CMU basketball is breaking the norm of most programs that schedule easy games to build confidence going into the season. Not only will both the men’s and women’s teams start the 2013-2014 season with top-tier opponents, but those opponents compete at the D1 level.

Both teams travel to Provo, Utah, in November to face Brigham Young University in a scheduling move finalized last week. The women’s team will play the Cougars on Nov. 1 as a preseason scrimmage, while the men’s team will be competing in the College Basketball Experience Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 16. Both head coaches explained their excitement for the impact these games will have on their programs this season.

“It will be a good test for us early on,” head women’s coach Taylor Wagner said. “It will be a chance to play against someone other than ourselves, and we will be playing against top talent. It’s always good to play a team like that to see where we are at.”

Similar to CMU last year, both BYU basketball teams performed exceptionally well last season. The men’s team compiled a 24-12 record, a third place finish in the West Coast Conference and a semifinal appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Cougars’ women’s team posted a 23-11 overall record and also made a late-round appearance in the NIT. Much of their overall success came at home, where each team earned 15 victories.

“It’s going to be a really good experience for our guys,” assistant men’s coach Mike Dominguez said. “Everyone wants the chance to play against a Division I team, and BYU is definitely one of the top programs in the west.”

The Cougars play in the Marriott Center, one of the largest on-campus arenas in the country with close to 21 thousand seats. Coach Dominguez acknowledged that the atmosphere in that arena will be unlike anything his players have experienced in their careers, but knows that his players will relish the challenge.

“Once we let the team know that the game was finalized, the team was all smiles,” Domiguez said. “I can tell that they are definitely excited and ready for the opportunity.”

Coach Wagner was also excited for his team to experience the big-game environment and the chance for the families of the players to see them compete against a quality opponent.

“I think it’s fun to play a team like BYU in a crazy environment like the Mariott Center,” Wagner said. “The proximity of the University also helps us because we have a lot of kids from Utah, so I think it will be a big deal for them to play in front of their families.”

mfreter@mavs.coloradomesa.edu