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PROVO -- BYU's 16-game nonconference schedule features teams from nine different conferences and nine teams that qualified for postseason play in 2009, including Arizona, Arizona State and Utah State.
The Cougars will also make a trip to the Las Vegas Classic.
We've put together a very competitive and exciting nonconference schedule," Head coach Dave Rose said. "Each team plays a different style making every game a challenge, both at home and on the road. Playing in the Las Vegas Classic will be a good test for us as well. It's a schedule that can prepare us to defend our Mountain West Conference championship."
The Cougar Tipoff is scheduled for Oct. 28 and will be followed by home exhibitions against Trinity Western (Nov. 5) and Central Washington (Nov. 10).
The Cougars will open regular season play by hosting Bradley on Nov. 13 in the first game of the inaugural Mountain West Conference/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge Series. The other eight teams in the MWC will face off against an MVC opponent from Nov. 20 to Dec. 23. Future challenges are scheduled for 2010, 2011 and 2012.
On Nov. 17 BYU will host Idaho State, a team the Cougars have defeated five consecutive times including 85-65 in 2008.
On Nov. 20 BYU will head to Hawaii to play the Warriors from the Western Athletic Conference. The two teams last played in 1999, the Cougars' final season as members of the WAC.
BYU will then host Southern University (Nov. 24) and Weber State (Nov. 27). The Cougars have never lost to the Wildcats in Provo (17-0).
BYU will open December with instate match up on Dec. 2 against rival Utah State. BYU owns a 135-90 record against the Aggies but has lost four straight in Logan.
On Dec. 5 the Cougars will play at Energy Solutions Arena for the fifth time since 2003 when they host San Francisco. BYU defeated Utah State 68-63 in 2008 at Energy Solutions where the Cougars are 2-2 all-time.
BYU will remain in Utah and host Arizona State on Dec. 8 at the Marriott Center. The Cougars will be looking to avenge last season's one-point loss at the Stadium Shootout at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
BYU will then travel to Los Angeles to take on Fresno State at the Galen Center on Dec. 12. Former Cougar head coach Steve Cleveland now runs the Bulldogs.
BYU returns to the Marriott Center to host Wagner on Dec. 17 and Eastern Washington on Dec. 19 for its first two games of the Las Vegas Classic. The final two games of the Classic will be at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 22 and 23. Nebraska, Nevada and Tulsa will also compete in the Classic. Matchups will be announced at a later date.
BYU's last game of the 2009 calendar year will be at Arizona on Dec. 28. The Cougars and Wildcats were conference rivals in the 1960s and 70s when both teams were members of the WAC.
The final home nonconference game will be against Eastern New Mexico on Jan. 2 and the nonconference schedule will conclude at UTEP on Jan. 9.
BYU owns a 342-208 record against its nonconference opponents, including the three potential opponents in the Las Vegas Classic.
Five of BYU's 2009-10 nonconference opponents—Idaho State, Weber State, Utah State, Arizona State and Tulsa—were on the schedule last season. Southern, Wagner and Eastern New Mexico are facing the Cougars for the first time.
Nine of BYU's nonconference opponents qualified for postseason play in 2008-09, including Utah State, Arizona State and Arizona, which qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Arizona advanced to the Sweet 16, Arizona State advanced to the second round and Utah State was eliminated in the first round.
Game times will be announced later in the summer along with the MWC schedule.
Season tickets, which also include a neutral site game at Energy Solutions Arena, start at just $75 and go on sale beginning Aug. 1.
