 22-7, 14-3
Series record • Gonzaga leads, 9-5
Last meeting • BYU 69, Gonzaga 68 (Jan. 14, 2016)
About the Cougars • They are coming off a 99-81 win over Portland in which Kyle Collinsworth registered his 11th triple-double with 14 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. … They have won five straight games, a season high. … Collinsworth has 224 assists this season, a BYU single-season record. … Kyle Davis has scored in double figures in 25 of their 30 games.
About the Bulldogs • Domantas Sabonis had 17 points and 17 rebounds in their 82-60 win over San Diego on Thursday night. … They have limited their last 14 opponents to about 64 points a game. … They are a No. 11 seed in the latest ESPN bracketology projections, and have won last year's game in the Marriott Center against BYU 87-80. … They are second nationally in 3-point percentage defense (28.2 percent). —
BYU vs. Gonzaga
P At the Marriott Center, Provo
Tipoff • Saturday, 6 p.m.
TV • ESPN2
Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM and Sirius XM 143
Records • BYU 22-8, 12-4 WCC; Gonzaga 22-7, 14-3
Series record • Gonzaga leads, 9-5
Last meeting • BYU 69, Gonzaga 68 (Jan. 14, 2016)
About the Cougars • They are coming off a 99-81 win over Portland in which Kyle Collinsworth registered his 11th triple-double with 14 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. … They have won five straight games, a season high. … Collinsworth has 224 assists this season, a BYU single-season record. … Kyle Davis has scored in double figures in 25 of their 30 games.
About the Bulldogs • Domantas Sabonis had 17 points and 17 rebounds in their 82-60 win over San Diego on Thursday night. … They have limited their last 14 opponents to about 64 points a game. … They are a No. 11 seed in the latest ESPN bracketology projections, and have won last year's game in the Marriott Center against BYU 87-80. … They are second nationally in 3-point percentage defense (28.2 percent).