Overview
- Tipoff is 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV at T-Mobile Arena in the Hall of Fame Series, with sportsbooks making BYU a single-digit favorite.
- The Cougars pair returning anchors Richie Saunders and Keba Keita with impact additions Rob Wright III, Tyler Mrus, Dominique Diomande, Kennard Davis Jr., and top recruit AJ Dybantsa.
- Kevin Young said guard Dawson Baker and UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens are still in question after missing both exhibitions.
- BYU tuned up with two stern exhibitions, a 90-89 loss at Nebraska and a 78-76 win over North Carolina, to accelerate early chemistry.
- Villanova starts the Kevin Willard era after heavy turnover, featuring freshman point guard Acaden Lewis and a preseason projection of seventh in the Big East following a VCU scrimmage win and a tight exhibition loss to Virginia.