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Southern Utah and Utah Valley open men's basketball practice Friday, while Weber State will wait until Oct. 11.
SUU finished 11-20 overall and 8-12 in the Big Sky Conference last season. Second-year coach Nick Robinson returns two starters in center Jayson Cheesman (6.8 ppg) and forward Jaren Jeffery (3.5 ppg). The Thunderbirds begin their season Nov. 8 against Arizona Christian.
UVU joins the rebuilt Western Athletic Conference after finishing 14-18 last season. The Wolverines' top returnees are center Ben Aird (15.1 ppg) and guard Holton Hunsaker (13.2 ppg). Coached by Dick Hunasker, UVU opens the season Nov. 8 at IUPUI.
Weber State went 30-7 overall and 18-2 in the Big Sky last year. The Wildcats lost to East Carolina, 77-74, in the finals of CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Coach Randy Rahe begins his eighth season with the Wildcats, whose top returnees include guard-forward Davion Berry (15.2 ppg) and center Kyle Tresnak (12.8 ppg). Weber opens Nov. 8 at BYU.