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Because the annual Christmas Around the World pageant is taking over the Marriott Center this week, the BYU basketball team will be on the road — but without leaving the state.

The Cougars play at Utah State on Tuesday night (7 p.m. MST, CBS Sports Network) and at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday afternoon against Hawaii (4 p.m. MST, BYUtv).

Coach Dave Rose and four players — Tyler Haws, Skyler Halford, Anson Winder and Chase Fischer — met with the media Monday afternoon before the team boarded a bus bound for Logan. They will practice at the Spectrum on Monday night, then return there for a morning shootaround.

The Cougars have won the last two games against the Aggies, and lead the all-time series 138-92, but haven't won in Logan since 2000, a stretch spanning six games.

Rose is well aware of the futility streak in Logan.

"My first thought is that maybe we would like to have another day or two to prepare, but I think the importance of the Maui Classic was really something that we wanted to give it a shot. I think it was a good experience for our guys," Rose said. "We got better as a team. I wish the results were a little bit different. But when you take on that tournament, especially with the way it is put together with the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of Thanksgiving, and our situation with the Marriott Center, you know you are going to be in for a tough schedule coming home from that tournament

I am pleased with the way our guys played on Saturday, and look forward to getting the game plan in, and then getting after it a little bit today, and see how we do tomorrow."

The theme of Monday's media session was how difficult it is to play at the Spectrum, due to USU's enthusiastic and raucous crowd.

"I played there my freshman year. Crazy environment," said Tyler Haws. "But I think it is one of the best in college basketball. It is fun. The fans are really really close, so it feels like they are right on top of you. But it is going to be fun. We are looking forward to it."

Utah State students research the backgrounds of opponents' players, and pass out a prep sheet before the game to give themselves ammo for taunts, slurs and the like.

Asked about that on Monday, Haws said:

"I have no idea [what will be on the sheet thing year]. It seems like they always have something about my family, or personal life. …. The only time I ever laughed at the free-throw line was at Utah State my freshman year. I think it was Wild Bill. Is that his name? Wild Bill stood up and was just shaking. I couldn't help but laugh. That was the only time I ever laughed at the free-throw line.

So who knows? Who knows what they will bring this year. But it is just fun, and you go out and play as hard as you can and it will take care of itself."

This will be BYU's first true road game of the season; The Cougars have played four at home, and three on a neutral court at the Maui Invitational. Rose said it will be a good test to see how his experienced team of five seniors handles one of the rowdiest crowds in the country.

"I think every team responds differently to that. I think some teams, that real road experience has a real effect on them. Others, it doesn't have much of an effect. And then some teams, you see a real positive effect. We have had some teams in here that almost played better on the road in those situations.

This will be interesting. First one out, it is always interesting to see how your guys respond. We've got some experienced guys that hopefully will be able to handle — you know the first 8-10 minutes of a real hostile environment is interesting.

One thing we have found over the years is that if you can be successful offensively, it keeps them a little bit maybe as not into the game. And that will be a big part for us. We got to go out there and guard them. This is a really athletic team. But hopefully we can get off to a good start."