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BYU Basketball: The Cougars’ five must-watch non-conference games in 2018-19

By Shaun Gordon

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 05: Yoeli Childs #23 of the Brigham Young Cougars talks with head coach Dave Rose as Childs comes out of the team's semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament after scoring a career-high 33 points against the Saint Mary's Gaels at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cougars won 85-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 05: Yoeli Childs #23 of the Brigham Young Cougars talks with head coach Dave Rose as Childs comes out of the team's semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament after scoring a career-high 33 points against the Saint Mary's Gaels at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cougars won 85-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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BYU Basketball’s non-conference schedule is set, and it’ll feature some top-tier games. Let’s look at the Cougars’ five biggest matchups before the start of conference play.

In late June, BYU Basketball announced their non-conference schedule for the 2018-19 season. Compared to the last few years, this schedule will be much tougher, with some marquee matchups that will boost the Cougars’ RPI.

All in all, BYU will play 15 non-conference games, with 8 at home, 5 on the road, and 2 at neutral sites.

With one exception, the Cougars will play most of their home games and games against easier opponents early in the schedule, with most of the difficult games coming after Thanksgiving.

Much of that is likely due to Nick Emery’s nine-game suspension to start the season. With the way the schedule is set, he’ll be eligible to play in all but two of BYU’s biggest games before conference play begins.

This is a schedule that can build a good NCAA Tournament resume, as long as the Cougars win the games they should and pull off a few wins against the top-tier teams they’ll be playing.

Speaking of those top-tier games, let’s take a look at the five non-conference games that will be the most important for the Cougars in 2018-19.

5. at San Diego State (December 22nd)

BYU’s second-to-last non-conference game will be a road trip to play against a former conference foe. The Cougars will take on the Aztecs, who enjoyed a strong season in 2017-18.

San Diego State finished the regular season with a 19-10 record, but won three straight games in Las Vegas to take the MWC Tournament title and earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. They lost a first round nail-biter to Houston.

The Aztecs should be even better in 2018-19. They lose leading scorer Malik Pope, but seven of their nine main contributors will be back.

This is a road game that will almost definitely be a Tier 1 or Tier 2 game for the Cougars.

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