BYU (3-2, 0-0 MWC) hosts Boise State (3-2, 0-0 WAC) Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Marriott Center. The game will be broadcast live on KSL Newsradio, which can be heard on 102.7 FM or 1160 AM. Greg Wrubell and Mark Durrant will call the game, which is also available, online at KSL.com. The game is not being televised.
Coming off a disappointing 9-21 season after five straight postseason appearances, BYU looks to return to the ranks of conference contenders and postseason invitees under the direction of new head coach Dave Rose.
Rose enters his first year leading the Cougars after serving the past eight seasons as Steve Cleveland's lead assistant, including five years as associate head coach. After Cleveland announced his resignation to take the Fresno State job, BYU moved quickly to promote Rose to BYU?s head position.
This year Coach Rose has five juniors with starting experience from last season and several talented newcomers with the ability to make an impact in their first seasons on the court.
Among BYU?s returning players, honorable mention All-MWC guard Austin Ainge was the team?s second-leading scorer and top assist man last year, and junior forward Keena Young was BYU?s leading rebounder. Other returners with starting experience include junior swingman Jimmy Balderson, who represented Canada at the World University Games this summer; junior center Derek Dawes, who made 13 starts in the middle last year; and junior guard Mike Rose, who made seven starts last year and averaged 7.7 points while making a team-leading 56 treys. Lone senior Brock Reichner has earned three starts this season after mostly limited action last year.
Trent Plaisted leads BYU in scoring (15.2), followed by Jimmy Balderson (13.4). Keena Young is the top Cougar rebounder (5.2), followed by Plaisted (5.0). Rashaun Broadus is the top assist maker (5.0), followed by Austin Ainge (4.0).
The Cougars average 79.6 points and shoot .495 as a team, .449 from long range and .714 from the line. Cougar opponents average 72 points on .427 shooting, .341 from three and .740 from the line.