Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.
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KANSAS CITY — Long after his show-stopping performance led No. 10 seed BYU to a 105-91 win over No. 15 seed Kansas State in a Big 12 tournament first-round game Tuesday night, freshman AJ Dybantsa was the topic of the day in college sports.
Cougars on the air
Big 12 tournament second round
BYU (22-10) vs. West Virginia (18-13)
Wednesday, 5 p.m. MDT
At T-Mobile Center
Kansas City, Missouri
TV: ESPN2
Radio: BYU Radio 107.9 FM / BYURadio.org / BYU Radio app
Scoring a tournament freshman record 40 points, on 15-of-21 shooting, will do that for a teenager. Dybantsa also added nine rebounds, six assists and three steals as the Cougars improved to 3-2 in Big 12 tournament games in their three years in the conference.The question now is, what will Dybantsa and his teammates do for an encore?
It won’t take long to find out.
The 22-10 Cougars will face No. 7 seed West Virginia (18-13) at 5 p.m. MDT Wednesday at T-Mobile Center in a second-round game for the right to move on to face No. 2 seed Houston on Thursday. The game has been moved from ESPNU to ESPN2, perhaps because of the way Dybantsa thrilled the country on Tuesday.
According to OptaSTATS, Dybantsa is the only Division I player in this century to have a game that included 40 or more points, five or more rebounds, five or more assists, three or more steals and 70% or better shooting with no fouls.
Wednesday morning, Dybantsa was named to the 2025-26 The Sporting News All-America First Team, along with Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson and Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas.
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley, the Big 12 Player of the Year, made the third team. In his address to the media Tuesday morning, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said Dybantsa — not Bradley — should be considered for National Player of the Year honors.
“I mean, it is an honor for him to be the Big 12 commissioner (and say that),” Dybantsa said. “I feel like this is the best league in the world for college basketball. And for him to recognize my talents and think I should be up there (as) one of the best players in the country, this means a lot.”
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) is fouled by Kansas State Wildcats forward Taj Manning (15) while driving to the basket for a layup during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) hangs on the rim after a fast break dunk during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas City Chiefs head coach and BYU alumni Andy Ried, left, attends a game between BYU and the Kansas State Wildcats with his wife, Tammy, right, during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) drives to the basket for a dunk during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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A young fan holds up a sign as he cheers for BYU during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU fans cheer during the second half of the game between BYU and the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after the play during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates after scoring during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) reaches for a loose ball ahead of Kansas State Wildcats guard Nate Johnson (34) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard CJ Jones (3) drives past BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU center Keba Keita (13) dunks on Kansas State Wildcats forward Khamari McGriff (21) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dunks during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kevin Young directs his players during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) passes the ball to the corner during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Aleksej Kostić (6) reacts after turning the ball over during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after a basket during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Players on the Kansas State Wildcats bench celebrate a 3-pointer during the first half of the game against BYU during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) and guard Aleksej Kostić (6) celebrate on the bench after a BYU basket during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang looks on during the first half of the game against BYU during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard CJ Jones (3) drives to the basket for a layup against BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) defends Kansas State Wildcats guard Nate Johnson (34) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) and forward Dominique Diomande (24) celebrate after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) celebrates with forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) after making a 3-pointer during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives past Kansas State Wildcats guard PJ Haggerty (4) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard CJ Jones (3) attempts to pass the ball away from BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) after slipping on the court during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU center Keba Keita (13) grabs a rebound over Kansas State Wildcats forward Taj Manning (15) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Richie Saunders (15) greets teammates at the bench during a timeout during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats forward Taj Manning (15) grabs a rebound over BYU center Keba Keita (13) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard David Castillo (10) and BYU forward Dominique Diomande (24) battle for a loose ball during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with forward Dominique Diomande (24) after the play during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with guard Robert Wright III (1) and forward Dominique Diomande (24) after dunking during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with forward Dominique Diomande (24) after scoring a fast break dunk to take a 50-49 lead into halftime of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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AJ Dybantsa’s father, Ace, center looks on during the first half of the game between BYU and the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Wednesday’s game is a rematch of a Feb. 28 game won 79-71 by West Virginia in Morgantown. The Mountaineers took a 40-26 halftime lead and held off a late BYU rally by dominating the offensive glass. West Virginia grabbed 18 offensive rebounds — a lot of them the result of gathering long-rebound shots that weren’t close to going in — and turned them into 15 second-chance points.
Honor Huff led WVU with 19 points, while Rob Wright III had 23.
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Comments
Wright left BYU’s win over K-State with 11:52 remaining in the game and did not return because he took an elbow to the mouth from KSU’s CJ Jones that dislodged a tooth and cut his lip so badly that it required stitches.
Wright was tested for a concussion, but cleared protocol and told the Deseret News he expects to play Wednesday. He also said that he won’t enter the transfer portal after the season, noting that if he does leave BYU it will be for professional basketball.
AJ Dybantsa of @BYUMBB is the only Division I player this century to have a game with:
Kenpom has BYU as a 6-point favorite in the game, with a 69% probability of a win. Because WVU has a No. 58 NET ranking, the game will be a Quad 2 opportunity for BYU.
West Virginia should be well-rested, having defeated UCF 77-62 at Hope Coliseum in Morgantown last Friday. The Mountaineers haven’t won back-to-back games since Jan. 17 against Colorado and Jan. 21 at Arizona State.
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