Arguably the most highly anticipated BYU men's basketball game ever at the Marriott Center -- 6 p.m. today pitting the 11-1 team on the outskirts of the Top 25 against No. 6 and undefeated Wake Forest -- was put together a few years ago because of strategy and circumstance.

The Demon Deacons needed a game a few years down the road after another team backed out of a nearly signed contract. The Cougars responded to the e-mailed memo, prepared for such an opportunity because they've made a habit of saving a spot for a road game on the schedule.

"Every year we'll save a road game or two until the end of spring or summer, hoping there's a team with a big name that is looking for a home game for them," said BYU associate head coach Dave Rice, who oversees scheduling. "Scheduling is something you're working on constantly, always on the phone. We found out Wake Forest was looking for a home game and we'll say to any team like them that we're happy to come to their place first if they'll return it the next year."

There are a couple of Web sites, kind of likes Craigslist for college basketball programs, dedicated to putting up notices about needing games.

Wake assistant Mike Muse, who tended the Deacons' scheduling needs until this year, recalled sending out an APB through the Atlantic Coast Conference office. That e-mail was sent around to various leagues, including BYU's Mountain West Conference.

BYU fit the criteria: Willing to play on the road first, during a certain time period and also had a history of recent success that could help the opponent's RPI.

An inquiry was quickly made by the Cougars, and both sides said the negotiations went fairly smooth and fast by the standards of creating a contracted game.

"You just never know how it's going to go," Muse said. "You'll think you've got a game all set except for some signatures, and then the bottom will fall out from under it. But we're excited this worked out. We're always talking about looking for ways to play good opponents and possibly broaden your recruiting base."

BYU followers seem to be excited, too, for the return game after the Cougars lost last year by 17 points at Wake -- a team that basically returns its entire roster plus has added some highly touted freshmen.

As of a couple of days ago, fewer than 2,000 tickets remained in the arena which sits nearly 23,000.

Yes, the game has historical implications.

Wake Forest is the highest ranked non-conference team to ever play at the Marriott Center and the first top 10 non-conference team to visit Provo since 1984 when BYU defeated No. 7 Washington, 84-75.

BYU also has a lot at stake, namely a highly earned home-court reputation. The Cougars have won 53 consecutive home games, a streak which ranks top nationally at the moment.

Today is a treat because usually, they say, teams don't want to come at all. Or they'll only play the Cougars in Salt Lake City, at EnergySolutions Arena.

Wake Forest is young, starting a freshman, two sophomores and two juniors. But it's hard to say they'll be intimidated by the environment, no matter how loud it gets, as most of the roster is battle-tested from trips last year within the raucous confines of the ACC (Duke, North Carolina, and the like).

The Deacons arrived in Provo on Thursday night and had a full practice Friday. It's a regional homecoming of sorts for two players, Harvey Hale (New Mexico) and James Johnson (Wyoming). And second-year coach Dino Gaudio likes the trip because it enables the program to widen, get its name out there further than the East Coast.

Gaudio took over last season after his longtime friend Skip Prosser passed away from a heart attack at 56, in July of 2007.

It was originally Prosser that okayed the deal with the Cougars. He was no stranger to trying out new locales.

Both schools agree there was very minimal chance that the new coach would renege on the contract.

For one, Rice said, BYU will always put a six-figures charge on both schools in the event of a cancellation.

Gaudio maintains he likes the idea, and believes both schools "do it the right way" and make for an intriguing matchup.

Muse liked the idea of going to Utah. The former North Carolina high school coach (he's been at Wake three seasons) used to bring his teams to the highly acclaimed Ragu Classic.

He also came out to watch Tyler Haws, the Lone Peak star who's now a senior and has signed to play at BYU.

Gaudio said he's heard from plenty of his own school's fans how good BYU is, and how tough the Marriott Center will be.

"Our people know this isn't an easy game," he said.

No doubt Cougar fans are excited for a good one. As practice ended Friday, and the team was getting ready to meet with local media, there were already BYU students back in town from holiday break -- perched in tents, getting ready to secure the best seats.

Cougar head coach Dave Rose and his staff were making a few phone calls to get pizza sent their way.

Now, can the team deliver?

"We've been telling our players what a big game this is," Rose said.

BYU lost 79-62 in last year's meeting, one that was never really close.

Cougar forward Jonathan Tavernari sees an intriguing matchup, and not just because the teams have so far combined to win all but one of 24 games.

"They're an all-star team. They're athletic," the Cougar junior power forward Tavernari said. "From my point of view, and coach may not agree with me -- but that isn't going to be the first time -- they play like it's an all-star game. Not a whole lot of defense. Not a lot of pressure on the ball.

"But as soon as they get the ball, they just go. And (whistle), they transition that thing like nobody's business. They get dunks, they get alley-oops. They get second-chance rebounds. They're not really interested in shooting outside the arc."

He said what most Cougar fans are thinking right now: Wake is the opposite of BYU.

Gaudio has fretted about point guard Jimmer Fredette, Tavernari's potentially hot hand and the other Cougars also hitting a lot of 3-pointers.

"Before you can talk about what kind of defense you want to play," Gaudio said, "you have to make sure you get back in time."

Rose was clearly excited Friday afternoon for this chance -- on the true home court, a huge crowd expected against a top 10 team.

"I think sometimes you worry about the other team trying to stop you from getting into the kind of flow you want to get into," Rose said. "I don't think that will be a problem (Saturday). I think they'll come in, and if they play the style they're accustomed to, the game should be up-and-down. And we play better that way.

"We play better when we attack," Rose added. "And I think that's what we'll do."

BYU (11-1) VS. NO. 6 WAKE FOREST (12-0)

Today, 6 p.m., Marriott Center

• Radio: KSL 1160 AM (102.7 FM)

• TV: The mtn.

• Tip-ins: BYU reported Friday that fewer than 500 tickets remain. ... Wake Forest won last season's meeting 79-62 and returns the majority of its roster. ... BYU currently owns the nation's longest active home-court winning streak (53 games). ... Wake Forest averages 84.5 points per game and shoots 51.3 percent from the field as a team. ... Leading scorer, sophomore guard Jeff Teague, averages 18.8 points per game and is shooting .525 from the field, .517 from downtown and .842 from the free throw line. He had a game-high 26 points against BYU last January. ... The Demon Deacons start a freshman, two sophomores and two juniors.