BYU Basketball Hosts Kolby Lee, Idaho State In Season-Opener

PROVO, Utah – One other yr of BYU basketball is upon us. The 2022-23 common season suggestions off Monday evening on the Marriott Middle because the Cougars host Idaho State.

Idaho State was picked to complete final (tenth) within the preseason Massive Sky Convention ballot. The Bengals final yr ended with a 7-23 document. However regardless of the low prognostications on the Bengals, there’s a little bit of intrigue to this season opener for BYU.

For starters, BYU’s new-look roster shined within the exhibition in opposition to Ottawa from the NAIA ranks. The elevated tempo and energy to shoot from three have been an entertaining model of play within the preseason. Now it begins to depend.

Kolby Lee returns to the Marriott Middle

On the Bengals squad, there might be a well-known face to the BYU devoted, former BYU middle Kolby Lee.

The 6-foot-9 huge man was a part of Pope’s group that was a 6-seed within the 2021 NCAA Event. Nonetheless, he performed sparingly that yr. So after the season, he entered the Switch Portal and initially discovered his new dwelling at Dixie State. However the Path Blazers couldn’t admit him into considered one of their graduate packages.

Lee has robust ties to BYU. His spouse, Kayla Belles Lee, is a former participant within the girls’s basketball program. The 2 expect their first youngster collectively this April. Throughout Kolby’s absence from the sport, Kayla wrote in an Instagram put up, “Solely need him in a uniform that stands behind him and believes in what he can do.”

After a yr of not enjoying, Lee landed at Idaho State this previous low season. It’s becoming as a result of his former BYU teammates used to name him “Massive Idaho,” as he’s a local of Meridian, Idaho. Together with the Idaho nickname, he additionally garnered the “Quickie Monster” nickname for his means to knock down quick-release pictures across the hoop.

Lee is a projected starter for a Bengals group seeking to transfer up the Massive Sky ladder this season.

“We all know what a particular participant Kolby is, and he’s considered one of my favourite gamers to ever coach. So it’s going to be actually enjoyable to have him again on this gymnasium,” mentioned BYU coach Mark Pope. “He did a lot for BYU whereas he was right here. He’s taken on a significant, main function on that group. In order that’s enjoyable to see.”

In three years at BYU, Lee averaged 11.4 minutes of motion in 72 sport appearances. He scored 4.5 factors and pulled down 2.3 rebounds per sport.

BYU vs. Idaho State

Date: November 7, 2022

Tip: 7 p.m. (MT)

Location: Marriott Middle

TV: BYUtv

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM – Pregame begins at 6 p.m.)

Collection: BYU leads 33-6

BYU basketball was spectacular in its exhibition win

One of many objectives for this yr’s BYU basketball group is to get again to “BLRA,” which round Mark Pope’s program means “Finest Locker Room in America.” As injured guard/ahead Trevin Knell mentioned to KSL Sports activities over the low season, “everybody that desires to be right here is right here.”

The chemistry for Mark Pope’s fourth squad is off to a superb begin after placing up 109 factors in an exhibition win over NAIA Ottawa. Pope putting in an up-tempo model is a pure match for BYU basketball and, on the floor, appears to be a wonderful match for this roster that options 12 new faces.

Rebounding might be a problem for BYU this season, however they’ve obtained a strolling double-double in Fousseyni Traore dealing with the 5 spot.

Spencer Johnson obtained his first profession begin within the exhibition win and made successful performs on each ends of the ground. He had six steals within the blowout victory and completed with the very best plus/minus on Pope’s squad.

Projected Starters

BYU (0-0)

G – Rudi Williams, 6-3, Grad. (Coastal Carolina switch)

G – Spencer Johnson, 6-5, Jr.

G – Jaxson Robinson, 6-7, Soph. (Arkansas switch)

F – Gideon George, 6-6, Sr.

C – Foussyeni Traore, 6-6, Soph.

Idaho State (0-0)

G – Brock Mackenzie, 6-2, Sr. (Level Loma Nazarene switch)

G – Miguel Tomley, 6-3, Soph. (Santa Clara switch)

F – Ed Chang, 6-8, Jr. (Vanderbilt switch)

F – Jared Rodriguez, 6-8, Sr.

C – Kolby Lee, 6-9, Sr. (BYU switch)

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports activities Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Comply with him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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