PROVO — While the BYU football program’s upcoming schedule has been impacted by COVID-19, there are questions about the Cougars’ basketball schedule, too.
On Thursday, the Big Ten announced its decision to play conference games only, which eliminates two September games from BYU’s football schedule. The Cougars were scheduled to host Michigan State on Sept. 12 and visit Minnesota on Sept. 26.
The Pac-12 is reportedly considering doing the same, which would wipe out games against Utah (Sept. 3), Arizona State (Sept. 19) and Stanford (Nov. 28).
As for the BYU basketball schedule, it’s too early to know what will happen. The Cougars were denied an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament last March when the pandemic forced the cancellation of the Big Dance.
Coach Mark Pope, who’s entering his second season at the helm, is optimistic about the status of the upcoming season.
“I’m extremely hopeful. We are racing ahead with full expectations that we will play our full schedule and that we will have a chance to grow what we’re trying to do here,” Pope said earlier this week, before the Big Ten’s announcement. “I think our guys are fully engaged right now and feeling the pressing time of, we don’t have that long to get ready. Our summer’s been shortened in terms of our coaches being able to be with our players. We also know we have so many new faces. We’re feeling some real urgency there. That’s how we’re going to proceed until someone tells us to do different. Right now, we’re staying really hopeful and really optimistic and trying to work as hard as we can.”
BYU basketball players have been participating in voluntary workouts since June 1. The Cougars are scheduled to begin practicing July 20.
The college basketball season, meanwhile, is set to tip off in early November.
The Cougars are reportedly playing Oregon on Nov. 17 in Portland. That will be followed by a trip to the Bahamas for the Junkanoo Jam Nov. 19-20.
Other games on the schedule include matchups with San Diego State, Utah State, Utah, Arizona State, Utah Valley University, Weber State and Boise State.