Basketball <\/p>\n
When BYU last reached the Sweet 16 in 2011, guard Egor Demin was just five years old. In fact, most of the current players were around that age when Jimmer Fredette captivated the college basketball world. But there was one kid a little older\u2014one who watched \u201cJimmermania\u201d with wide eyes.\u00a0That kid was Trevin Knell.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to now, and Knell isn\u2019t just watching\u2014he\u2019s leading. At 26 years old, he\u2019s the oldest player in college basketball and a key factor in BYU\u2019s success. The experience, the battles, the years of grinding\u2014it all led him to this moment. And he knows it. \u201cPeople probably joke that I was on the [2011] team,\u201d<\/em> Knell said with a grin during Wednesday\u2019s press conference at the Prudential Center. But jokes aside, Knell\u2019s experience is real. His presence is vital. But in BYU\u2019s high-stakes showdown against Alabama, fate had other plans.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Midway through the game, Knell was locked in\u2014playing his signature aggressive defense. Every possession mattered, and he was doing what he did best: disrupting Alabama\u2019s rhythm. Then, in an instant, disaster struck.<\/p>\n As Knell lunged for a steal, he collided hard with Chris Youngblood. The impact was brutal\u2014so much so that Knell went crashing to the floor, blood immediately dripping from his nose onto the court. The sight was jarring. BYU\u2019s training staff rushed onto the floor. The arena, buzzing with energy just moments before, fell into a stunned silence.<\/p>\n After a tense few moments, Knell was able to walk off under his own power, trainers closely monitoring him. For Cougars fans, seeing Knell helped off the court was gut-wrenching. This was a player who had defied all odds just to get to this moment\u2014enduring injuries, setbacks, and a long, unconventional journey through college basketball.<\/p>\nBasketball The collision that stopped BYU in its tracks<\/strong><\/h2>\n