Brigham Young @ Utah preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 8, 2018 ) Brigham Young 74, Utah 59

It has been an up-and-down start to non-conference play for Utah which has picked up impressive wins over Nevada and Minnesota while losing to teams like Coastal Carolina and Tulane. But no bigger game is on the Utes' schedule than the one Wednesday night when they host rival BYU in the latest edition of the Holy War.

"I'd be lying through my teeth if I said it was just a good, old, regular game," Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak told the Salt Lake Tribune after the Utes defeated UC Davis, 77-73, on Friday. "There's always some emotion involved with it." Krystkowiak is just 3-4 against the Cougars including a 74-59 loss last season at Vivint Smart Home Arena, home of the NBA's Utah Jazz. BYU, which holds a 131-128 series edge in the heated rivalry and has won the last two meetings, should get a huge boost with the return of two-time All-West Coast Conference first team forward Yoeli Childs who will be making his season debut after serving a nine-game NCAA suspension for not submitting the proper paperwork and also receiving impermissible benefits from an agent while testing the NBA Draft waters last spring.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT BYU (6-3): The 6-8 Childs, who averaged 21.2 points and 9.7 rebounds last season and is a legitimate WCC Player of the Year candidate, joins a Cougars squad that already has picked up victories at Houston (72-71) as well as Maui Jim Maui Invitational wins over UCLA (78-63) and Virginia Tech (90-77) last week. "He's breathing new life into this team. He brings so much," senior guard Jake Toolson, who leads the team in scoring (15.0) and is second in rebounding (4.8), told the Deseret News. "We did our part while he was out and now we get to throw him in there. It's going to be a lot of fun." Senior guard TJ Haws (14.0 points) and Alex Barcello (10.2), a transfer from Arizona State, are also averaging in double figures.

ABOUT UTAH (5-2): The Utes hit their first six shots from the floor and didn't allow a rebound over the first seven minutes in their win over UC Davis but needed a fade-away jumper and a pair on free throws on the ensuing possession by Timmy Allen to build a 70-62 lead with 1:40 remaining to put the Aggies away. Allen, who leads the team in scoring (19.4) and rebounding (7.7), finished with a game-high 20 points to go along with four boards, three assists and two steals while freshman point guard Rylan Jones added 18 points, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and five assists. Sophomore forward Both Gach (12.9), Jones (11.1) and sophomore forward Riley Battin (10.1) also are averaging double digits.

TIP-INS

1. Toolson is the reigning WAC Player of the Year who transferred to BYU from nearby Utah Valley.

2. Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks eighth nationally in rebound margin (plus-11.4).

3. BYU is tied for sixth in the nation with 89 made 3-pointers.

PREDICTION: BYU 85, Utah 79