BYU’s Alex Barcello directs traffic against UCLA at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the NCAA Tournament on March 20, 2021.
BYU’s Alex Barcello directs traffic against UCLA at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis during the NCAA Tournament on March 20, 2021. The Cougars found out Thursday that they will open the Diamond Head Classic against South Florida. Nate Edwards, BYU
Jeff Call
By Jeff Call

Coach Mark Pope’s BYU squad is one of eight teams that will compete in the Diamond Head Classic in December, along with South Florida, Vanderbilt, Hawaii, Liberty, Northern Iowa, Wyoming and Stanford. 

On Thursday, the annual tournament held at Simplifi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, released the bracket. 

The Cougars will face South Florida in the first round Dec. 22 and will meet either Vanderbilt or Hawaii in the semifinals on Dec. 23. 

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On the other side of the bracket, Liberty plays Northern Iowa, and Wyoming takes on Stanford in the other first-round matchups.

BYU will play one of those four teams in the final round on Christmas Day. Each team participating in the Diamond Head Classic is guaranteed three games.

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The last time the Cougars played in the Diamond Head Classic, in 2015, they lost to Harvard in overtime in the first game, then defeated New Mexico and Northern Iowa.

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