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Provo • There is never a good time to face Gonzaga, which is head and shoulders above any other basketball team in the West Coast Conference.

But you would be hard pressed to find a worse time to meet the nation's No. 8-ranked team for the BYU Cougars than Saturday at the nearly sold-out Marriott Center (4 p.m., ESPN2) in a WCC opener.

Star guard Tyler Haws is still hobbling on a sprained ankle and hasn't practiced since scoring a season-low four points in 27 minutes in Tuesday's 77-71 overtime win over UMass, although he will try to play against the Zags.

Starting forward Nate Austin is still out for a couple more weeks with a torn hamstring, and now starting shooting guard Chase Fischer is hurting. Fischer has been suffering from headaches since running into a screen set by UMass' Cady Lalanne and practiced only in spurts on Friday. It is uncertain how much he will play.

Gonzaga (11-1) is well-rested, having had a week to prepare since struggling past Cal Poly 63-50 last week, and won't have to face BYU's usually raucous student section at full throat because of the holiday break.

But that's the card Dave Rose's team has been dealt, and they vowed after practice Friday to put up a good fight.

"Trying to gauge that is a little difficult," Rose acknowledged. "I have all the confidence in the world in these guys, and we are going to need a really good performance from [role players such as Corbin Kaufusi, Frank Bartley and Skyler Halord]. This Gonzaga team is really good."

So good that it has won its past four games by an average of 20.3 points since it lost in overtime at No. 3 Arizona, the only blemish on coach Mark Few's difficult nonconference slate. The Zags, a likely bet for the Final Four, are second in the nation in field-goal percentage (53.6) and are scoring 83.7 ppg while allowing 60 ppg.

The nucleus of Kevin Pangos, Premek Karnowski and Gary Bell Jr. that defeated BYU 75-64 in the WCC tournament final last year added three players who might be even more talented in Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer, USC transfer Byron Wesley and freshman Domantas Sabonis. The Zags are as loaded as any team in the country this side of Kentucky.

"I don't think we've really faced anything like it," BYU guard Kyle Collinsworth said. "Their [inside players] are so efficient and so good."

Gonzaga has won 18 straight conference openers, but lost 73-65 the last time it visited the Marriott Center. Collinsworth said he likes opening league play against the league's best and downplayed the no-students-on-campus factor, saying the Marriott Center "always finds a way to fill up" and the crowd — only 300 tickets were unsold as of Friday — will be into the game.

"I think it is good for the younger guys, and just our team, to see that this is the best of our conference, Gonzaga, and to play them first," he said.

Rose and Collinsworth hinted at what the Cougars' strategy will be to offset Gonzaga's superiority inside: run, run, and run some more. Then take plenty of 3-pointers. After averaging only 5.1 treys per game last year, BYU is making 9.2 a game this year.

"I mean, there are some things that we can do to cause them problems, I think, hopefully," Rose said. "Their bigs are really strong, physical low-post guys, and that's where they are the strongest, is right around the basket. And our team, we can score without actually getting on top of the rim, if we are playing right. And hopefully that can be to our advantage."

The Cougars (10-3) face a quick turnaround after the game; they will host Portland on Monday at the Marriott Center. After Saturday, they won't see the Zags again until the regular-season finale on Feb. 28 in Spokane.

Twitter: @drewjay —

BYU vs. Gonzaga

P At the Marriott Center, Provo

Tipoff • 4 p.m. MST

TV • ESPN2

Radio • 1160 AM/102.7 FM —

BYU vs. Gonzaga

At the Marriott Center, Provo

Tipoff • 4 p.m.

TV • ESPN2

Radio • 1160 AM/102.7 FM

Records • BYU 10-1, Gonzaga 11-1

Series History • Gonzaga leads, 7-3

Last Meeting • Gonzaga 75, BYU 64 (March 11, 2014)

About the Bulldogs • They are ranked No. 8 in the country, with their only loss in overtime at No. 3 Arizona. … They are averaging 83.7 ppg. and allowing just 60.0 ppg. … They are led in scoring by Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer (16.8 ppg.) and in rebounding by 7-1 center Przemek Karnowski (6.5 rpg). … They haven't played since a 63-50 win over Cal Poly on Dec. 20.

About the Cougars • They are coming off a 77-71 overtime win over UMass on Tuesday at the Marriott Center, a game in which guard Anson Winder scored a career-high 25 points off the bench. … They still lead the country in scoring, averaging 88 points per game. … They are averaging 9.2 three-pointers per game.