The biggest question mark for BYU before the start of this season was how quickly would point guard Kyle Collinsworth be back to full strength. The Cougars were better offensively last season with Collinsworth filling the role of primary playmaker, but when he went down with a torn ACL in the WCC title game the Cougars struggled in that game and in their NCAA tournament loss to Oregon.
How effective would Collinsworth be after spending the summer rehabbing from that injury?
Not only has Collinsworth returned to full strength, but he’s also been one of the most versatile players in college basketball. Saturday afternoon in the Cougars’ 87-68 win at Loyola Marymount, Collinsworth tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds and ten assists (with just one turnover) for his fifth triple-double of the season. As a result, Collinsworth is now the Division I record holder for most triple-doubles in a single season.
CONGRATS to @bigrussia5 on his NCAA Record 5th Triple-Double of the season!! #BYUhoops #TripleDouble pic.twitter.com/dkMPVR2IPS
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) February 7, 2015
“He was special tonight,” BYU head coach Dave Rose said of the 6-foot-6 junior. “It was from the very tip, the very first possession, he was determined to give the effort we all needed in this game.”
Prior Saturday Collinsworth was one of five players in Division I history to have four triple-doubles in a season. Drexel’s Michael Anderson (1985-86), UCSB’s Brian Shaw (1987-88), California’s Jason Kidd (1993-94) and UMass’ Stephane Lasme (2006-07) were the other four.
And with five more regular season games to play before postseason play (WCC tournament and either the NCAA tournament or NIT), Collinsworth is more than capable of adding another triple-double (or more) to his record.