Really, though, the season begins tonight, when the Cougars travel to Ogden and the Dee Events Center to face a team for the first time that has a chance to beat them, the 2-3 Weber State Wildcats. And it really heats up Saturday when BYU meets Utah State (5-0) at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

"The next week is a real challenge for us," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "Anytime you play an in-state game, there's an intensity that goes throughout your preparation and the game itself, so we are looking forward to two really tough games this week."

BYU has defeated Weber State five straight times, but two years ago in Ogden the Wildcats pushed the Cougars to double overtime before succumbing.

"In-state matchups are emotional games," Rose said. "They are the types of games that you want to have as a coach early in the season, because they are similar to what is going to happen in the league later in the year."

The Cougars have won their six games by an average of 22.5 points and their closest game was a 76-64 win over Cal Poly.

According to the Sagarin ratings, BYU has played the 341st toughest schedule in Division I men's basketball. Only a handful of teams, including 5-0 Wyoming (345), have played easier schedules than the Cougars.

After tonight, that changes drastically. BYU's next seven nonconference opponents are a combined 35-7, and two are ranked, No. 15 Wake Forest (7-0) and No. 19 Arizona State (5-1).

"Every team we play is special. We don't overlook anybody. Anybody can beat us," said forward Joathan Tavernari, the Cougars' second-leading scorer with a 17.0 average. "We prepare for everyone."

Rose said the easy-November, tough-December wasn't planned, it just worked out that way.

"When you schedule, there are so many different variables that go into it. You are trying to get certain games at certain times and it is a difficult situation. What you are really trying to do is to get all your preseason games in - at least for us - before league starts," he said. "You really just try to get them in when you can, and arrange it with the other teams. Your schedule just kind of creates its own little situation itself. And then you just kind of deal with it."

While rival Utah has pumped up its difficult nonconference schedule (which also includes two ranked teams, Gonzaga and Oklahoma) with television and radio ads, Rose isn't apologizing for his slate. Rose notes that many teams from major conferences refuse to visit the Marriott Center, where the Cougars have won 51 straight games. Utah plays host to Oregon (tonight), California, No. 5 Gonzaga and LSU, and visits No. 6 Oklahoma.

"We would like to get two or three [big-name opponents] every year in here, and to be able to have some intense, emotional, national-type games in the Marriott Center," Rose said. "It is tough, but we have been able to get a couple in the Delta Center, and we've been able to go on the road and get some, like Louisville and North Carolina and UCLA and Michigan State."

drew@sltrib.comBYU at Weber State

BYU at Weber State

At Dee Events Center

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

TV: BYUTV, KJZZ

Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM, 1430 AM

Records: BYU 6-0, Weber State 2-3

Series history: BYU leads, 23-10

Last meeting: BYU 72, 57 (2008)

About the Cougars: They are among "others receiving votes" in both major polls. . . . They have defeated Weber State five straight times and have won two straight at the Dee Events Center. . . . They average 79.2 points per game and are allowing 56.7 ppg. . . . Forwards Lee Cummard and Jonathan Tavernari combine for 36 points a game.

About the Wildcats: They are 2-3 after defeating Montana Tech 77-62 at home on Saturday. They also defeated Prairie View A&M. . . . G Kellen McCoy, 5-6, leads them in scoring at 13.6 ppg. . . . Center Steve Panos leads them in rebounding (7.0) and is second in scoring (11.6). . . . They average 67.8 points per game.

BYU's remaining nonconference schedule

Date Opponent Record

Today at Weber State 2-3

Saturday Utah State* 5-0

Dec. 10 Boise State 3-0

Dec. 13 Portland 5-1

Dec. 20 Arizona State# 5-1

Dec. 23 Western Oregon 4-3

Dec. 30 at Tulsa 6-2

Jan. 3 Wake Forest 7-0

* - at EnergySolutions Arena

# - at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.