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Ogden • BYU basketball coach Dave Rose always talks about the dangers of letting one hard loss turn into two.
His advice will be tested mightily on Saturday night, as the Cougars (7-3) try to rebound from Wednesday's devastating loss in another instate rivalry game, this time against 3-4 Weber State. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at the Dee Events Center, and the game will be televised by KJZZ TV.
"Practices have been really good [since the 65-61 loss to No. 13 Utah]," Rose said Friday night. "The last two were competitive and spirited. There is a lot of urgency in the group. I think that they have moved past the disappointment and on to the next challenge."
He better hope so, because Weber State always plays the Cougars tough at the Dee. The Cougars have won 11 straight matchups against the Big Sky Conference team, but Rose expects another grinder, similar to the Utah State game on Dec. 2.
Like the Aggies and Utes, Weber State will have had a week to prepare for the Cougars. Coincidence? Rose isn't saying, but he's certainly noticed.
"You are probably asking the wrong guy," he said. "….I think if any coach could have a couple extra days for a big game, whatever situation that might be, he would probably take the days. That is what I would think."
Rose said that Isaac Neilson, a 6-foot-11 freshman, will join the starting lineup, replacing Nate Austin, who is out at least two weeks with a hamstring tear suffered while stretching before the tip against Utah.
"Just a really unique situation," Rose said of Austin's injury. "I have never seen anything like it."
Weber State has one of the best rebounders in the country in 6-9 junior Joel Bolomboy, who is averaging 14.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Guard Jeremy Senglin is also a tough-guard, and is averaging 14 points a game.
"They are another long, athletic, active team," said BYU guard Anson Winder. "They have some pretty athletic bigs, and some guards that can score the ball. We have our hands full. We are going to have to bring out a better defensive effort than we did last game."
Winder and 6-10 center Corbin Kaufusi, who will see more minutes in Austin's absence as well as Neilson, said it took awhile to get over the Utah loss.
"Right after the game, it is sad," Winder said. "It hits you pretty hard that first night, and then the next day you wake up and realize, hey, we get to play again. … It is a good thing that it is a quick turnaround."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU vs. Weber State
O At Dee Events Center, Ogden
Tipoff • 7 p.m.
TV • KJZZ
Radio • 1160 AM/102.7 FM
Records • BYU 7-3, Weber State 3-4
Series history • BYU leads, 29-10
Last meeting • BYU 81, Weber State 72 (Nov. 8, 2013)
About the Wildcats • The are 9-10 against the Cougars in games played in Ogden. … They are coming off a 63-56 loss at Texas-Arlington and haven't played since last Saturday. … They are seventh in the nation in free-throw percentage, 77.1 percent… Joel Bolomboy leads them in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (10.9).
About the Cougars • They have won 11 straight games against Weber State. … They still lead the country in scoring with a 91.2 average despite scoring 30 points below that in Wednesday's 65-61 loss to Utah. … Freshman Isaac Neilson will make his first career start, replacing Nate Austin in the starting lineup. Austin is out at least two weeks with a hamstring tear.