Can shorthanded Cougars bounce back from UConn loss against No. 23 Wisconsin in SLC?

The Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City has been quite kind to the BYU men’s basketball team the past 30 years, as the Cougars have compiled a 24-5 all-time record at the home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz.

That includes a 19-1 record for BYU in the last 20 games, the only loss in that stretch a 69-68 decision to South Dakota on Dec. 3, 2022. The caveat is that the Cougars have only played four power conference opponents — Utah, Virginia Tech, Oregon and Arizona — in Delta Center since 2008, which is when their 19-1 stretch began.

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So Friday’s matinee (2 p.m. MST, Peacock) with No. 23 Wisconsin might just be the toughest test BYU has faced at Delta Center in quite some time. The Badgers (4-0) will also be out for revenge, having lost 91-89 to BYU in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament last March in Denver.

BYU did knock off North Carolina 78-76 at Delta Center last month, but that was considered an exhibition game and does not count in the standings, or the all-important NET rankings. Friday afternoon’s game is much bigger, in that respect.

The Cougars (3-1) passed the first big test of their most highly anticipated season in decades in Las Vegas nearly three weeks ago, downing Villanova 71-66 at T-Mobile Arena. But they dropped an 86-84 heartbreaker to No. 3 UConn last Saturday in Boston and are now No. 15 in the KenPom rankings. The first NET rankings will be released in early December.

Wisconsin is No. 17 in KenPom. The Badgers beat Oklahoma 84-83 in an exhibition game in Milwaukee in October, then defeated Campbell, Northern Illinois, Ball State and SIUE in four blowouts in Madison at Kohl Center.

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BYU coach Kevin Young said Wednesday that he has “definitely mentioned” to his team that Wisconsin will be looking for payback, although these days college basketball rosters seemingly change as quickly as the weather.

“I try to address the elephant in the room on all things, that kinda being one of them,” Young said. “But at the same…

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Publish date : 2025-11-21 00:00:00

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