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In recent weeks, in his weekly online media interviews, BYU coach Mark Pope has answered numerous questions about his team’s non-conference schedule, which has had to be rebuilt due to of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But he couldn’t provide many specific answers.
When he greeted reporters on Thursday, he did so with his trademark enthusiasm. And this time he had a schedule to announce.
So, with the help of assistant coach Nick Robinson, who is in charge of the planning and worked hard to recreate it, they listed each game, one at a time.
It’s a lightning-fast schedule, with 11 non-conference games in less than a month, including six games in the first nine days. It offers the ability to play four opponents ranked in the kenpom.com preseason top 50.
The Cougars start the season Nov. 25 at home against Westminster, followed 24 hours later by a Thanksgiving game against New Orleans at the Marriott Center. Two days later, BYU welcomes Pope’s former employer, Utah Valley University.
From December 1-3, the Cougars will play in the Roman Legends Classic at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. BYU will face USC in Game 1 and then meet the winner of UConn-Vanderbilt.
The Cougars will then travel to the state of Utah (December 5). Then they entertain Boise State (December 9) and Utah (December 12). BYU will travel to San Diego State (December 18) before hosting Texas Southern (December 21) and meeting Weber State at Vivint Arena (December 23).
“It really is a terrifying schedule. If you think about it, we’re starting the season with three games in four days; then we move away from home, three games in five days with trips across the country, ”Pope said. “Then Boise State, which is maybe the best team we play, I’m going to be surprised if they don’t make the top 25 by the end of the season. They are so loaded with talent. Then Utah, which is also a gaming monster. ”
BYU’s 16-game West Coast Conference schedule is scheduled to end Dec.31 in Pepperdine.
The Cougars are currently ranked No.89 on the kenpom.com preseason rankings. Here are the kenpom.com rankings of their 11 non-conference opponents / possible opponents in order of scoring: UConn (# 43), San Diego State (# 44), USC (# 48), Utah (# 52), Utah State (# 69), Boise State (# 105), Vanderbilt (# 126), Texas Southern (# 258), Weber State (# 274), New Orleans (# No. 313) and UVU (No. 314).
Pope and his team tried to put together a schedule to give their team the opportunity to create a strong resume in general for the NCAA tournament. It was not easy. They also had to consider the possibility that matches could be canceled due to the pandemic.
“Everyone is guessing in a bigger way than we’ve ever had to guess before. Not only are we guessing what the NCAA Tournament Committee is going to enjoy, which we’re always guessing, but we’re really guessing now, “Pope said of the team planning process across the country. “We also guess which games we will miss and how many games we will miss. By putting this calendar together, we have to have so many high quality opponents. It is really terrifying.
“I’m looking at the schedule and I’m not going to sleep for the next few weeks. There is simply no break. We just wanted to make sure our guys had a chance to prove who they were, ”he continued. “I think our schedule is so tough that if we lose a few games against COVID, we still have a great opportunity to prove ourselves. This is what we are counting on. We knew we wanted a really tough schedule. Clearly we have it. Then we will try to survive.
Ahead of practice Thursday, Pope briefed his team on this no-conference schedule.
“He said it was going to be a top 10 in the country. That’s what we all wanted, ”said head goaltender Alex Barcello. “That’s why we’ve worked so hard and we’re so excited and motivated to go out there and give him everything we’ve got and win as many games as possible.
With less than two weeks before the start of the season, Pope points out that this schedule will be a major challenge for his team.
“This is the type of schedule that gets you fired. So pray for me. Pray for us. It doesn’t get any better than that. Let’s go hoop, ”he said. “It could be our death, but there’s nothing better than playing great teams in the non-conference. We are really excited. “
Here’s a look at the full non-conference schedule:
November 25 – Westminster
November 26 – New Orleans
November 28 – Utah Valley
December 1 – vs USC (Legends Classic)
December 3 – vs UConn / Vanderbilt (Legends Classic)
December 5 – in the state of Utah
December 9 – Boise State
December 12 – Utah
December 18 – in the state of San Diego
December 21 – Texas Southern
December 23 – v Weber State (Vivint Smart Home Arena)
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