Starting things off with a bang; Utah State vs. BYU

Well this is one hell of a way to get things started, isn't it? For just the second time since the 2005-06 season, BYU leaves their skirts in the dresser drawer for an evening to put on their big boy pants and come to play in a place that everybody with any sensibility knows they are scared like hell to play. The last two games against these teams have been battles of a pair very experienced teams. One of them was a more or less a blowout (2009-10), while the other was an incredible game with an ending tainted by a bogus intentional foul call (2010-11).

This year couldn't be more opposite. Both team are largely inexperienced and burdened with replacing the go-to guys they've relied upon for the past three seasons. There's a couple star-quality players on each side, as well as a few experienced role players. Basically there's mostly just a ton of question marks surrounding both teams.

While exhibition games are just that, that's largely what there is to work with at this point, and since each team had a fair amount of struggles against a Division-II team last weekend. Credit to Adams State and Dixie State, both are solid programs who performed exceptionally last year in Division-II. BYU went almost down to the wire with a Dixie team that only returned two of its top five scorers from last year, while USU more or less ran away in the second half again Adams State, who returned five its top six scorers from last season, including the top three of that bunch.

Since there's not a lot to be said across the board, let's go with the match-ups of the projected starters.

PG: Brock Zylstra vs. Brockeith Pane
This is probably USU's biggest advantage as far as match-ups are concerned. Zylstra averaged 5.2 minutes per game last year and didn't ever really make an impact, scoring five points or more just two times all year. Zylstra's height could theoretically come as an advantage, but something tells me that if Zylstra tries posting up Pane, some guy wearing No. 22 might swoop in to deposit any post shots of his into the 12th row. Pane's speed is something Zylstra will have fits with.

SG: Charles Abouo vs. Preston Medlin
Tough draw for Abouo having to go against the BYU killer himself, but this match-up is going to be interesting. Abouo's athleticism should, in theory, make it difficult for Medlin to get his shots to fall. Abouo on the other hand will likely be Abouo's own worst enemy in getting his own shots to go in, having hit just 6-23 shots in BYU's two exhibition games. Still, this match-up is much more of a draw than the point guard spot.

SF: Stephen Rogers vs. Steven Thornton
Well isn't this interesting... Two guys Stew Morrill recruited hard, one who acted like a prima donna dragging along the media and coaches for his decision, while the other was happy to have an offer from USU, did his time getting school in order, and is now the first freshman starter for USU since the 2007-08 season. Rogers' experience is his biggest asset here, but his game last season was never impressive. Thornton seems to be a guy that just gets it out there and knows how to make plays. My guess is that Rogers is this year's version of Jonathan Tavernari.

PF: Brandon Davies vs. Brady Jardine
Prior to the whole "coach I can't keep it in my pants" incident last year, Davies was really putting his game together. Now he's likely the No. 1 option rather than the No. 3, but chances are he is ready for that role. Still, Davies' numbers last season are less impressive than what Jardine put together in the games he started early on. Davies will also likely be the top target of The Spectrum crowd, and that is no light burden to carry. Advantage Jardine.

C: Noah Hartsock vs. Morgan Grim
Simply put, Grim needs to be a tough, bruising, punch you in the mouth type of center in this match-up. Hartsock is more of a finesse big man, which means Jardine could see a fair amount of time against him as well, but this match-up will come down to who wants to out-tough Hartsock down low.

Coaches: Dave Rose vs. Stew Morrill
Stupid question. Stew by a mile.


Prediction: 67-60, Utah State
For a team like BYU who is still trying to settle into bigger offensive roles than any of them are used to at the college level, facing a team as tough defensively as Utah State in an environment like The Spectrum is not an easy way to start out. They'll get theirs, but USU will get more, and if USU ever gets consecutive buckets, the building is going to ignite and build momentum on everything the Aggies do. Spectrum Magic at its finest.