Where once the Cougars were desperately seeking opportunities to play power conference teams in the preseason and mostly at neutral locations and on the road, they are now trying use the nonconference slate to prepare for numerous Quad 1 and Quad 2 games during Big 12 play.

Kevin Young is coaching his first year of college basketball and learning new things all the time.

Scheduling is one of them.

“You know, it feels like everything changes year to year in college basketball,” he said. “This year we’re playing 20 Big 12 games and next year we’re playing 18, so that’s going to be a little different. There are caveats, but I think a blanket statement is to play harder teams. Even in the secret scrimmages or exhibitions or whatever, getting some harder games early to learn more about ourselves.”

The 2024 nonconference schedule isn’t that much different than last year. BYU is currently ranked 341st out of 364 teams in nonconference strength of schedule by KenPom. Last year, it was ranked 329th.

The Cougars have gone 1-2 against power conference teams in 2024, splitting a pair of games at the Rady Children’s Invitational (losing in OT to No. 23 Ole Miss 96-85 and beating North Carolina State 72-61) and losing big at Providence (83-64).

Against the other eight teams on its schedule, BYU has won all eight by an average of 25.4 points per game.

“I think, just generally speaking, we’re trying to play a little tougher nonconference schedule,” Young said. “I think that will help us more than it wouldn’t. We talk about it a lot and we’re looking at different things right now. I think there’s a certain number that we want to get to of power teams in the nonconference. So we definitely would like more of a challenge.”

Mboup joins roster

Young announced on Thursday that Khadim Mboup has been added to the 2024-25 roster.

“Khadim is a great young man who has worked really hard to get to this point,” Young said. “We’re thrilled that he’s joining our program after a very successful stint with NBA Academy Africa. He is an elite level athlete that can really be disruptive on the defensive end and guard multiple positions. Khadim has tremendous upside offensively with his ability to attack the rim, combined with his smooth shooting mechanics.”

The 6-foot-9 forward from Senegal comes to Provo from NBA Academy Africa. He also spent three years in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Elevate program, including last season with AS Douanes. He also played under current BYU assistant coach Will Voigt at Egypt’s Zamalek.

He averaged 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for NBA Academy Africa in the 2023 Road to BAL, qualifying in Johnanesburg, South Africa. He was a rebound short of a double-double against Cape Town Tigersname, finishing with 10 points and nine boards, four of those coming on the offensive glass. He also had four assists against Urunani.

At the 2023 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, Mboup ranked third in steals per game (2.5), ahead of former Kansas Jayhawk and current Indiana Pacer Johnny Furphy. He also ranked 10th in rebounds with 6.3 boards per contest.

Scouting Report

Another one of those “warm up” games is scheduled for Friday against SWAC team Florida A&M, which was picked to finish 11th (out of 12) in the league’s preseason poll. The Rattlers are doing what a lot of smaller programs do in the nonconference slate and have played eight of their 11 games on the road, picking up paychecks to help out the bottom line of their athletic department.

On Tuesday, Florida A&M absorbed an 89-59 beating at the hands of Utah in Salt Lake City. The Rattlers, under first-year coach Patrick Crarey II, have nine transfers and throw lineups out in waves with 13 players averaging double-digit minutes.

For BYU, it’s likely freshman Egor Demin (knee) will miss his third straight game and Richie Saunders, who suffered a lip laceration and a concussion last Saturday against Wyoming, is unlikely to play.

“I think we’ve done a good job the last two games defensively with our post-Providence kind of identity,” Young said. “We’ve been keeping teams off the foul line and keeping them out of the paint. Our rim defense, teams aren’t getting there and we protect it at a good clip, so we’re continuing to see improvement there. There are some nuanced things offensively that we’re trying to not implement, but re-emphasize as we gear up for conference play.”

Men’s College Basketball

Florida A&M (3-6) at BYU (8-2)

Friday, 7 p.m. MT

Marriott Center, Provo

TV/Streaming: ESPN+

Radio: BYU Radio

Live stats: byucougars.com

The Word: BYU is No. 3 in the country in rebound margin (12.0 per game). … Florida A&M will play eight of its 11 nonconference games on the road. … The Rattlers three victories have come against Division II Trinity Baptist, Division III Trinity College and Presbyterian of the Big South. … BYU will open Big 12 play at home against Arizona State on New Year’s Eve.