Another top 15 matchup for BYU, another week of the same deficiencies.
In its fourth major test of the year, the Cougars went into Lawrence and once again found themselves down by 20 only to climb back in the second half.
Just like against No. 1 Arizona, No. 2 UConn and now No. 14 Kansas, BYU keeps getting outplayed for large stretches of the game against the best opponents.
The first few times it happened, head coach Kevin Young was encouraged by the comeback effort.
This time? He was physically ill.
“If I hear one more analytic about how we are the best second-half offense in the country, I think I’m going to throw up,” he said.
At this point, BYU has a problem on its hands.
It has been excellent against everyone outside the top 15. It has quality wins against Wisconsin, Villanova, Miami and others.
But the goal for BYU was to get to the Final Four, not just make the NCAA Tournament. And right now, it is not at that level.
BYU is 0-4 against teams with realistic Final Four aspirations (add a loss to Texas Tech on the road). And even if the score says these games are close, in reality BYU is further away when it is facing double-digit deficits most of the night.
So does Young have any idea how to fix it?
“I’ve examined it eight different ways, to the moon and back,” Young said. “At the end of the day, it is shotmaking. We are shooting it at a much higher clip in the second half than we are in the first. That’s something you can’t necessarily fix. It is more about just trying to make sure you are executing [to get open looks].”
AJ’s dud
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) as BYU hosts Arizona, NCAA basketball in Provo on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Another concerning trend: BYU’s star player has been hit-or-miss against the top teams.
Against Texas Tech, AJ Dybantsa was held to under 15 points. Against Kansas, he finished with 17 points and was a non-factor for most of the first half.
BYU built this team around the top prospect in the country, and for the most part, he’s delivered. He had 43 points against Utah and is one of the best scorers in the country, averaging over 23 points a night.
Still, BYU needs him at his best against some of the best defenses. And he was thoroughly outdueled by Kansas’ Darryn Peterson in the first half (before cramping had its say).
Richie, again
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) as BYU hosts Arizona, NCAA basketball in Provo on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Last year, BYU went as far as Richie Saunders took it. And I think that’s true again this year.
For as much as Dybantsa is BYU’s most talented player, Saunders might be Young’s best player. Or, at the very least, his most reliable.
Saunders had a career-high 33 points against the Jayhawks and nearly single-handedly willed BYU back into the game. When Saunders came back this year, people thought he’d be a nice complementary piece to Dybantsa. But instead, when Young needs to get the offense moving, it’s been Saunders who has answered the call.
He was fantastic from three and driving to the rim. He is a relentless defender and strong rebounder, finishing with a double-double. Right now, he is averaging 19.5 points per game, a career high, and is soaring up NBA draft boards.
“I thought Richie Saunders was the best player on the floor,” Young said.
With the presumed No. 1 and No. 2 NBA draft picks playing in that game, Saunders was the man who actually made a difference.
BYU’s March Madness hopes might actually rest in the senior’s hands.