BYU announces 2017-18 nonconference schedule

PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball coach Dave Rose announced the Cougars’ 2017-18 nonconference schedule, which features the Barclays Center Classic, a trip to Princeton and four in-state games including the inaugural Beehive Classic.

The nonconference schedule includes seven home games, three road games and three neutral site games. Eight of BYU’s nonconference opponents played in the postseason in 2017.

The regular season opens with a home contest against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 11 before the Cougars head east to take on Princeton on Nov. 15. BYU opened last season with an 82-73 home win against the Tigers. Princeton won the Ivy League and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

After a pair of home games against UT Arlington (Nov. 18) and Niagara (Nov. 21), the Cougars head back east for the Barclays Center Classic in Brooklyn, New York. Game one of the Barclays will be against Alabama on Nov. 24. The Cougars will then take on UMass on Nov. 25.

Following the Barclays Center Classic, BYU will play four of five against in-state foes. The stretch starts with the Crosstown Clash against Utah Valley in Orem (Nov. 29). Later that week, the Cougars head to Logan to play at Utah State (Dec. 2).

The Cougars will take a break from in-state play with a home contest against Illinois State on Dec. 6. Last season the Redbirds finished 28-7 overall, tied for first in the Missouri Valley Conference with Wichita State at 17-1 and earned a No. 1 seed in the NIT.

On Dec. 9, the Cougars will play Weber State in the Beehive Classic at Vivint Smart Home Arena. BYU has won 14-straight against the Wildcats, including a 77-66 win in Provo last season. The Beehive Classic will also feature a matchup between Utah and Utah State.

The nonconference season will conclude with three-straight home games against Utah in the Deseret Duel on Dec. 16, Idaho State on Dec. 21 and Texas Southern on Dec. 23. After a one-year hiatus, the Cougars and Utes will renew a rivalry that dates back to 1909. BYU leads the all-time series 129-128.

The preseason will open with the annual Cougar Tipoff on Oct. 25, and continues with exhibitions on back-to-back Wednesdays, Nov. 1 (Westminster) and Nov. 8 (Colorado College).

All game times, television plans and the 2017-18 West Coast Conference schedule will be announced at a later date.