I will be speaking at the 52nd Annual NOIC — Register now to have a seat at the table! October 28-31 —  #NOICconference# #NewOrleansInvestmentConference# #federalreserve# #dimartinobooth# #economy#

I will be speaking at the 52nd Annual NOIC — Register now to have a seat at the table! October 28-31 —  #NOICconference# #NewOrleansInvestmentConference# #federalreserve# #dimartinobooth# #economy#

Beat Writer @DarnellWrites joined us on @espnthefan to discuss BYU Basketball's nonconference schedule and the matchup fans are most excited about: Q: What was your first reaction to BYU’s nonconference schedule? Dickson: My first reaction was that it's very different from last year's schedule. With AJ Dybantsa on the roster, BYU had an opportunity to showcase him on some of college basketball's biggest stages. That helped open doors to games at TD Garden, Madison Square Garden against UConn, and Las Vegas. It was one of the most high-profile nonconference schedules BYU has ever played. This year's schedule isn't as flashy, but it accomplishes what it needs to. BYU is going to face one of the toughest conference schedules in the country in the Big 12, so there's really no reason to overload the nonconference slate. There are still plenty of quality opportunities. I like the exhibition schedule with Nebraska and UNLV. Opening the regular season against Ohio State at the Delta Center is a strong matchup, and the Maui Invitational gives them another chance to play quality competition. One thing I also really like is seeing Utah State and Weber State back on the schedule. For the first couple of years under Kevin Young, BYU didn't play any in-state opponents outside of Utah, and that was the first time since the early 1960s that had happened. Utah State is a very good team, and it's always fun to see those local rivalries return. Ultimately, this schedule is about preparing for the grind of the Big 12, which we all know is a gauntlet. Q: Fans seem especially excited about the Utah State and Weber State games. Why do you think those stand out? Dickson: I think people enjoy the in-state matchups. Mark Pope used to call those games "magic," and while I don't know if I'd go that far, they definitely create a different atmosphere. Those games matter to fans. When you look at the rest of the home nonconference schedule—Queens, Omaha, Montana State, Cal State Fullerton, La Salle—those aren't games that move the needle very much. But Utah State and Weber State do. They're local programs, there's familiarity, and the Marriott Center should have a great atmosphere for both. I remember talking with Chris Burgess last year about scheduling philosophy, and he mentioned looking at Arizona's model. Arizona challenged itself in the nonconference, even taking some losses, but those quality games helped its NCAA Tournament résumé. It's always a balancing act. This year's team is still adding new pieces and building chemistry, so you don't necessarily want to overload the schedule before conference play begins. Q: Looking at the schedule today, what's your projection for BYU's nonconference record? Dickson: I think anything more than two losses would be a real disappointment. The schedule sets up well. Most of the games are at home, with two at the Delta Center. The only significant travel comes with the Maui Invitational and the road game at San Diego State. We still don't know exactly what the final roster will look like because BYU still has scholarships available and is looking to add another big man. But based on what we know today, I think this team has a chance to run the table. At worst, they should be around one or two losses heading into Big 12 play. If they lose more than two games in the nonconference, I think that would be disappointing given the opportunities they have with this schedule.

Jake Retzlaff discussing whether he had another year of eligibility on @espnthefan: Q: I love that insight because fans never get to hear those stories. If you had another year of eligibility, would you have followed Coach Sumrall to Florida? Retzlaff: That's a tough question. There's no doubt it would've been really tempting. If I were entering the portal again, Florida would've been an incredible opportunity. Playing in the SEC under Coach Sumrall would've been exciting. He's an unbelievable coach. I've said before that Coach Sumrall reminds me a lot of Kalani Sitake. They're similar in a lot of ways. Sumrall is probably a little more Southern and rough around the edges, but they're both authentic leaders who build great cultures. One difference was definitely the language. At BYU, because of what the university represents, the environment naturally keeps things pretty clean. Down South, it was a little different. I think we literally had pass routes named after curse words. That was a culture shock for me. I definitely had to work to keep my own language the way it had been in Utah. Q: Speaking of toughness, let's go back to your time at BYU. Against Oklahoma State, you threw an interception late in the first half, hustled back to make the tackle, and then looked like you were in a lot of pain. Everyone watching thought your shoulder might be seriously injured. Then BYU came out in the second half, ran the ball 10 straight plays, and the first pass afterward was a touchdown to Keelan Marion. Take us through that moment because you showed a lot of toughness throughout your career. Retzlaff: I appreciate that. One thing fans don't always realize is that the only time a football team is truly healthy is before Week 1. After that, everybody is dealing with something. Hopefully, during those early nonconference games, you can stay relatively healthy, but once the season gets going, everybody's managing injuries. Even in my first game against Southern Illinois, I rolled my ankle because the turf gave way while I was running near the goal line. From that point on, you're constantly trying to get as close to 100 percent as possible, knowing you'll never actually get there. That hit against Oklahoma State hurt. I remember running into the locker room trying not to show how much pain I was in. Our trainers and team doctors did a tremendous job getting me ready. The biggest thing I learned is that being healthy is just as much mental as it is physical. If you don't believe your shoulder is healthy, it doesn't matter what the doctors tell you—you won't play freely. Coming out in the second half, after we'd established the run, my first throw was that touchdown to Keelan Marion. Mentally, I had to trust that I was okay and just let it rip. Credit to our medical staff. They got me ready to go, and once I convinced myself I was good, I was able to play my game. Link to interview: 📸: @TulaneAthletics