BYU is scheduled to take on Providence in the 2024 Big 12-Big East Challenge

The 2024 Big 12-Big East Battle schedule has been slated, and BYU will make its first appearance in the annual cross-conference hoops challenge. The Cougars have been slotted into a road appearance against the Providence Friars.

The Big 12 Big East Battle has been played annually since 2019. In this yearly battle, universities from the Big 12 and Big East matchup in the non-conference season. Last season's battle featured a slate of 11 games, with the Cougars missing the cut along with the other new programs entering their first seasons in the Big 12 (save for Houston, who dominated the Big 12's regular season). The 2024 edition of the challenge will likewise exclude all newcomers from the defunct Pac-12, including Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and Arizona State.

Quick side note: this year's event is officially named the "Big 12-Big East Battle", while last season's title was the "Big East-Big 12 Battle". These two leagues being courteous enough with one another to take turns being named first is nothing less than completely adorable.

Following a weak 2023 non-conference schedule which handed the Cougars only one loss heading into conference play, news of a high-profile matchup with a storied Big East program will spice up BYU's non-conference schedule next season. Inclusion in the event is great for the program, following a shakeup that has raised several question marks regarding next season's team.

But how should BYU match up against the Friars? Historically, Providence has seen plenty of basketball success, earning two Final Four berths--two more than BYU has ever seen, unfortunately. The Friars have never reached the mountain top of college hoops--claiming 0 national championships. Regardless, Providence is home to a rich history of basketball success.

Last season, the Friars finished with a 21-14 record in Kim English's first season coaching the team. English's squad was sent home early with a first round exit from the NIT Tournament at the hands of Boston College.

With BYU's roster struggling to keep itself together amidst the turnover in the coaching staff, it's hard to say that BYU should be favored in this matchup at this time. No matter the outcome, however, BYU's inclusion in an interleague clash of basketball titans should excite Cougar fans for the next season.

Here's the full schedule for the Big 12-Big East Battle:

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