Pre-Game Primer: BYU vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State

Marriott Center
Provo, Utah
Time: Friday, 7:00 p.m. MDT
TV: BYUtv

What To Watch For:

New Guys. It's here. (Kind of.) While the Cougar Tip-Off was a fun little scrimmage and this one doesn't really count as an actual game either, it is BYU's first opportunity of the season to face off against someone other than themselves. It should be interesting to see how the team interacts with one another on the floor, how they execute their sets, etc. Pay special attention to the newcomers, especially those who figure to garner a lot of time this season — Tyler Haws, Raul Delgado, and Agustin Ambrosino. While Haws has so far looked like he hasn't missed a beat while serving his mission, it will be crucial for coach Dave Rose to bring Delgado and Ambrosino along as quickly as possible. Their production will be needed against teams like Florida State and Notre Dame in just a few weeks' time. If they can pick up Rose's system early and demonstrate a good rhythm with the rest of the returning players, it will be a sign that the Cougars are on the right track. If not, there could be some serious work left to do in the next week or so.

Can They Stop Anybody? It shouldn't be a secret to anyone that watched Wednesday's scrimmage — there wasn't a whole lot of defense being played. And while it is very possible that the free-flowing dynamic was merely a function of the event's exhibition format, it still gives me pause. If you recall, BYU struggled defensively at times last year, particularly down the stretch. They too often became wedded to their zone defense, even when opposing shooters were lighting it up from deep. At times, Rose seemed hesitant to play opponent's man-to-man, perhaps due to a lack of perimeter athleticism outside of Charles Abouo — or maybe he just really liked that zone. Either way, now that their best defender has graduated, it will be interesting to see if/how the Cougars' gameplan changes on that end of the floor. Will they stick with the zone, or try out more man? Tonight could provide an early indication.

Dennis Rodman. No, seriously. Southeastern Oklahoma State is The Worm's alma mater. Maybe he'll show up courtside to take in the game? I'm sure he would love Provo's abundance of wedding dress suppliers...

In all reality, this should be a cakewalk — albeit a potentially informative one. To paraphrase a famed fictional coach of whom I'm particularly fond, it's time to see what kind of hand we've been dealt. Go Cougars.