It’s a long season.

The BYU men’s basketball team is scheduled to play 31 games in 2023-24, not accounting for the Big 12 tournament or a post-season opportunity. That’s 1,240 minutes for the regular season, all of that impacted by fatigue, illness, injuries and foul trouble.

This season’s Cougars are most certainly the deepest team Mark Pope has fielded in Provo.

Last year, BYU had four players averaging double figure scoring, this year that number is six with another (Dallin Hall) at 9.6. Last season, the Cougars had six players averaging 20 minutes or more per game. This season, it’s seven with another (Aly Khalifa) at 19.1.

The results have affected wins and losses (10-5 in the preseason last year, 10-1 so far this year) and both ends of the court. BYU is averaging 89.1 points per game (7th in the country) and giving up 61.2 (13th). Last year, it was 75.5 points per game on offense (86th) and 69.9 points surrendered on defense (171st).

The preseason has been tricky with depth. Transfer Dawson Baker played in his first game just last week. Another transfer, Aly Khalifa, was brought along slowly due to an injury but has started the past five games. Starting post player Fousseyni Traore has missed the past five games because of a hamstring injury but is getting close to full strength. Freshman transfer Marcus Adams Jr. just became eligible late last week due to a recent NCAA ruling but he also just finished finals and is dealing with the flu, so he may not be able to make his BYU debut Friday against Bellarmine.

Someone, the Cougars have kept rolling.

“We haven’t really had all of our roster yet, so depth first and foremost has been a blessing just in terms of being able to survive,” Pope said. “At some point we’re going to have a full roster and its going to be really fun. Depth helps us with our energy on the floor. We’re asking our guys to do a lot so it helps to keep them fresh.

“I think it helps us jockey matchups a little bit both on the offensive and defensive end. And then I think it helps us coordinate player groups where I have more freedom to put Player A with Player B because the leverage of those two guys together in really good. So it gives us a lot of flexibility which has been really nice.”

Scouting report

Bellarmine is a former Division II powerhouse in its second season transitioning to Division I. The Knights, based in Louisville, Ky., play in the Atlantic Sun Conference and bring one of the more unique offenses to the Marriott Center on Friday.

Bellarmine minimizes dribbling and maximizes passing, often taking 25 seconds before looking for a shot. The Knights score a lot on backdoor cuts and when the first cutter is denied, they often passes to a second cutter who gets an easy basket.

Trey Stewart said the Cougar scout team has gotten tired running around trying to simulate Bellarmine’s offense in practice.

“Twenty-five seconds of shot clock is a long time,” teammate Richie Saundres said. “You have to be dialed in on that last three or four seconds, or you might be hit on a back cut.It is unique and I’m excited to play against it.”

Bellarmine (4-9) hung tough with Utah in Salt Lake City on Wednesday but scored just 17 points in the second half of an 85-43 rout.

“They haven’t had the results they’ve wanted so far but they are very game-plan oriented defensively,” Pope said. “They’ve got to be the on the most sides of the floor possession offensively. They are really remarkable. They swing the ball and attack on the run really, really well. They’ve got five skilled players on the floor. They are a good team and cleary really well coached.”

Guards Bash Wielend (11.5 points per game) and Ben Johnson (11.1) key the attack and big man Langdon Hatton (6-foot-10) has been effective as of late. Wielend has missed the past two games with an injury.

Men’s College Basketball

Bellarmine (4-9) at No. No. 17 BYU (10-1)

Friday, 7 p.m. MT

Marriott Center, Provo

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