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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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WICHITA, KS – MARCH 17: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars reacts as they take on the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. The Michigan Wolverines won 64-63 with a 3-point buzzer beater. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS – MARCH 17: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars reacts as they take on the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. The Michigan Wolverines won 64-63 with a 3-point buzzer beater. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

4. Houston (November 24th)

The team that knocked off the Aztecs in the NCAA Tournament gets the fourth spot here.

Last year, Houston went 24-6 in the regular season, then fell in the AAC Tournament final to No. 8 Cincinnati. They earned a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, edging San Diego State in the first round before falling to Michigan on a buzzer-beater.

The Cougars may take a small step back in 2018-19, since they lose three of their top five scorers, including leading-scorer Rob Gray. But Houston was a deep team last year, with nine players playing at least 12 minutes a night, so they’ve still got enough weapons to be dangerous.

This should be a Tier 2 matchup for BYU, and it’s the Cougars’ biggest home game of the non-conference slate.

3. vs. Utah (December 8th)

The Holy War will always make a list of the biggest games of the season, even if one or both teams struggle.

The Cougars finally have the bragging rights in the series, winning last year’s game 77-65.

This year the two teams will square off at Vivint Smarthome Arena as a part of the Beehive Classic. It’s a true neutral match between the state’s two titans.

Utah finished 23-12 last year, reaching the championship game of the NIT before losing to Penn State 82-66.

The Utes will miss key seniors David Collette, Justin Bibbins, and Tyler Rawson, but they’ve got enough talent and depth to finish in the top half of the PAC-12 once again.

As a true neutral game, this will likely be a Tier 2 game for BYU.

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