The season for BYU may not have been what many anticipated in the preseason, but the Cougars are quickly becoming the kind of team that few opponents would want to see in their NCAA Tournament bracket.
Even though BYU didn’t win a Big 12 Tournament championship in Kansas City, they still appeared to be among the top teams in the nation at the end of the week. The Cougars persevered through a difficult period and demonstrated a level of resilience that might carry them through March.
The freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa, who gave a memorable performance throughout the conference tournament, is a major factor in this. With 93 points over three games, Dybantsa established a Big 12 Tournament record. He demonstrated his ability to lead the offense against top-tier competition by scoring 40 points in the first game of the week, followed by 27 and 26 points in the next two contests.
Despite falling to Houston, one of the best defensive squads in the nation, Dybantsa nevertheless scored 26 points while logging significant minutes for the third night in a row.
When viewed from a broader perspective, BYU’s run is even more remarkable. Six of the Cougars’ key players have suffered season-ending injuries throughout a year that has been plagued by injuries. One of them was Richie Saunders, an All-American contender who received first-team All-Big 12 accolades the previous year.
Despite those setbacks, BYU has maintained a strong level of competition. With rebounds and assists, Dybantsa has accepted the greater responsibility and contributed throughout the stat sheet while scoring at the top of the nation, playing almost every minute.
Therefore, BYU is a possible nightmare match going into the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars possess the components of a formidable adversary that can break any bracket thanks to a generational scorer in Dybantsa and a squad that has previously overcome adversity.
It’s obvious that Dybantsa hasn’t given up and started getting ready for the 2026 NBA Draft. With the Cougars poised to pull off a few upsets, he has unfinished business to take care of.
