They do not know each other that well. Shouldn't theyfi

Tom Izzo may have a men's basketball national championship, a fatter contract and more widespread name recognition at Michigan State. But if there's a clone of him, it's gotta be BYU's third-year coach Dave Rose, rightfi

Both were extremely patient in waiting for chances to coach at programs where they were longtime assistants. Both nearly took an assistant's job at another school, which leads their fans to ponder how much their career paths -- not to mention MSU and BYU -- would've been altered.

And both successful programs, each 7-1 at this point, are proof today that they are more than willing to abide by the too-rarely dared Three A's.

Anytime. Anybody. Anywhere.

Which is why Izzo's Michigan State team, ranked No. 9 nationally, will play the 20th-ranked Cougars at 2 p.m. at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

About 4,000 seats remain in the arena that seats nearly 20,000. While it's technically a neutral court, Izzo fully expects the crowd won't be school-color green with envy.

And that's just fine. It's a new place, a new obstacle. Bring it on.

"I know this isn't a big recruiting area for us," Izzo said. "But I'll admit, I'm selfish. I want to go see different places and let my teams have different challenges."

BYU is more than happy to accept. Like the Spartans, it has lost to a team that has been at the top of the rankings. The Cougars lost to North Carolina over Thanksgiving weekend on a neutral court in Las Vegas, while MSU dropped a game to UCLA in Kansas City, Mo. on Nov. 21.

After losing to MSU last year, thanks in part to lousy fortune with top scorer Keena Young getting a pair of early fouls, BYU is ready to, if not avenge that defeat, show that this is an entirely new season.

"It feels like it's taken a long time, but we're right where we want to be," junior Lee Cummard said of his three-year career that has coincided with Rose getting the head coaching job. "I think we're right where coach wants us to be. I feel like we have the guys now to take it to the next level...Now is the opportunity, we have to make the most of it."

As neutral-court games in large arenas have become the norm for major programs, BYU has planned on taking full advantage of being situated about 45 minutes from an NBA venue.

The Utah Jazz have allowed the Cougars to play teams like Oklahoma State and Washington State -- Rose looks for upper-level teams from the major conferences.

"I've spent a lot of time trying to talk to those programs," Rose said.

Rose learned long ago, as a college player, to value tough opposition. Izzo is also frequently commended for the slate he puts together. There are seasons when it looks like he plays a prelude to the Final Four in November and December. His team is coming off a courageous six-point win at Bradley, a mid-major star of late. It was the first time in 30 years that a top-10 team went to the home of the Braves.

It's not just the Dukes and North Carolinas, and other blue bloods, that Izzo will take on.

"One of the referees had noticed our schedule," Izzo said, "and asked if I was crazy. Maybe I am."

Rose could be called a different type of loony. He's already played Louisville and the Tar Heels, and will go to Wake Forest next month right before conference play (the Demon Deacons return that game to Provo next year). That's a lot of high national ranking to chew.

Izzo has noticed the BYU schedule.

Though the only time the pair of coaches has really talked was before last December's game in Detroit, a 76-61 win at the Palace of Auburn Hills (home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons), they really are alike.

One thing many people might not realize is each nearly left for greener pastures. Rose had the chance to become Texas A&M's top assistant under Billy Gillispie, who is now at Kentucky. Rose's shot came before the 2004-05 season, which BYU went 9-21 during and had Rose wondering if he made the right move to stay in Provo. He was an assistant for eight seasons.

Izzo, not even Rose knew, was a coach at Tulsa for about two months back in 1986. Trapped as the third assistant for three years, and quite low paid, legendary MSU boss Jud Heathcote encouraged him to make the move to broaden his horizons and perhaps advance his career further. He was named top assistant and recruiting coordinator.

But almost as soon as he got to Oklahoma, another MSU assistant unexpectedly took a head coaching job.

The rest is history, as Izzo's become a living legend who took the head job in 1995 and won a national title in 2000.

And he's expecting big things from BYU.

"Neither of us played that well last year when we met," Izzo said. "BYU wasn't as good as when I saw them the rest of the year. But this year they're very good. They're sound in all phases. (Junior lefthanded center Trent) Plaisted is better with his right hand, and at the free-throw line. (Sophomore forward Jonathan) Tavernari is a weapon. Then you've got Cummard; he's an X-factor guy."

MSU returns a more experienced team as well, all five starters from a year ago, led by senior shooter Drew Neitzel. He went 4-of-16 at Bradley but the Cougars know the odds of him having consecutive off games is about as high as BYU losing two in a row -- that is to say, it doesn't happen often.

The challenge for BYU will be to match MSU's trademark toughness. Can the Cougars get the ball where the want to score from, which was a struggle at times in Detroit. And then can they convertfi

"Both teams are a lot different this year," Rose said. "Michigan State was able to do what they wanted way better than how much we were able to do what we wanted. Their half-court execution was terrific, they kind of sped us up on offense and we got a lot of open looks we weren't able to covert on. And we turned the ball over a lot. Sometimes we were playing as the aggressors, but mostly they had us on our heels."

Is this a chance for Rose, who is 52-19 and on the verge of taking the Cougars to a whole different stratospherefi

Cummard talks about his coach the way MSU players would talk about Izzo.

"We know what he wants," Cummard said, "and when we execute it we're pretty good."

Tip-ins: Apparently the network, Versus, turned down the chance to televise the game. It is focusing on professional cagefighting during that time slot. BYUTV is available on satellite systems Dish Network and DirecTV, and about 200 cable outlets, according to a BYU press release. ...MSU returns all five starters from last year's team that defeated BYU, 76-61, in Detroit. The Spartans are led by 6-7 sophomore forward Raymar Morgan (17.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg). The most known player is Drew Neitzel, a senior guard who chips in 14.1 ppg. Look for the Cougars to mix up coverage against the 6-foot Neitzel on defense, but Morgan's athleticism presents possibly a bigger concern. ...BYU has three double-digit scorers, led by junior center Trent Plaisted's 17.4 to go with 9.4 rpg. ...BYU's next game is Wednesday at the Marriott Center against Lamar.