BYU basketball may have beaten LMU by 11 in their first meeting of the season, but LMU sure gave BYU all they could handle.

The Cougars ended the second half down by 10 with a score of 50-40. Being down by 10 points at the half may not be the most glaring statistic. The Cougars gave up 50 points in the first half to a sub-500 team. However, the Cougars did get their act together in the second half and they were playing LMU on their home floor.

BYU didn’t struggle at all on offense putting up 91 points and boasting two players with 20 points or more. The Cougars need to be prepared though for another tough WCC match up. The WCC is visibly stronger this year and the seemingly harmless teams like LMU, Pepperdine and Portland continue to show up for their matchups against the Cougars.

Keys to watch for the Lions

Look for the Lions to try to limit the easy shot. In the last game, the Cougars definitely had their way in the second half outscoring the lions by 11 points. The Lions will try to limit the scoring of Chase Fischer and Kyle Davis who had their way against the Lions the last time they met this year. The Lions will also try to even out the rebounds being that the Cougars out rebounded them by 10 in the last game.

Keys to watch for the Cougars

Watch for the Cougars to try to take away the three point shot and limit Adom Jacko and Steve Haney. The Lions only shoot 34 percent as a team from behind the arc, but the Cougars allowed 11 made three pointers in their last contest with the Lions. On top of that, Jacko scored 26 points and Haney added another 18 with 5-10 three-point shooting. The Cougars will also keep a closer eye on Haney who only averages 10.9 points but was allowed to soar above that average last time around.

BYU vs. Loyola Marymount – What you need to know

• Basketball BYU Sports
• At January 27, 2016
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BYU basketball beat Gonzaga on their home floor and it seemed to have all the momentum it needed heading through the rest of conference play. That momentum seemed to have lasted only a few days after losing to Portland on their home court.

Before the win at Gonzaga, their chances of a bid were hanging in the balance of the Dave Rose’s Cougars’ ability to secure solid wins. They struggled at the beginning of the season losing games they should have won. The win at the Kennel helped reinforce the Cougars’ chances of making the NCAA tournament. However, the loss to Portland has sent the Cougars’ chances of a tournament bid back onto life support.

Now the looming question is BYU basketball’s season salvageable?

The Cougars still have 12 regular season games left on their schedule. Most of those games are very manageable and should add another “W” to the win column. But with the Cougars’ apparent struggles on defense and offense, games against the likes of Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, and Gonzaga will prove to be a real test for BYU.

The feeling is that BYU can’t afford any more losses. If they lose any more games, all they can do is focus on taking home the WCC Championship in order to secure and automatic bid. The Cougars already have five losses and an RPI ranking of 78. Last year, the Cougars had an RPI ranking of 38 heading into the NCAA tournament. Wins against Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga to close out the season are essential to boosting their RPI since the tournament committee relies so heavily on the RPI rankings.

The Cougars aren’t even halfway through conference play yet but feelings of uneasiness surround their tournament hopes. One can only wait and see how it all plays out.

Is BYU basketball's season salvageable?

• Basketball BYU Sports
• At January 19, 2016
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It was announced today by Utah basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak that they will not visit the Marriott Center in 2016 for the regular rivarly matchup against BYU basketball.

BYU basketball released a statement made by head coach Dave Rose speaking about the cancellation of the long lasting yearly matchup between the Utes and Cougars. Rose said he doesn't disagree with the decision according to the release. Nothing was said as to why the game was cancelled. He also said that he knows fans and players would like to see the long standing rivarly continue. Who doesn't?

Since Utah joined the Pac-12 conference, there has been somewhat of a struggle to continue the rivarly play between BYU and Utah in primarily football. It seems that basketball has fallen victim too to this confusing relationship between the two schools that are separted by only 45 minutes of freeway. The yearly matchup for basketball goes back to 1909. The Utes and Cougars have played each other every year since then with the exception of 1944 due to World War II. According to the NCAA record book, the rivarly is tied for the seventh longest in college basketball history.

Amidst all this confusion, a question still remains, why has scheduling the fan-favorite rivarly game become so difficult between the two schools? Utah AD Chris Hill said in 2013 of the basketball rivalry, "We know we’re going to play every year.” Why has that changed all of a sudden? Other rivarly schools that are a part of different conferences, like Florida and Florida State, continue their rivarly matchups year after year. So why can't BYU and Utah do the same?

Regardless of these troubles, fans can only hope that the basketball rivarly will continue as football as.

Utah cancels 2016 basketball game against BYU

• Basketball BYU Sports
• At January 06, 2016
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BYU wide receiver Josh Weeks helped solidify the possibility of both Jamaal Williams and Taysom Hill returning for BYU football's 2016 season.

Week's tweet gives fans a little insight of what may be for BYU football next season. After the media availability with the new coaching staff, it was confirmed that both Hill and Williams were present at the team meeting. There hasn't been much news regarding the status of Williams' return up until today and the same can be said for Hill's return.

Having Williams' back next year would more than bulk up the runningback position. The Cougars will return freshman Francis Bernard and freshman Riley Burt who showed moments of brilliance during the 2015 season.  Bernard received plenty of playing time during the 2015 season which will help him to hit the ground running next season. The Cougars would have a solid trio of backs if Williams was to return potentially helping the Cougars have a run threat along with an already established pass attack.

Hill's return, however, is less known especially since it has been reported that he received an offer to transfer to Virginia where former BYU head coach, Bronco Mendenhall, will reside. If Hill were to transfer to Virginia, it only makes sense that he would likely start. If he stayed at BYU, he would have to battle freshman standout Tanner Mangum for the starting quarterback position. New offensive coordinator Ty Detmer said at the media availability held on Jan. 5 that he would like to see Hill and Mangum compete for the starting position if Hill were to return.

Whatever happens, having either player back for the 2016 season would more than help the Cougars as they try to wade through an even more difficult 2016 schedule.

Taysom and Jamaal back for 2016?

• BYU Sports Football
• At January 05, 2016
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BYU basketball's Zac Selijaas could be considered the Big Man on Campus right now with his hot shooting from behind the three point line.

Seljaas is currently ranked #1 in the country in three-point shooting percentage, according the ESPN.com. He is shooting a whopping 62.2 percent from behind the arc. The next player in line with a 59.1 three-point shooting percentage is Lorenzo Cugini of the High Point Panthers. To give you a little perspective on his notable accomplishment, Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs currently leads the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at 49.6 percent. Stephen Curry, the supposed three point god of the NBA is shooting 44.2 percent. However, he's made 141 of 319 three-point attempts. The NBA three-point line may be farther away from the basket, but for Seljaas to shoot 62.2 percent from three is no easy feat. 

Selijaas' hot hand has earned him more playing time from the big man Dave Rose. The Cougars' bench scoring at the beginning of the season was almost non-existent. Selijaas has provided that spark of the bench. He scored 25 points on 9-13 shooting against Central Michigan for heaven's sake. He is only a freshman which should give BYU Cougar fans a lot of hope as the season goes on and for the future.

However, as any fan knows, consistency is key. Seljaas needs to prove that he can be consistent. If he can stay consistent along BYU's three-point king, Chase Fischer, and the freshman standout, Nick Emery, the Cougars will be a true threat from behind the three-point line. Let's hope we see more of those three-point fingers being held up.

BYU's Zac Seljaas: The man on fire

• Basketball BYU Sports
• At January 04, 2016
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