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AJ Dybantsa says he and BYU are ready for March Madness: "We're about perseverance, resilience"
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- AJ Dybantsa says he and BYU are ready for March Madness: "We're about perseverance, resilience"
AJ Dybantsa said he and the BYU Cougars are ready for their March Madness campaign. He believes that their run in the Big 12 and their spirited showing in the conference tournament have prepared them well for the NCAA Tournament , which tips off this week.
Speaking after their 73-66 loss to Houston in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, Dybantsa noted that, despite falling short of a conference title, the experience has steeled the team for challenges ahead in the NCAA Tournament.
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"I mean, we needed some extra games under our belt, so we were actually staying in our locker room that we're happy that we played that first two games. Kind of showed our identity. We're about perseverance. We're about resilience," Dybantsa said .
"And then to play Houston, I don't think any other team plays as hard as Houston in the country. So to be able to play them twice, get that type of feedback and get that type of film. I think we'll be prepared for the tournament," he added.
Cougars in the Big 12
Bannered by 19-year-old Dybantsa, BYU had a generally good season in the Big 12. They started off strong, going 16-1 in their first 17 games before going 5-9 in their next 14 to finish the regular season with a 21-10 record (9-9 in their conference).
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Injuries have certainly made it tougher for the Cougars this season. Guard Dawson Baker first suffered an ACL injury in December, and then in February, third-leading scorer Richie Saunders (18 points per game) suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
But despite their injury woes, Dybantsa has been consistent, leading the nation in scoring with 25.3 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field, while also averaging 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals.
His stellar showing has thrust him to the No. 1 spot for the 2026 NBA Draft in many experts' mock drafts, ahead of fellow freshmen standouts Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Cameron Boozer of Duke.
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In the Big 12 Tournament last week, Dybantsa further lit it up, averaging 31 points per game while his total 93 points broke the previous record of 92 set by Texas Longhorn and Dybantsa's favorite player, Kevin Durant , in the 2007 edition of the tournament.
He punctuated it by scoring 40 points in their 105-91 win over Kansas State in the opening round, then following it with 27 and 26 points against West Virginia and Houston, respectively.
Dangerous in the NCAA Tourney
Dybantsa and the Cougars enter the NCAA Tournament as the sixth seed in the West Region. They are awaiting the winner of the First Four matchup between Texas and North Carolina State, which they will face in the first round.
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While BYU could have done better this season, college basketball analyst Aaron Torres believes the Cougars remain dangerous in the NCAA Tournament, with Dybantsa playing at an elite level at the moment.
"It has not been the season that they want. But what this trip to Kansas City (Big 12 Tournament) showed me is that I do think that the BYU Cougars are a very dangerous team to see in your bracket," Torres shared on his podcast.
"Good luck to the three seed or the two seed that gets this team in the Round of 32. They are dangerous. AJ is playing at an elite level, and I think he just deserves so much credit for what he has done," he added.
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Given how the Cougars are playing of late and Dybantsa seemingly bent on finishing what could be his lone collegiate season with a bang, there is every reason to believe that BYU is a team to keep an eye on and not overlook.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
