Baylor Alum, Jazz Guard Attends BYU Game To Watch Bears, Cougars
Sep 10, 2022, 9:38 PM | Updated: Oct 4, 2022, 3:45 pm
Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears cuts the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PROVO – A Baylor alum and current Utah Jazz guard showed up in Provo with one of his teammates to watch his former school play against the BYU Cougars.
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The No. 21 Cougars hosted the No. 9 Bears at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, September 10.
Second-year Jazzman and BU alum Jared Butler and Jazz rookie Walker Kessler attend the Week 2 contest between the future Big 12 Conference foes. Butler showed up to the game wearing a green and gold Baylor hoodie.
Kessler connected with some BYU fans by taking pictures.
Jazz owner and BYU alum Ryan Smith accompanied the two players.
When @BUFootball comes to town,,,
Thanks for having us tonight @BYUfootball! #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/UMQ7VPc6Uz
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) September 11, 2022
This isn’t the first time that Jazz players have shown up at college football games in the state of Utah, including those for BYU.
Last season, Butler and Bojan Bogdanovic, as well as former Jazz players Hassan Whiteside, Eric Paschall, and Trent Forrest, were at the BYU’s game against USF.
During his final season with the Bears, Butler helped Baylor win the national championship.
The #FinalFour Most Outstanding Player…
JARED BUTLER! đź‘Ź #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/8Boqr94enq
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2021
After a standout career at BU, Butler was selected by the Jazz with the No. 40 overall pick during the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. As a rookie last season, the guard averaged 3.8 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. As the Jazz entering a rebuilding phase, Butler is likely to gain more playing time in his second NBA season.
Before getting traded to the Jazz in July, Kessler, played for the Auburn Tigers and was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 22 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
Baylor vs. BYU
Baylor vs. BYU has all the makings to be a classic.
Sell Out pic.twitter.com/EZjczrIFwp
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 11, 2022
It’s a Big 12 sneak peek, and it’s a look at two Top 25 teams looking to score a big win in a late-night spot. Last season, Baylor crushed BYU in Waco, 38-24. It was only the third meeting all-time between the two faith-based schools.
The last time Baylor made a trip to Provo was in 1984, BYU’s National Championship season. That game saw BYU defeat the Bears 47-13. So it’s probably a safe bet to think no one will run away with tonight’s game as the Cougars did in ’84.
BYU’s game against Baylor is broadcast on ESPN and KSL NewsRadio.
