BYU basketball hasn't been flawless in non-conference play, but a dominating performance against Fresno State on Wednesday was a positive indicator that head coach Kevin Young has his squad moving in the right direction.
BYU vs Fresno State | Radio Highlights pic.twitter.com/gUQEFUNfgf
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 12, 2024
For the second time this season, BYU will be without star point guard, Egor Demin, as he rests from a knee contusion. Reports suggested that he'd sit for a week and a half from the Fresno game, likely meaning that the Cougars will have to move forward without Demin until conference play opens up against Arizona State on New Year's Eve.
For new players, a new coach, and a new outlook on what BYU basketball could become, every warmup game is a valuable opportunity to develop chemistry, learn what strategies work, and fortify a team that will certainly meet some roadblocks on the journey to the pinnacle of the Big 12 Conference.
Resident titans like Houston, Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, and so many more have likewise struggled to find certain footing against some of the strongest programs in the sport, but don't get confused--the Big 12 is still likely the strongest league from top to bottom in the nation, and BYU would be highly fortunate to find success comparable to last year's excellent jaunt through conference competition.
Wyoming stands in the way of BYU's goal, and the Cougars will certainly view this game as a chance to establish their name as a force in the college hoops mega sphere. The Cowboys sit at 5-4 on the season, with their last 5 matchups decided by no more than 3 points each. This team took a tough Utah State squad to the wire, but most recently dropped a matchup against South Dakota.
Held in the Delta Center, this clash is technically on a "neutral floor", despite the fact that Ryan Smith's house will be a sea of royal blue.
In Demin's absence, we should see Hall, Catchings, Saunders, Baker, and Knell step up in a larger ball-handling role. The Cougars knocked down shot after shot on their way to 96 points on Wednesday's clinic, they'll hope to replicate such success against the Cowboys tonight.
How to Watch BYU vs. Wyoming
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM MT
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Channel: ESPN+
Odds: BYU -18.5