The Cougars take the floor at the Marriott Center on Friday night against the Weber State Wildcats to start off the 2013-14 basketball season.

Even though BYU lost three seniors who were massive contributors from a season ago as well as numerous other players to transfers, injuries and missions, the Cougars should actually be better this time around.

The Cougars are loaded with talented guards who should be able to get to the hole a lot this year, knock down jumpers from the outside and distribute the ball for easy baskets.

Leading the pack will be three starters from years past.  Returning From last year’s squad are Matt Carlino and Tyler Haws.  Carlino is an explosive and dynamic point guard who has looked more under control during the exhibition games and appears ready to next the next step for this cougar team.

Haws led the Cougars in scoring a season ago and should do the same this year.  Haws has a sweet stroke from the outside and can also score effectively with his back to the basket.

Joining the returning starters will be Kyle Collinsworth.  Collinsworth started as a freshman and was a key piece to the BYU sweet sixteen run a few years ago.  Collinsworth can play anywhere on the floor and do it well.  He looks to have already shaken off the mission rust and should be in fine form this season.

In the front court, look for freshman Eric Mika and junior Nate Austin to do most of the damage.  Mika is a back to the basket big who knows how to get deep post position and score with either hand.  He is a beast on the glass and a solid shot blocker.

Austin has been with the Cougars for the last two years and has shown signs of brilliance at times.  This is his year to step out of the shadow of the departed Brandon Davies and to make some real noise.  Austin has a nice shooting touch from the outside and has a great mid-range game.  He is also a solid rebounder and skilled shot blocker.  For Austin to take that next step he needs to stay out of foul trouble.

Also look for contributions from the likes of newcomers Luke Worthington, Frank Bartley, And Skyler Halford, and returning players Josh Sharp and Anson Winder.

They should allow the Cougars to go ten deep against just about any opponent with little drop off.

The Cougars have a solid schedule this time around.  There are some very difficult games as well as some guaranteed wins before WCC play starts.

In the non-conference, BYU faces the likes of Stanford, Utah, Oregon and UMass on the road, a solid Iowa State team at home, as well as Utah State, Texas and either DePaul or Wichita State on Neutral floors.  Not all of their non-conference games are that difficult however.  BYU does have games with Colorado Mesa, Mount St. Mary’s, North Texas and Prairie View A&M at home.

With the addition of Pacific, BYU will play 18 West Coast Conference games this season and there will be more than a handful of tough match-ups such as Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s twice each.

There is no doubt that the Cougars have the talent to reach the 20 win mark, and give themselves a decent shot at the NCAA tournament after a trip to the NIT a season ago.

For that to happen I think that the development of both Matt Carlino and Kyle Collinsworth is key.  BYU needs Carlino to play the way he has in the preseason.  If he can play under control and find his teammates in good positions to score the ball, the Cougars will be very effective on the offense end.  Collinsworth will also see plenty of time as the primary ball handler and needs to do the same things.  If they can keep their turnovers down, and not try to force the ball too much, then BYU will have a very good chance to win the WCC for the first time.