Provo • Expectations for coach Dave Rose’s BYU basketball team were lowered significantly entering the 2017-18 season after Eric Mika turned professional and Nick Emery withdrew from school a day before the opener.
Given those notable personnel losses, the Cougars (19-7, 8-5 WCC) have overachieved by most accounts, although the schedule has been fairly soft. Jeff Sagarin rates it as the 162nd most difficult in the country to date.
BYU has received an unexpected contribution from Weber State transfer McKay Cannon, new point guard Jahshire Hardnett has been the solid on-ball defender he was billed to be, TJ Haws has been sensational one minute and inconsistent the next and Elijah Bryant and Yoeli Childs are having outstanding seasons.