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Cleveland State vs. BYU: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Tuck Clarry

Mar 9, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; BYU Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) celebrates after a 3-point basket against the Gonzaga Bulldogsin the first half of the West Coast Conference Tournament championship at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; BYU Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) celebrates after a 3-point basket against the Gonzaga Bulldogsin the first half of the West Coast Conference Tournament championship at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The BYU Cougars host a pesky Cleveland State Vikings squad and look to showcase that they belong in the national conversation.

TV schedule: Tuesday, November 9, 10 PM ET. BYUTV
Arena: Marriott Center, Provo, UT

The season tips off with the Cleveland State Vikings headed into what will be a hostile crowd on the campus of the BYU Cougars. The Vikings have their work cut out for them as they play a Cougars team that was just outside of the Top 25 and are a likely tournament team. The visiting team, on the other hand, look to build off of their first winning season under fifth-year head coach Dennis Gates.

The Cougars are a 14-point favorite at home, in large because of returning senior Alex Barcello who is utilizing his free COVID season. Barcello was an honorable mention All-American and is one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, shooting 48% from outside over his two previous seasons for BYU. Barcello is joined by a deep Cougars team that has returning key players in Caleb Lohner and Gideon George as well as major transfer portal finds in Te’Jon Lucas and Seneca Knight.

BYU sits at 38th in KenPom’s preseason rankings after finishing 20th last year. The team is fully bought in on their future, with Mark Pope sticking with the program despite plenty of outside interest from other programs and the school announced their plans to join the Big 12 in 2023-2024.

The Vikings sit near the middle of KenPom, ranking 151st in the preseason, the fourth-highest ranking of all Horizon League teams. Gates and company have most of their well-balanced squad coming back from last season. The Vikings had four guys averaging 10 points or more last year and will have a roster composed of almost entirely seniors. Their leading scorer, wing Torrey Patton also is the team’s leading returning rebounder averaging 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds.

Cleveland State, though venerated and well-balanced, will have issues dealing with the Cougars’ size and offensive potential. As perhaps a precursor to the rest of their season, the x-factor could be the play of wings George and Knight. George is one of the best defenders in the country, able to guard five positions and possessing the length and speed to be a monster in transition with a growing offensive game. Knight is a three-level scorer who offers much-needed spacing for the Cougs’ bigs and Barcello.

Cleveland State will struggle with not just the shooting abilities of Barcello but also the size of BYU, who expect big things from sophomore power forward Lohner. Whomever Cleveland State puts on him will struggle with his strength and athleticism. The major hope for Gates’ team is to slow the game down (they were ranked 279 in adjusted tempo in KenPom last season) and try to get the home team to settle on midrange and outside shots.

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Though the game could stay competitive for the first 10 minutes, it’s hard to see the length and frontcourt advantage to not eventually bear out a decisive victory for the Cougars. Expect an early display of the multitude of ways the Cougars will be able to score.

Prediction: BYU 86, Cleveland State 64