Trending Now - AJ Dybantsa Weighs NBA Draft After Byu's NCAA Exit
WHO:
AJ Dybantsa's mother is named Chelsea.
Texas head coach is Sean Miller.
BYU head coach is Kevin Young.
AJ Dybantsa, BYU forward, is projected to be the No. 2 pick in the June 2026 NBA draft, according to ESPN's Jeremy Woo.
Sean Miller, Texas coach, commented on Dybantsa's scoring ability.
Texas Longhorns (11th seed)
BYU Cougars (6th seed)
Matas Vokietaitis, Texas player
AJ Dybantsa, BYU forward
Tramon Mark, Texas player
Robert Wright III, BYU guard
Keba Keita, BYU big man
Aleksej Kostic, BYU player
WHAT:
Dybantsa scored 20 points in the first half against Texas.
Dybantsa's performance included shooting 11-for-25 from the field.
Dybantsa's 35 points were two points shy of tying BYU's NCAA tournament record for points in a game, held by Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette.
Dybantsa's season averages were updated to 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 51% from the field.
Dybantsa became the first freshman to score 35 points in his men's NCAA tournament debut.
Dybantsa averaged 25.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the season.
Dybantsa scored at least 20 points in 28 games, breaking a tie with Michael Smith and Devin Durrant for second most in a season in BYU history.
Texas defeated BYU 79-71 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
AJ Dybantsa scored 35 points for BYU, along with 10 rebounds.
Matas Vokietaitis scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for Texas.
Texas out-rebounded BYU 40-31, including a 21-11 margin in the first half.
Texas had 16 offensive rebounds, leading to 16 second-chance points.
BYU finished the season with a record of 23-12.
BYU shot 43% from the field and 18% from 3-point range.
WHERE:
The game was held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
WHEN:
Dybantsa stated he hopes to make his decision about the NBA draft in "the next couple of weeks" following the game on March 19th, 2026.
Dybantsa stated he expects to decide on his playing future in the "next couple of weeks" following the game on March 19th, 2026.
The game took place on March 19th, 2026.
Texas played its First Four matchup against N.C. State on March 17th, 2026.
WHY:
BYU's loss marked another first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament.
The Cougars had a poor defensive performance and struggled with consistency throughout the season.
HOW:
Dybantsa was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line during the game against Texas, despite Texas' goal to limit his free throw attempts.
Dybantsa was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line during the game against Texas.
Texas utilized a strong rebounding strategy, particularly in the first half, to secure the victory.
Dybantsa played every minute of the game but did not receive sufficient support from his teammates, who combined for 36 points.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 19:16 UTC)
In an impressive performance against Texas, AJ Dybantsa scored 35 points, shooting 11-for-25 from the field and going a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line, despite the Longhorns' efforts to limit his attempts. Dybantsa's scoring was just two points shy of tying BYU's NCAA tournament record, previously set by Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette, and his season averages now stand at 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 51% from the field. Following the game on March 19, Dybantsa expressed that he hopes to make his decision about the NBA draft in the next couple of weeks.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 07:21 UTC)
In a standout performance, AJ Dybantsa, the BYU forward, made history by becoming the first freshman to score 35 points in his men's NCAA tournament debut, while also averaging 25.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season. Coach Sean Miller praised Dybantsa's scoring ability, as he scored at least 20 points in 28 games, breaking a tie with legends Michael Smith and Devin Durrant for the second most in a season at BYU. Dybantsa, who was perfect from the free throw line during the game against Texas, indicated he plans to decide on his playing future in the next couple of weeks after the game on March 19.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 05:23 UTC)
In a thrilling NCAA tournament opener held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, Texas defeated BYU with a score of 79 to 71 on March 19, 2026. AJ Dybantsa shone for BYU, scoring 35 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but he lacked support from his teammates, who totaled just 36 points, while Matas Vokietaitis led Texas with 23 points and 16 rebounds. The Longhorns dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Cougars 40 to 31, which played a crucial role in BYU's disappointing first-round exit, finishing the season with a record of 23-12.