Watch No. 8 BYU Face Villanova in the Season Opener

No. 8 BYU is set to face Villanova in a highly anticipated season opener. The game will take place on Monday at 7:30 p.m. MST at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Fans can tune in via TNT and TruTV or watch online through HBO Max. For radio coverage, KSL 1160 AM, 102.7 FM, and BYU Radio Sirius XM 143 will be broadcasting the event.

BYU Cougars: Preseason Insights

The Cougars enter the season with a historical AP Top 25 ranking, their highest ever. Under the guidance of coach Kevin Young, BYU was predicted to finish second in the Big 12 by coaches and third by media. Last season, they achieved an impressive record of 26-10 and made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova Wildcats: New Beginnings

Villanova is kicking off a new era with coach Kevin Willard, who previously led Maryland to the Sweet 16. The Wildcats also faced mixed results in their preseason exhibitions, winning against VCU 70-51 but losing to Virginia 75-72. This season, they have been picked to finish seventh in the 11-team Big East Conference.

Key Player to Watch: AJ Dybantsa

Freshman forward AJ Dybantsa is a pivotal player for BYU this season. Regarded as a top high school recruit, he has already earned preseason All-American honors. Dybantsa is projected to be a potential No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft. In two preseason games, he averaged 24 points per game. His regular-season debut promises to capture national attention.

Quotes from Coach Kevin Young

• “This isn’t like a feel-good moment. We want to be a contender in all things college basketball.”
• “I’m grateful for everyone who has helped put us in this situation.”

Game Details

With BYU looking to maintain their strong momentum and Villanova aiming to establish a fresh identity, this matchup promises to be thrilling for college basketball fans.