How A.J. Dybantsa’s resilience led No. 10 BYU to a Big 12-opening win over Kansas State

by | Jan 4, 2026 | Sports

MANHATTAN, Kan. — About the fourth or fifth time that A.J. Dybantsa crashed to the floor, and he looked up at an official in both shock and vain, one of the most talented freshmen in college basketball must have finally figured out that he wasn’t going to get a call.Welcome to life in the Big 12 Conference.Dybantsa still poured in 24 points while leading No. 10 BYU to an 83-73 victory over Kansas State on Saturday, the first true road game for the Cougars all season. But he did it while committing seven turnovers and showing visible frustration throughout much of the first half, a learning experience if ever there was one for the potential No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft.“Definitely,” Dybantsa said, “coach was telling me it was going to be more physical than our nonconference games.”Few leagues are as rough-and-tumble as the Big 12, but it’s also worth pointing out that Dybantsa doesn’t even turn 19 until later this month, and the swingman could just as well be playing his senior season of high school; he reclassified to this year’s freshman class a couple of years ago, when it already was clear that Dybantsa’s game — if not his physique — was ready for the big t …

Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source