Friday night in Salt Lake City sets up one of the more intriguing early season tests on the board as Wisconsin meets BYU in a neutral site matchup that feels anything but neutral.
What to know before tipoff
Both teams arrived here on very different paths and both look nothing like the versions that crossed paths in the NCAA Tournament eight months ago.
Yes, the Cougars knocked the Badgers out in March, and yes, Wisconsin’s fan base still remembers it. But the rosters, rotations, and overall feel of these two squads have shifted enough that the past doesn’t tell you much about what is coming next.
MORE: Sampson's freshmen look to bury Rider after nail-biter vs Auburn
Cougars have dudes
BYU brings back four players from that tournament win and might only have three available depending on how quickly Keba Keita recovers from the concussion he suffered against UConn. The Cougars also have a major new wrinkle in freshman forward AJ Dybantsa, who is already their top scorer and looks every bit the blue chip recruit he was billed to be.
Changes in Madison
Wisconsin has had its own makeover. The Badgers returned three contributors from that loss, but their identity now revolves around a mix of new starters and transfers who have hit the ground fast. The result has been four comfortable wins at home with an average margin of victory over 28 points.
Nick Boyd has quickly turned into a top-scoring option for the Badgers, and John Blackwell continues to look like a player who can carry the load in big moments. Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp give Wisconsin a frontcourt that can stretch the floor or work inside without losing rhythm.
Head coach Greg Gard has been open about wanting a challenge for his group, and this one arrives right on time. After tearing through buy games, the Badgers finally get an opponent that pushes back.
2025 so far
BYU has lived at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Cougars opened with a win over Villanova in Las Vegas, then went toe to toe with UConn in Boston before falling by two points. Kevin Young’s group has already been in tight, physical, late-game situations and should be comfortable in another one.
Dybantsa’s scoring has grabbed the national headlines, but Richie Saunders and Baylor transfer Robert Wright have been just as important. The trio gives BYU a balanced, multi-layered offense that can score at all three levels.
BYU does have some things to sort out on the availability front. Keita could sit again, and starting guard Kennard Davis Jr. Is still working his way back after off-court issues stemming from a recent car accident
Even with the uncertainty, BYU’s pace, shot making and toughness should test Wisconsin in a way the Badgers haven’t experienced yet this season.
Settle down in Utah
This matchup comes down to which team settles in first. Wisconsin has the shooters to make this interesting and enough size to create problems for a thin BYU frontline if Keita cannot go. BYU has the proven scorers and the early season battle scars that usually matter in these spots.
Salt Lake City should bring the atmosphere, and both teams should bring the urgency. It might be late November, but this one has the feel of something closer to March.
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