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BYU's Richie Saunders (right) takes a shot over freshman AJ Dybantsa during summer workouts at the Marriott Center Annex on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Photography by Nate Edwards/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2025 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322

Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

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BYU's Brody Kozlowski (left) and Khadim Mboup (right) defend against Cougar grad assistant Charles Abouo during summer workouts at the Marriott Center Annex on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

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The BYU men’s non-conference basketball schedule is coming together nicely.

Cougar coach Kevin Young is on record saying that last season’s non-conference slate wasn’t as challenging as he would have liked, but that’s being rectified for 2025-26.

On Wednesday, BYU found out where it will spend Thanksgiving: The 2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla.

The 16-team, three-bracket event set for Thanksgiving week will be played at Walt Disney’s World Resort’s State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The Cougars are in the Magic Bracket alongside Dayton, Georgetown and Miami. The semifinals will be played on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, with the championship and consolation games on Friday, Nov. 28.

In the biz, it’s known as an “MTE” (multi-team event).

BYU is 0-1 all-time against Georgetown, with their only meeting coming on Feb. 11, 1984, in LaDell Anderson’s first season as head coach. BYU’s Devin Durrant and Brett Applegate combined for 27 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double from Bill Martin. Patrick Ewing also chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds.

BYU has won all three of its meetings against Dayton, including a 79-75 overtime victory in their last meeting on Nov. 25, 2022, at Battle 4 Atlantis. Gideon George scored 21 points, including a 3-pointer with 2:19 left in regulation for the Cougars’ first lead as they overcame a 23-point first half deficit to improve to 3-0 all-time against the Flyers.

The Cougars and Hurricanes split their previous four meetings but haven’t played one another since Feb. 4, 1989. Both of BYU’s wins have come inside the friendly confines of the Marriott Center, including a 99-86 victory on Feb. 9, 1988 behind 17 points and 10 assists from Brian Taylor.

Tickets will go on sale later in the summer in conjunction with the bracket and schedule releases. Fans can sign up for first access to pre-sale tickets at the ESPN Events Invitational website.

Last week, BYU announced a season-opening matchup with Villanova in the Naismith Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena Nov. 3. That game is part of a doubleheader with defending national champion Florida facing off against Arizona.

Social media has been abuzz with other potential matchups, including exhibition games at Nebraska and in the Marriott Center against North Carolina. The latest rumor is setting up a date with UConn at TD Garden in Boston. Then there is a game with Clemson at Madison Square Garden (the Jimmy V Classic) on the horizon.

There will be plenty of expected wins (i.e., cupcakes) for the Cougars in the non-conference, but the schedule is beefed up considerably.

For the record, Terry’s Chocolate began in 1767 with the opening of a shop in York, England, featuring lemon and orange candied peel along with other confectionary. In 1823, Joseph Terry joined the company and invented new lines of products that included chocolate versions.

You know those chocolate covered orange slices you sometimes get for the holidays? Yup, that’s Terry’s Chocolate.

The Cougars began summer workouts last week in the Marriott Center Annex. No. 1 high school recruit AJ Dybantsa is there, as detailed in his numerous social media posts. Signee Tyler Mrus, a shooting guard who transferred from the University of Idaho, posted on social media that he had just arrived in Provo and would be joining the workouts.

Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational

Walt Disney World Resort’s State Farm Field House

Magic Bracket (November 27-28)

BYU, Georgetown, Miami, Dayton

Imagination Bracket (November 27-28)

Charlotte, Illinois State, Furman, Richmond

Adventure Bracket (Nov. 24-26)

Bradley, Princeton, Temple, UC San Diego, Liberty, Rhode Island, Townson, Vermont