Lee Cummard underrated by his own fans?

[il Padrino Ute]

I agree with that. I never thought Hansen was as great as many fans thought he was. I'm just trying to address the issue of why many fans prefer Hansen over Cummard. I think it's pretty clear that Cummard is a better player and there's one stat that backs it up: MWC player of the year Cummard-1 Hansen-0

I can understand what you're saying. Hansen was the leader on the team that finally got back to the Tournament. That certainly may be why so many hold him as a great player.

Cummard would have been the best player when Hansen played, but would Hansen have been the best player on the team during Cummard's time? I honestly don't know.

[pellegrino]

I can understand what you're saying. Hansen was the leader on the team that finally got back to the Tournament. That certainly may be why so many hold him as a great player.

Cummard would have been the best player when Hansen played, but would Hansen have been the best player on the team during Cummard's time? I honestly don't know.

I don't know that we can know, or that it's even relevant or important. They meant different things to the program because they played in different eras (Cleveland era was a rebuilding era, Rose has shown he understands the consistency it takes to reload). As a fan I'm glad for both, because they were both leaders on the team during their time at BYU, which is an important contribution in and of itself. However, if you ask me to rank them purely on their on-court performance, I'd place Cummard ahead any day of the week.

[cougjunkie]

You keep thinking that. He has had a nice career in Europe, but he was before and will be completely outclassed if he ever tries to comeback in the NBA. He was an embarrassment in his first stint in the NBA. Not much more embarrassing than he was in college, but still.

He was offered a 3 year deal from Miami a few years ago, and then offered a deal by Denver last year.

OKC and San Antonio have expressed interest in him for the upcoming season, he is trying to decide whether to stay in Russia or come over to the NBA.

Do you not think guys can progress after college?

[RockyBalboa]

Based on 1 shit for brains BYU fans bitterness in this thread towards Hansen, it's obvious who the more underated and under appreciated player is and was.

[Mr. Crimson]

The one thing we do know about Lee Cummard is that his wife could kick all of our asses.

[ERCougar]

You keep thinking that. He has had a nice career in Europe, but he was before and will be completely outclassed if he ever tries to comeback in the NBA. He was an embarrassment in his first stint in the NBA. Not much more embarrassing than he was in college, but still.

"Embarassing"? Really? I get it if you think he was overrated, but "embarrassing" is a little overboard. We'd be lucky to fill our roster with guys who have nice careers in Europe.

[ERCougar]

draftexpress.com breaks down various statistics for all the SFs in the draft, including Euros and ranks them in each statistical category.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Just-By-the-Numbers-This-Years-Small-Forward-Crop-3270/

Cummard dominated these stats last year and pretty much dominated again this year, albeit a little less than last. These numbers certainly don't tell the entire story, but they do show that BYU had a very special player in Cummard and I'm not sure he gets the credit from BYU fans he should in terms of all-time players. The fact that people try to compare Travis Hansen with him pretty much says it all.

some of the impressive stats in which Cummard ranks very high:

Points per 40 minutes adjusted for pace - Cummard is 3rd overall

True shooting percentage - Cummard is second overall and tied for first among college players

Assists per 40 adjusted for pace - Cummard is 3rd overall and first among college players

Turnovers per 40 minutes adjusted for pace - Cummard turned it over less all but one guy

Assist/TO ratio - Cummard is #1 by a wide margin

Pure Point Rating - Cummard is number 1 overall and it isn't close

Rebounds per 40 - Cummard ranks 5th among NCAA players

Blocks per 40 - Cummard is third overall

Player Efficiency Rating (PER) - Cummard is #1 overall

Efficiency per 40 minutes - Cummard is #1 overall

I think Cummard's a little like Detmer. A very nice college player with great instinct and knowledge of the game, but without the physical tools to make it at the next level. That said, I love Cummard, and we'd be unbelievably lucky to have a similar player every year.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I can understand what you're saying. Hansen was the leader on the team that finally got back to the Tournament. That certainly may be why so many hold him as a great player.

To be fair Hansen was not the leader on the team that finally got back to the tournament for BYU, that was Mekeli Wesley, then Trent Whiting and Terrell Lyday. Hansen was at best a role player when BYU finally got back to the dance.

[RockyBalboa]

I think Cummard's a little like Detmer. A very nice college player with great instinct and knowledge of the game, but without the physical tools to make it at the next level. That said, I love Cummard, and we'd be unbelievably lucky to have a similar player every year.

Not sure that's an apt comparison.

Detmer had a 14 year career in the NFL...most of it as a backup, but you don't stick around that long and teams don't sign you unless you have something they want.

Cummard will likely not get drafted, nor ever be a benchwarmer in the NBA.

[ERCougar]

Not sure that's an apt comparison.

Detmer had a 14 year career in the NFL...most of it as a backup, but you don't stick around that long and teams don't sign you unless you have something they want.

Cummard will likely not get drafted, nor ever be a benchwarmer in the NBA.

Well, OK...but the difference is in degree. Detmer was not just a MWC POTY, he was an NCAA POTY. I'm getting at the similarity of both being limited only by lack of physical tools.

[smokymountainrain]

Based on 1 shit for brains BYU fans

Gotta love the irony.

[smokymountainrain]

He was offered a 3 year deal from Miami a few years ago, and then offered a deal by Denver last year.

OKC and San Antonio have expressed interest in him for the upcoming season, he is trying to decide whether to stay in Russia or come over to the NBA.

Do you not think guys can progress after college?

It would be silly to think guys can't improve. But based on what I know about Hansen, he will never contribute to an NBA team. I would love to be wrong as it seems like he's become a pretty decent guy and the type we should all want to succeed.

[DrumNFeather]

Some fans have a tendency to move on before a player does, especially when there is another one who might be "better" in the pipeline. See Fui Vakapuna and Harvey Unga.

This seems to have been the case with Cummard. Plaisted left, and the fans started focusing on Fredette, leaving Cummard as a bit of a scape goat when things (rarely) went south.

[smokymountainrain]

This seems to have been the case with Cummard. Plaisted left, and the fans started focusing on Fredette, leaving Cummard as a bit of a scape goat when things (rarely) went south.

Great point, DNF. I think that and the fact that he wasn't quite as good as he was last year contribute to it.

[Indy Coug]

Pretty much. And an overrated defender as well.

Honestly, the distaste I have is probably most born of the fact that so many fans thought he could play, when in fact he very average.

Which probably explains the millions of dollars he didn't collect.