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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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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Cody Martin #11 and Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack discuss the play against the Loyola Ramblers in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Loyola Ramblers defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 69-68. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: Cody Martin #11 and Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack discuss the play against the Loyola Ramblers in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Loyola Ramblers defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 69-68. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. at Mississippi State (December 29th)

The last non-conference game will be a key test for the Cougars. Mississippi State will likely enter the season as a preseason Top 25 team, and there’s no reason to expect that they won’t still be there when BYU visits Starkville.

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Last year the Bulldogs enjoyed their best season in years, finishing with a 25-12 record. They made the NIT Final Four, falling to Penn State in the semifinal.

Mississippi State brings back every major contributor in 2018-19. They should be one of the top teams in the SEC, and this will be a Tier 1 game for BYU.

1. at Nevada (November 6th)

The first game of the season will be the biggest non-conference matchup of the year.

Nevada will be a preseason Top 10 team, maybe even Top 5. That’s what happens when you bring back your best players from last season’s Sweet Sixteen run.

And you add a 5-star recruit in Jordan Brown.

The combination of Brown, Cody and Caleb Martin, and Jordan Caroline makes the Wolf Pack a Final Four contender, and they’ll give Gonzaga a run for their money as this year’s best non-Power Five team.

The Cougars really wish they’d have Nick Emery for this one.

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