BYU is set to participate in the 2024 Big 12-Big East Challenge, marking their debut in this annual cross-conference basketball event. They are slated to face the Providence Friars on the road.
The Big 12-Big East Battle, held yearly since 2019, pits teams from the Big 12 against those from the Big East in non-conference matchups. Last season’s edition featured 11 games, but BYU, along with other newcomers to the Big 12, missed out. However, in the upcoming challenge, teams from the defunct Pac-12, including Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and Arizona State, will also be excluded.
This year, the event has swapped titles, officially named the “Big 12-Big East Battle” as opposed to last season’s “Big East-Big 12 Battle”. The courteous gesture of alternating league names reflects an amicable relationship between the conferences.
For BYU, the matchup against Providence adds excitement to their non-conference schedule after a relatively weak 2023 schedule. Although facing a storied Big East program, questions linger about BYU’s roster stability amidst coaching changes. Providence, boasting a rich basketball history despite never winning a national championship, finished last season with a 21-14 record under coach Kim English.
Given BYU’s uncertainties, it’s unclear if they should be favored in this matchup. Nevertheless, their participation in this clash of basketball giants should energize Cougar fans for the upcoming season.
