BYU vs. Weber State Preview
BYU vs. Weber State
Gametime: 7:00 PM PST
TV: BYUtv (byutvsports.com)
Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM, and ksl.com (SLC/Provo) 1430 AM, 103.1 FM, and kloradio.com (Ogden)
Projected starting lineups: BYU – Carlino, Collingsworth, Haws, Austin, Mika – WSU – Senglin, Richardson, Berry, Bolomboy, Tresnak
The BYU Cougars welcome the Weber State Wildcats to the Marriott Center on Friday night at 7 PM MST. The game will be televised live on television on BYUtv and streamed online at byutvsports.com. In the Salt Lake/Provo area, the radio call will be on KSL Newsradio 1160 AM and 102.7 FM, with a live stream available on ksl.com. In the Ogden area, the radio call will be on KLO Radio 1430 AM and 103.1 FM, with a live stream available on kloradio.com.
The Wildcats are coming off a season in which they became the first team in Big Sky history to win 30 games and reach the final of a postseason tournament. Last year, they finished with a 30-7 record with a run in the Collegeinsider.com Tournament.
The Wildcats return a trio of starters from last season’s squad.
Davion Berry 15.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, Big Sky newcomer of the year
Kyle Tresnak 11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 57 % FG
Jordan Richardson 7.2 ppg, 2.8 apg
Both Berry and Richardson started all 37 games for the Wildcats. Tresnak started all 36 games he appeared in, only missing 1 game on account of a sprained ankle. While all three were adjusting to life post-Damian Lillard when BYU and Weber met last season, this trio should be primed and ready to take it to the Cougars.
In last season’s 78-68 win for the Cougars, Brandon Davies owned the night with 33 points and 8 boards. The x-factor will be BYU freshman Eric Mika. Davies ruled the middle and rendered Tresnak relatively ineffective. Will Tresnak turn the tables on the young freshman this time around? Given Mika’s defensive issues in the exhibitions, it may happen. Then again, Mika’s elite athleticism could be the ultimate equalizer. Junior Nate Austin may prove to be a key player, as his rebounding and overall toughness could serve to keep Weber State’s big men in check.
It would seem that the Cougars will most likely go with the 4-guard line up they have been showcasing in their exhibitions. Tyler Haws, Matt Carlino, and Kyle Collinsworth will most likely start. Eric Mika should start as the big man, and either Anson Winder or Frank Bartley IV will occupy the other starting spot. The BYU Athletic Communications media guide for the game has a different take on the starting line up, however, listing Haws, Carlino, Collinsworth, Austin, and Mika as the projected starters. It should be interesting to see how Coach Dave Rose maneuvers his rotation this season.
The highlight of the night should be the scoring battle between Davion Berry and Tyler Haws. Berry went off for 25 points against the Cougars last year, and Haws poured in 23 points himself. Both teams will look toward their stars to equal or better those outputs.
The Cougars have won 10 straight against the Wildcats. BYU is 19-0 all time against Weber at home.