Busting Brackets
Fansided

BYU Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Cougars

By Tristan Freeman

SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 25: The BYU Cougars celebrate their 79-71 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 25, 2017 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 25: The BYU Cougars celebrate their 79-71 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 25, 2017 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 04: Brigham Young Cougars run onto the court after the team’s quarterfinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament against the Loyola Marymount Lions at the Orleans Arena on March 4, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brigham Young won 89-81. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 04: Brigham Young Cougars run onto the court after the team’s quarterfinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament against the Loyola Marymount Lions at the Orleans Arena on March 4, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brigham Young won 89-81. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Key non-conference games

Nov. 15 – @ Princeton

Nov. 18 – Texas Arlington

Nov. 24 – Alabama (Neutral)

Nov. 29 – @ Utah Valley

Dec. 6 – Illinois State

Dec. 16 – Utah

Like many mid-major programs, BYU will struggle to get marquee teams to play home and home series. So even if they aren’t headlining games, Princeton, Illinois State, and Texas Arlington are potential top-100 teams, so winning them will help their at-large resume.

Alabama is a borderline top-25 team with aspirations of making it to the tournament themselves. This matchup will be huge for the Cougars not only because the Tide will likely be the best team in the non-conference, but their athletes will test BYU’s defensive capabilities against quicker and stronger teams.

Although Utah Valley is not expected to be a great team, the humiliating 114-101 loss at home must be avenged. This game also will be at Utah Valley, making it a dangerous game.

The biggest game of the season, even more than Gonzaga, is the home game against Utah. One of the biggest rivalries in college athletics was postponed after an incident involving current player Nick Emery.

He threw a punch at Utah’s Brandon Taylor, prompting the Utes to cancel the series. After just one year, the series has resumed, but the feelings have only exacerbated between the fans, making this one the must-watch games of the year.