[1] Despite being a virtual lock to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, all postseason play was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three of the seven were starters - Yoeli Childs, T. J. Haws and Jake Toolson and two of them were important bench players that saw significant playing time - Zac Seljaas and Dalton Nixon.

On October 18, 2019, Spencer Johnson announced his decision to transfer from Salt Lake Community College to BYU.

[9] Johnson had initially committed to Weber State in 2016, but when he returned from serving a mission in Milan, Italy, he transferred to Utah Valley University partway through his redshirt freshman year.

[11] On April 23, 2020, Purdue center Matt Haarms decided to transfer to BYU for his final year of eligibility.

Haarms, reported as the nation's top available transfer at the time, had previously narrowed his choices to BYU, Kentucky and Texas Tech despite 25 or more schools contacting him regarding his decision.

[12] On June 12, 2020, it was announced that Brandon Averette would transfer from UVU to play his final year of college eligibility for BYU.

[14] On October 14, 2020, the NCAA announced that all student-athletes involved in winter sports in 2020–21, including men's and women's basketball, would receive an extra year of eligibility, regardless of whether they or their teams actually participated in the 2020–21 season.

Hunter Erickson wore #1 and played at Timpview High School averaging 22 points his junior season.

He also received scholarship offers from Utah, Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara.

Nate Hansen and Trey Stewart will hold scholarship positions while Casey Brown and Jeremy DowDell will join as preferred walk-ons.

[36] Sources: Jake Wahlin committed to BYU in early September and officially signed on November 11, 2020.

In addition, forward Fousseyni Traore from Wasatch Academy signed with the Cougars on November 19, over schools such as Seton Hall and Utah State.

[40] Sources: In late October, BYU was selected to finish second in the West Coast Conference in the Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll behind Gonzaga.

[41] In early November, Matt Haarms was named as one of the preseason 20 players to watch regarding the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.

[54] Roster Greg Wrubell and Mark Durrant return to call men's basketball for the 2020–21 season.

In September 2019, the West Coast Conference (WCC) agreed to a multi-year deal through the 2026-27 season with ESPN and the CBS Sports Network to broadcast numerous basketball games each year.

BYU's games against Pepperdine, San Diego, and Pacific on December 31, 2020 and January 2 and 7, 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19 cases within those programs.