The Dance Is Over For BYU — Now the Real Work Begins

Utah Sports Ink | By Terry Tebbs

The BYU Cougars are headed home, and two numbers tell you exactly why.

Texas out-rebounded BYU 40-31 on Thursday night in Portland — including a crushing 16-to-8 advantage on the offensive glass that kept possession after possession alive for the Longhorns. And at the three-point line it wasn't even close: Texas connected on 8 of 22 attempts while BYU managed just 4 of 22. Those two areas — rebounding and three-point shooting — were the game. Everything else is a footnote.

And yet, through it all, AJ Dybantsa was everything we already knew he was. Thirty-five points. Ten rebounds. A perfect 12-for-12 from the foul line. He gave BYU every chance to win. The problem was his teammates combined for just 36 points. When the best player on your team puts the team on his back and still loses, the message is clear: one superstar isn't enough.

Which brings us to what comes next.

The Big Man Question

Kevin Young and his staff know as well as anyone that to compete at the elite level BYU aspires to, a strong, athletic center — 7 feet or better — is not a luxury, it's a necessity. The Cougars have that player waiting in the wings. Xavion Staton, the 6'11" four-star prospect out of Las Vegas, sat out this season with knee issues, appearing for just a handful of minutes all year. The word is that Staton needs to add significant muscle mass before he can hold his own against Big 12-level big men night after night.

Don't sleep on him. Staton has a social media presence and an easy, likable personality that comes through in every interview — the makings of a genuine BYU fan favorite. More importantly, he has the benefit of what amounts to an NBA-caliber support system in Provo: elite strength and conditioning staff, nutritionists, and player development coaches all focused on getting him ready. If there's a program that knows how to develop a young big man, Kevin Young's staff has made that case. The hope — and the expectation — is that Staton takes a major physical leap this offseason and gives BYU the interior presence that was so obviously missing against Texas.

The Shooting Problem

The loss of Richie Saunders to a season-ending ACL tear was never going to be easy to absorb — and Thursday night it showed up in the worst possible way. There were possessions late in this game where BYU had the ball in the hands of players who are genuine defensive threats but offered nothing as offensive weapons. Defenses recognized it instantly and packed the paint around Dybantsa.

Going forward, BYU needs reliable three-point shooting on the floor at all times — not one guy, but two. Whether that comes through the transfer portal this offseason or through the internal development of players like Khadim Mboup and Dominique Diomande remains to be seen. Kevin Young will know which direction makes more sense.

Aleksej Kostic is worth watching closely here. The Austrian freshman showed real shooting flashes down the stretch of the season — he's the real deal from range and is just getting started adjusting to the college game. At 20 years old with three years of eligibility ahead of him, his best basketball at BYU is clearly coming.

Kennard Davis — One More Year, One Big Opportunity

Kennard Davis has one year of eligibility remaining, and this offseason could define what that year looks like. The 6'6" wing is a legitimate defender and athlete, but to take the next step offensively — particularly at the college level in the Big 12 — his ball handling needs work. An offseason dedicated to expanding that part of his game could make Davis a much more complete player and a real contributor when BYU needs him most.

The Return of Dawson Baker?

This is the subplot worth watching. Baker tore his ACL on Thanksgiving and missed the entire season — and Kevin Young made no secret of how badly he missed Baker's veteran leadership. Baker qualifies for a medical redshirt and there have been strong hints he may want to return for a 7th year. If he comes back healthy, his experience, toughness, and scoring off the bench would be a genuine asset for a team looking to reload. Cougar fans should be pulling hard for him to make that decision.

What About Rob Wright?

Rob Wright has mentioned more than once in recent weeks how much he loves playing at BYU — and there's real logic behind staying. The sophomore point guard has two years of eligibility remaining and is developing under one of the best staffs in college basketball. Wright has the talent to play professionally. But finishing his development in Provo, where the infrastructure for elite player growth is genuine, could make him a significantly better pro than leaving too soon. The portal window will answer that question quickly.

And Then There's AJ

He teased us. A Deseret News interview hinted — just barely — that he might return to Provo for his sophomore year. Cougar fans let themselves dream for a moment.

Then he scored 35 points Thursday night, grabbed 10 rebounds, and went 12-for-12 from the line against an SEC opponent in the NCAA Tournament. The projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft would be walking away from a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $63 million — and that's just the beginning. By the time a max extension comes around, we're talking about generational money.

It was a privilege watching him wear Royal Blue. Safe travels, AJ.

Now the offseason portal opens, the development work begins, and Xavion Staton continues lifting weights. Next year can't get here fast enough.