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ESPN's Rick Reilly and Andy Katz are here at the NCAA Tournament Southeast Region in New Orleans, and Reilly is supposedly following BYU's Jimmer Fredette around for one of his clever takes on the biggest star in college basketball. But a writer from the Orlando Sentinel that most folks have probably never heard of has caused the biggest stir, asking questions in the news conferences in a tone that mocked BYU's Honor Code. Mike Bianchi started the line of questioning by asking BYU coach Dave Rose why school officials could not have just let Brandon Davies' honor code violation "slide" and allow him to play. "Well, I think our players understand, our students understand, when they come to BYU [that the honor code is taken seriously]," Rose said. "And I do understand this — and I respect the fact that it is hard for others to understand — but our players and the students at BYU, they are committed. "The issue with Brandon right now is that I think that the support of the team, him being able to travel with the team, is really good for him. And I think him being around our players is really good for us. And so that's why our administration and our staff have made the decision to have him with us. "If that changes sometime, then we will change. But right now we feel it is best for our team, and we feel it is best for Brandon." —————————————- But Bianchi wasn't finished. He later asked Florida's star player, Chandler Parsons, how shocked he was when he learned BYU had kicked Davies off the team for having premarital sex, and how many Gators would be off the team if the school had that same rule. "I mean, rules are rules," said Parsons, blushing. "So he knew what he was doing. I mean, it's something that we can't worry about really because he's not playing in the game tomorrow and that's really none of my business. "Yeah, that's it," Parsons concluded, laughing. When Florida coach Billy Donovan got on the stand, Bianchi asked him how hard it would be to recruit to Florida if he had to tell recruits they couldn't have premarital sex there. "I am not going to get into that," Donovan said. "I mean, I don't know. First of all, I don't really talk about any of that stuff, either. I will pass on that one."———————————-

According to Patrick Kinahan of KFAN radio in SLC, at least one high-ranking BYU official was not amused by Bianchi's line of questioning, with one calling them "ridiculous" and out of line.

The Cougars were asked several times about the oddity of them being in New Orleans, a city known for debauchery and the like, and how it contrasts with their personal beliefs. In BYU's locker room, a reporter asked Fredette what he would do if he saw a strip club in New Orleans. "Just keep walking," Fredette said, laughing. "Just keep walking."——————————-Rose was asked if he finds it "ironic" that BYU has played in Las Vegas (for the MWC tournament) and New Orleans this postseason, "places where local cultures kind of clash with BYU's values." Rose's response: "Well, I believe that our guys have been able to travel all over the country and win games this year. It's been terrific. We've been to Omaha, Nebraska; We've been to South Padre Island, Texas; We've been to Glens Falls, New York; We've been to Buffalo, New York. This group of guys has been resilient in their ability to travel. Someone told me the other day that outside of our building this year that we're 19 and 3, and I don't know. You go to the teams that are left in the Sweet 16, how many teams have won 19 games outside of their building? It's a real compliment to our players." Jackson Emery was asked roughly the same question: "Yeah, I mean it is a little different," he said. "We've kind of considered it a mini-Las Vegas as far as the atmosphere and everything. But, it's great. It's a great town. It's a great place. I have family that lived here years ago and they told me how much they loved it. We know New Orleans loves their sports, and we're happy to be here, and hopefully we get a pretty good fan turnout and keep this winning streak going."