A trip to New York to play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn highlights BYU's 2012-13 nonconference basketball schedule, which was released this week.
Notre Dame, St. Joseph's and Florida State will also play at the tournament in New York, although pairings have not been announced.
The schedule includes few surprises. One revelation is that the Cougars will play at Iowa State on Dec. 1, in Ames, Iowa. It will be interesting to see if the Cyclones return the game in Provo, or at BYU's nonconference home away from home, Salt Lake City's EnergySolutions Arena.
Another mild surprise is that BYU will play host to Montana, the alma mater of Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak, on Nov. 28 at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Cougars play twice at ESA, meeting Virginia Tech on Dec. 29.
On paper, the toughest game will likely be at Baylor on Dec. 21, a day after the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. The Cougar football team will play in the Poinsettia Bowl if it wins six games and is not invited to a BCS game.
There are five games against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and three games against in-state foes: Utah State, Utah and Weber State. The Cougars will play host to USU and Utah in the same week.
The West Coast Conference schedule will be announced in August. Game times and broadcast plans will also be announced at a later date. —
BYU's 2012 non-conference schedule
Oct. 24 • Cougar Tipoff
Oct. 26 • Southeast Oklahoma State (exhibition)
Nov. 3 • Findlay (exhibition)
Nov. 9 • Tennessee State
Nov. 13 • Georgia State
Nov. 16 • at Coaches vs. Cancer Classic vs. Florida State, Notre Dame or St. Joseph's
Nov. 17 • at Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Nov. 21 • Texas-San Antonio
Nov. 24 • Cal State Northridge
Nov. 28 • Montana at EnergySolutions Arena, SLC
Dec. 1 • at Iowa State
Dec. 5 • Utah State
Dec. 8 • Utah
Dec. 15 • at Weber State
Dec. 18 • Eastern New Mexico
Dec. 21 • at Baylor
Dec. 27 • Northern Arizona
Dec. 29 • Virginia Tech at EnergySolutions Arena, SLC
