Entering the matrix: Big 12 releases basketball schedule for 2024-25

What is a “schedule matrix?”

It’s a fancy term for what the Big 12 must do to figure out a workable basketball schedule for the 2024-25 season.

Hey, it beats throwing darts, right?

With the defection of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC and the addition of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State from the defunct Pac-12, the Big 12 is now a 16-team conference with 20 league games for its men’s basketball programs.

Thursday morning the Big 12 Conference announced the schedule matrix for the upcoming season. Opponents were selected based on a combination of geography, historical results and a poll of coaches to best create a fair schedule in terms of travel and competitive balance. Dates, times and television designations will be announced at a later date.

The BYU men are scheduled to play home and away with three of the four schools joining the league this season (Arizona, Arizona State and Utah) along with Cincinnati and West Virginia. The Cougars host single games with Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech and play on the road in single contests at Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, TCU and UCF.

Significant observations: The BYU-Utah rivalry will consist of two games for the first time since the Utes went to the Pac-12 and the Cougars to the West Coast Conference in 2011 and Kansas will be making its first trip to Provo since 1960.

BYU was 10-8 in its first Big 12 season, posting a 7-2 home record.

How difficult is the Cougars schedule? With all the player movement in the offseason, it’s difficult to nail down just how good each Big 12 team will be. Most publications have some mixture of Baylor, Kansas and Houston at the top of the league but a half dozen other teams could make a run to the top, including BYU.

First-year head coach Kevin Young will lead BYU into its second season in the Big 12 after the Cougars went 23-11 in 2023-24, finishing fifth and racking up ranked wins over Iowa State, Baylor and Kansas. The Cougars return eight letterwinners from last season, led by All-Big 12 performers Dallin Hall and Fousseyni Traore. BYU has also added perhaps its best recruiting class ever, lead by Russian freshman Egor Demin.

The Big 12 also announced the 18-game league schedule for its women’s programs.

BYU has home and away series’ scheduled with Arizona, Arizona State and Utah, all newcomers to the Big 12. The Cougars host single games with UCF, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State and travel to Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia.

Last year, BYU finished 16-17 overall and 6-12 in its first season in the Big 12. Third-year coach Amber Whiting lost the school’s all-time leading rebounder and first team All-Big 12 selection Lauren Gustin to graduation and will rely on her daughter, sophomore Amari Whiting, and eight newcomers led by former Cal guard Kemery Martin along with top freshman recruit Delany Gibb from Canada.

2024-25 BYU Men’s Basketball Big 12 schedule matrix

Home and away opponents

Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Utah, West Virginia

Home opponents

Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech

Away opponents

Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, TCU, UCF

2024-25 BYU Women’s Basketball Big 12 schedule matrix

Home and away opponents

Arizona, Arizona State, Utah

Home opponents

Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, UCF

Away opponents

Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia

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