BYU Basketball: Reviewing a rollercoaster 2017-18 season

Season Starts Off Right

Looking at the non-conference schedule for BYU, most fans pointed to seven games that the Cougars should win, and the other six were toss-ups at best. For most, if BYU could win three out of those six, it would be a good sign going into conference play.

The Cougars did one better.

BYU unveiled their revamped schemes on both offense and defense, playing at a much slower pace with more emphasis on sound defense. It worked early on…for the most part. The Cougars traveled to Princeton and knocked off the Tigers, but then got beaten soundly at home by UT Arlington.

But a respectable loss to then-ranked Alabama would be the only blemish throughout the rest of the non-conference slate.

They avenged last year’s loss to Utah Valley in dominant fashion. They handled Utah State in Logan and Weber State in Salt Lake City.

That Weber State game would prove huge for the Cougars. The win itself wasn’t anything of note, but it was the first game for McKay Cannon, who was surprisingly granted immediate eligibility. He brought depth to a guard line that desperately needed it.

And perhaps most importantly, BYU broke the curse.

In basketball at least.

After their one-season hiatus, Utah returned to the Marriott Center, where they were unceremoniously escorted back out with a 77-65 loss to the Cougars.

Now if only football can follow suit…