This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Marriott Center is sold out (22,700) for today's BYU-Baylor basketball game, and fans are beginning to pour in to the building an hour before tipoff. The game will be televised by BYUtv is you are not among the throng of folks here today. No doubt, the NCAA Tournament selection committee is keeping close tabs on the contest as well, as the 8-2 Cougars and 8-0 Bears look to build their tournament profiles against top-notch competition.
"Yeah, we are all excited for it," said BYU center Brandon Davies, looking to break out of a mild slump. "They are a great team and it is our toughest game thus far. We are all excited to get out there and we can't wait to play. It has been a long week of finals and we are ready to have some fun now."
Craig Cusick will start at point guard today for the Cougars, taking over the spot held the last six games by Anson Winder.
Officials for today's game have strong Big 12 ties. Rick Crawford and Joe DeRossa work mostly Big 12 and Conference USA games. Keith Kimble primarily works Southland and Sunbelt conference games. That will be interesting, because a huge key for BYU will be staying out of foul trouble — especially Brandon Davies and Noah Hartsock — inside against Baylor's phenomenal inside players — Quincy Acy and Perry Jones III. Here's my preview of today's game, which is mostly about BYU point guard Matt Carlino, who will make his long-awaited debut today. Also, in case you missed it, the Cougars got a commitment from a high school junior last night, Lone Peak's Eric Mika. Here's more on that.