BYU Basketball: Cougars vs Aggies Season Opener Predictions

Stew Morrill is like that guy on every sports movie ever made that takes the town leftovers, shows everybody what a great group of kids they are and wins a bunch of games in the process.  He always seems to get his guys to play well above their talent level, and year after year they surprise people with what they're capable of.  But are they capable of beating in-state rival BYU?

Utah State lost everybody from last year, and I mean everybody. 

They had a phenomenal year, winning 30 games and hanging with an incredible Kansas State team in the first round of the NCAA tournament.  The 2010 WAC Player of the Year Tai Wesley was sheer power around the basket, and Pooh Williams had some highlight reel moves that I had to watch twice.  Tyler Newbold was a sort-of guard, sort-of forward that was as steady as they come, and Brian Green added a hustle that was hard to guard.  These guys are all gone.

USU will be counting on guard Brockeith Pane to take the reins in a brand new offense that will see some freshmen, some previous backups and some JC transfers.  Brady Jardine saw substantial action last year and should shore up the post position, and guard Preston Medlin should open some eyes after his redshirt year.  While this team may be a shell of their former selves, they were picked as the WAC preseason no. 1 for a reason.

BYU is facing their own talent vacuum with the loss of Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery.  Dave Rose will play Brock Zylstra, a 6'5" guard/forward combo, as the point guard.  He will likely be flanked by freshman Demarcus Harrison and senior Charles Abouo, neither of which are true guards.  Brandon Davies returns to a very deep post position at BYU, and should create a nice tandem with Noah Hartsock under the basket.

This is as close to a toss-up as it gets.  The game is in Logan, which gives USU a huge advantage, as USU fans may be the best sixth man in the country.  USU, for the most part, looked good in their exhibition games, and BYU played well in one and nearly lost the other.  BYU is bigger, but USU is faster.

I'm going with experience on this one though.  Noah Hartsock and Brandon Davies will be too much under the basket, as BYU wins a close one, 79-76.