And you thought No. 10 New Mexico at No. 13 BYU last year was epic. This one makes that late-February showdown for the Mountain West Conference regular-season title look almost ordinary.
Because of San Diego State’s unbeaten season, the fact that BYU has a bona fide national player of the year candidate in Jimmer Fredette and the national attention it is drawing, Wednesday night’s big battle pitting the No. 4 Aztecs (20-0) and No. 9 Cougars (19-1) at the sold-out Marriott Center just might be as good as it gets around here.
Tipoff is at 8:15 p.m. and the game will be televised by CBS College Sports.
At least, it figures to be the most significant game ever played in the 40-year-old arena that seats 22,700 at the base of imposing and majestic Y Mountain. It’s the highest ranked matchup ever between MWC opponents in the 12-year history of the league, and the first time BYU has ever played a top 10 team in Provo as a top-10 team itself.
“The game is going to draw huge national attention, not just within the league, and not just out West,” said SDSU coach Steve Fisher said. “I think everybody will be talking about that game.”