BYU basketball faces another major test on Tuesday when the Cougars meet Clemson at New York City's Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic.
The matchup gives BYU a national stage against an ACC opponent that has opened the season with strong momentum.
The Cougars enter at 7–1 after a confident start to nonconference play, leaning on size, rebounding and a defense that has tightened in late-game situations.
Clemson comes in at 7–2 with a disciplined approach on both ends of the floor and a rotation that spreads scoring across multiple positions.
The Tigers' perimeter defense will challenge BYU’s ability to get downhill and control tempo, but the Tigers lack a dominant rim protector, something BYU hopes to exploit with its frontcourt depth. The key for the Cougars is for clean possessions in high-pressure moments.
For Clemson, the game offers a chance to secure a signature nonconference win. For BYU, it serves as another measuring point early in the season, with the program looking to prove it can compete consistently with nationally respected opponents.
Both teams expect a physical, competitive matchup in one of college basketball’s most iconic arenas.
The BYU-Clemson game tips off at 4:30 p.m. MST and will be broadcast on ESPN.