Analyzing BYU’s 2011-2012 Non-Conference Hoops Schedule

By: Mitch Harper

The Cougar Cagers first non-conference schedule as a member of the West Coast Conference was released yesterday.  Like in years past, this non-conference slate is filled with quality matchups that will go along very nicely with the already competitive WCC league play BYU will be facing starting on Thursday, December 29th, 2011.

A key bit of info to note on this schedule is that UCLA transfer, Matt Carlino will not be eligible until December 15th.  Making him ineligible for the first 10 games of the season.

Let’s take a look at the opponents BYU is going to face in non-conference play this season.

Nov. 11   at Utah State, Logan, Utah

First game of the regular season.  This could be a game where the Cougars are walking into a buzzsaw with a new backcourt to break in, in one of the most hostile enviroments in all of College Basketball, The Spectrum.

Last season, many Aggie fans had their feelings hurt over an innocent message on the Marriott Center scoreboard a year ago that read, “Dear UT St. Enjoy The Loss! (Heart)/Your Big Brother, BYU!”  With that in the back of their minds expect an even more hostile Aggie crowd.  One thing you won’t see though is the famed, “Wild Bill” he has graduated and will no longer be going shirtless.  We are all thankful for his decision.

Would be great if ESPN would get involved to televise this game, which is always a terrific matchup on a yearly basis.  But with College Football still in full-swing and this game taking place on a Friday night, it is likely going to be a local KJZZ or CW30 broadcast.

Nov. 15   BYU-Hawaii, Provo, Utah

This marks the first regular season matchup between the two schools.  There have been previous exhibition contests, but none have actually counted.  The Seasiders are coming off their best season in school history reaching the Division II National Championship Game.

Nov. 18   Longwood, Provo, Utah

We can appreciate the Longwood Lancers.  Why?  They are a College Basketball version of Independent.  We always respect any Independent minds regardless of sport.  The Lancers hail from Farmville, Virginia.

Nov. 22   Prairie View A&M, Provo, Utah

The Panthers are members of the SWAC.  Last season the Cougar Cagers faced another member of the SWAC in Mississippi Valley State.  The Cougars went on to defeat MVS by 50-points, 86-36.

Nov. 25   vs. Nevada, Chicago (Sears Centre Arena)

Last season was an uncharacteristic year for the Wolfpack who went 12-19.  The Pack have been a yearly fixture competing with Utah State for a WAC title, and making waves in the NCAA Tournament.  This year the Pack looked to be much improved with all five starters returning.  Four of those five averaged over 10 points per game a year ago.

This game will be played in the Sears Centre Arena as part of the Chicago Invitational.  Winner of this game will face the winner of the Bradley/Wisconsin game a day later.

Nov. 26   vs. Bradley or Wisconsin, Chicago (Sears Centre Arena)

Along with BYU a year ago, Wisconsin finished it’s season as a Sweet 16 participant in the Southeast Regional of the NCAA Tournament.  The Badgers lost to eventual runner-up in Butler.  The Badgers lose sharp-shooting Jon Leuer, but you can expect a talented, skilled team as Badger Head Coach, Bo Ryan has built one of the most consistent programs in all of College Hoops.

Bradley was a team BYU faced in 2009 in the Marriott Center as part of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge.  Bradley a year ago went 12-20 firing their head coach in Jim Les, and replacing him with Geno Ford who was previously at Kent State.

Nov. 30   vs. Northern Arizona, Prescott Valley, Ariz. (Tim’s Toyota Center)

A big scheduling get for the Lumberjacks of the Big Sky Conference.  BYU will be facing the Lumberjacks in a neutral arena, Tim’s Toyota Center located in Prescott Valley, Arizona.  Pretty nice arena from the looks of it on the exterior.

The Lumberjacks were the second best three-point shooting team in the nation a year ago, but they lose their top scorer in Cameron Jones who averaged 20.1 points per game.

Dec. 3    vs. Oregon, Salt Lake City (Energy Solutions Arena)

This game was discussed back in May on a previous Cougar Center Podcast.  Originally expected to be a game in the Marriott Center, but will instead be played in the Energy Soulutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

Last season, the Ducks won the CBI Tournament defeating Oregon Head Coach, Dana Altman’s former team, Creighton in three games.  The Ducks lose their leading scorer in fifth year Senior, Joevan Catron who averaged 15 a game.  But everyone else returns on a young team.  They also add talented Point Guard, Brett Kingma from Washington who BYU recruited heavily.

With the West Coast Conference having a terrific deal with ESPN, look for this being on one of the ESPN networks.

Dec. 7    Weber State, Provo, Utah

Despite losing their star player for the season due to an injury, Damian Lillard, Randy Rahe’s Wildcats posted a 18-13 record and made an appearance in the CBI Tournament a year ago.

This season, the Cats gain Lillard back who received a medical redshirt season.  Weber State has always given BYU problems in the “Purple Palace” (Dee Events Center) in Ogden, but the Cats have never won in Provo.

Dec. 10   at Utah, Salt Lake City

No longer members of the same conference, the BYU-Utah basketball rivalry now will take place once a year, and now will be in December.  The Huntsman Center will host the first matchup under the new circumstances for the rivalry.

This will be the last game that transfer Matt Carlino will have to sit out.  Depending on BYU’s backcourt situation to this point, that would be the only edge you could give Utah going into this game.  Outside of that the Utes are a program in disarray right now.  Losing seven players from a year ago, firing their head coach in Jim Boylen and having to settle on Larry Krystkowiak who is best known for leading the Montana Grizzlies to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Dec. 17   Baylor, Provo, Utah

A program once left for dead by former head coach, Dave Bliss.  Baylor Basketball has been one of the up-and-coming programs the past few seasons under Scott Drew.

Three years ago, Baylor reached the NIT Championship.  Two years ago, the Bears were in the Elite Eight before losing to eventual National Champion, Duke.  Last season, Baylor lost many players to graduation and the NBA, but still had a winning record going 18-13.

With the recent success, Baylor has had some talented recruits commit to their program.  Quincy Miller one of the top recruits in the Class of 2011, will join the Bears this season.  Then in 2012, the Bears have arguably the #1 recruit in all of the 2012 class in Isaiah Austin who is a 7-foot Power Forward from Arlington, Texas.

This will be the first matchup of a home-and-home between the two schools.  You can expect this game to be on ESPN.

Dec. 20   Buffalo, Provo, Utah

A year ago, the Bulls and Cougars had a back-and-forth contest that continued to make KSL Play-By-Play man, Greg Wrubell speechless at times with all the runs.  Then Jimmer was Jimmer going off for 28 of his game-high 34 to give BYU the win on New Year’s Eve.

This is the return visit of a two-game series between the two teams.

Dec. 22   UC Santa Barbara, Provo, Utah

The Gauchos, best known for being the alma-mater of national sports radio host, Jim Rome travel to Provo before the Christmas break.

A year ago, the Gauchos won the Big West Tournament but were then bounced by the Florida Gators in the NCAA Tournament.  The same opponent BYU lost to in the Tourney a year ago.

Dec. 27   Cal State San Marcos, Provo, Utah

A pair of teams nicknamed the Cougars squaring off in a post-Christmas game.  Cal State San Marcos is a member of Division II.  After this game, BYU will open up WCC play two days later.

Jan. 25   Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

BYU and Virginia Tech have never faced other in any sport.  This game was announced by Hokie Head Coach, Seth Greenberg via Twitter last week.

The Hokies have been a team that has been on the NCAA Tournament “Bubble” year after year and always been the team that has seen their bubble pop on Selection Sunday.  This is a game that allows the Hokies to build their non-conference S.O.S.  And it is a great matchup for BYU to face a ACC opponent.

In 2012-2013 season, the teams will square off in the Energy Solutions Arena on the second Saturday in the month of December, 2012.  You can bet that ESPN will be all over these two games.

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