BYU basketball: Cougars have plenty of shots at revenge in 2017-18
BYU basketball had plenty of let downs last season. Thankfully, the Cougars have plenty of opportunities to take some revenge this season.
BYU basketball suffered some embarrassing losses last season. Utah Valley came into the Marriott Center and sent the Cougars packing. UT-Arlington did the same. Then St. Mary’s decimated the Cougars on three separate occasions. Not to mention Utah slapped BYU basketball in the face by “cancelling” the rivalry.
Luckily for BYU basketball, there’s a chance for redemption against all of those teams this season. That’s something that doesn’t happen all the time (with the exceptions of conference opponents), so the Cougars have to take advantage.
Nov. 18 UT-Arlington at BYU
Last season, the Cougars hosted UT-Arlington in the NIT. The Mavericks promptly decimated BYU basketball, 105-89.
The Cougars committed 20 turnover and allowed UT-A to shoot 63 percent in the first half. It was ugly from start to finish and likely prompted some coaching changes.
This year, the teams will meet in the first round of the Barclay’s Center Classic.
Nov. 29 BYU at Utah Valley
November 26, 2016. The Utah Valley Wolverines came into the Marriott Center, led by a group of BYU transfers and a former BYU coach, and shellacked the Cougars.
BYU allowed a Marriott Center-record 114 points and allowed former Cougar Isaac Neilson to post a career day.
It may have been the worst loss in BYU basketball history.
Thankfully, almost one year to the day, BYU will get a rematch with the Wolverines in the “Crosstown Clash.”
Dec. 16 Utah at BYU
Safety first.
That’s what Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak said was the reasoning behind cancelling the rivalry. The fans are too heated, the players get unstable, and it just wasn’t worth it.
Then Utah donors called. Turns out a rivalry that’s nearly a century old means quite a bit to people in Utah.
Just like that, the Holy War (basketball edition) is back.
To make things even better, the Utes will be coming to a rocking Marriott Center. The only downside is that it might be during Finals Week (or just before) but I still expect the atmosphere to be electric.
Dec. 30 St. Mary’s at BYU
The Cougars took on St. Mary’s three times last season, losing all three games. During the regular season, the Gaels pulled out two 13-point victories. In the West Coast Conference Tournament, St. Mary’s played with a chip on its shoulder and won 81-50.
No one really expected BYU to defeat St. Mary’s, but it was the severity of the loss that got fans fired up. The players looked like they’d quit before it even reached halftime and it cemented the Cougars’ status as the No. 3 team in the WCC.
Thankfully, the Cougars can try to exact some revenge just before our calendars turn to 2018. Hosting SMC on Dec. 30, I fully expect the Cougars to show up angry about last season.