A Milestone Meeting in Sin City
The University of Utah's rival BYU will open its exhibition slate against UNLV on October 24 in Las Vegas, a city where the coach of the Rebels, Josh Pastner, expressed genuine excitement about the encounter. Pastner noted the city's substantial Latter‑day Saint community, a factor that adds a unique flavor to the matchup.
The two programs were conference mates from 1996 through 2011, and their most recent regular‑season meeting came in 2019. That history lends extra intrigue to the upcoming exhibition, which will be played under the bright lights of the Las Vegas arena.
More Than Just One Game
BYU is not limiting itself to a single showcase. The Cougars have slated an exhibition against Nebraska for October 16 and have arranged a total of 13 nonconference games out of the 14 available slots on their schedule, a testament to their ambitious out‑of‑conference planning.
The connections extend beyond the court. Pastner was on the verge of hiring Kevin Young as his first assistant coach at BYU, a move that could shape the team's direction heading into the next season. The upcoming games will therefore be watched not only for their competitive edge but also for the strategic moves they may influence.