This year's edition of the BYU Cougars is a different beast entirely. Have you noticed? On Saturday afternoon, Kevin Young's squad, led by AJ Dybantsa, Rob Wright, and Richie Saunders, took the Dan Hurley-led UConn Huskies to the wire in a 2-point loss in Boston. In what was essentially a home game for third-ranked UConn, BYU overcame a 20-point deficit to nearly steal the game from an established winner at the highest level.
So allow me to reiterate: the BYU basketball program is a threat to reach the Final Four this season.
Even without Keba Keita, who left the game early with an injury, and Kennard Davis, who is battling a lower body injury and off-court issues, BYU found a way to draw within one possession as the game expired.
This must be the strangest timeline.
But the battles don't stop there for the Cougars in the non-conference, no sir. Up next is a rematch with the 24th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, the very team that BYU took down in the round of 32 last season to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since Jimmer Fredette reigned over the Mountain West Conference.
In this, a Delta Center duel with yet another dangerous squad, Dybantsa and company will be challenged and tested to see if they're up to snuff, and capable of not just competing, but winning in big games.
BYU proved themselves in a measuring stick game against a team that could very well win the national championship this year, covering the spread and giving Dan Hurley's team a significant scare.
In the early season, and already dinged up a bit, how does BYU respond to a grueling and gutsy loss over the weekend? This is why we watch the games, of course.
How can I watch BYU vs Wisconsin?
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM MT
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Channel: Peacock