BYU basketball: Cougars jump three spots on both polls0

Mormon Life says: BIG week ahead for BYU basketball.

The new men's college basketball polls are out, and the BYU Cougars are ranked No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 13 in the AP poll — up three spots from where they were ranked in both polls last week.

In the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, the Cougars received 430 points, 17 points better than New Mexico, which holds down the 12th spot. BYU is the highest ranked team in the West in the coaches' poll.

In the AP poll, the Cougars received 795 points and are only one point ahead of Michigan State. Ranked No. 10 in the AP is New Mexico, which makes the Lobos the highest ranked team in the West in the AP poll.

The Cougars and Lobos, both 25-3, meet on Saturday in the Marriott Center. Right now both teams are tied atop the Mountain West Conference standings with two losses, but the Lobos have 11 conference wins to 10 for BYU. Prior to Saturday's showdown, however, the Cougars take on the San Diego State Aztecs, winners of six of their last seven, on Wednesday night at the Marriott Center.

The Cougars' 25-3 record is the school's best-ever mark after 28 games. The Cougars broke into the national rankings on Jan. 4, and were ranked as high as No. 10 in the coaches' poll and No. 12 in the AP poll on Jan. 25.

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