Rec Sports
Takeaways From Big 12 Opening Win At K-State
BYU basketball opened Big 12 play with a road win at Kansas State, 83-73.
The win gives BYU its 10th consecutive victory. It’s the longest win streak for BYU since 2011, when Jimmer Fredette was a senior.
Here are some instant takeaways from No. 10 BYU’s victory that puts them at 1-0 to start Big 12 action.
Coming out of a long holiday break, a solid road win
Before Saturday morning, BYU basketball had not played a game in 12 days, on December 22.
It was a long break between games. Coming out of a holiday break during a college basketball season is always a tricky spot. Yet, BYU passed the test with flying colors.
Along with the challenge of coming off a holiday break, BYU was facing its first true road test of the season.
The game was never in doubt once BYU navigated an early run against Kansas State, in front of a crowd that marked the first sellout at Bramlage Coliseum in three years against an opponent other than K-State’s rival, Kansas.
AJ Dybantsa is ready for the physicality of the Big 12
True freshman AJ Dybantsa got his first taste of the physical play that is Big 12 basketball.
K-State generated a lot of contact on Dybantsa throughout the game. Still, the superstar pushed through the headaches that included a season-high seven turnovers to lead the way for BYU.
Dybantsa finished with 24 points on an efficient 8-of-15 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.
To go along with his 24 points, Dybantsa had eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 32 minutes of action.
BYU continues to prove they are built differently this year on defense
Entering the Saturday matinee, one of Kansas State’s strengths was three-point shooting. BYU’s defense erased that for the Wildcats.
K-State finished the game at 3-of-21 from three-point range. That comes out to 14% from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, BYU was 9-of-24 from 3-point range.
The only made 3-pointer for Kansas State in the second half was by Abdi Bashir Jr. off one leg. It was an excellent defensive performance by BYU, neutralizing one of K-State’s strengths.
BYU basketball’s one-two punch at center
The impact on the midseason addition of Abdullah “Bidoo” Ahmed was felt in “The Octagon” in BYU’s Big 12 opener.
Ahmed, a former G-League player for the Westchester Knicks, gives BYU another excellent rim protector to rotate in and out with starter Keba Keita.
Keita was fresh throughout the game, and his impact was felt throughout. The senior center had 11 points and 16 rebounds in only 27 minutes. Keita also had two blocked shots.
Ahmed played 12 minutes and had three blocked shots, along with back-to-back buckets for four points in the second half.
Mihailo Boskovic had his best game of the season
Senior big man Mihailo Boskovic had a slow start to the season. There’s no denying that, but before the holiday break, the 6-foot-10 front-court player started to find his rhythm this season.
Then on Saturday against Kansas State, Boskovic cashed in on that momentum built at the end of nonconference play with his best performance of the year.
Boskovic finished with nine points off the bench and grabbed three rebounds in 17 minutes before fouling out.
The Serbian native also had what appeared to be a highlight-reel block at the end of the first half, but he didn’t get credit for that in the final stat sheet.
Boskovic executed an old-school three-point play with a Euro step, then added two 3-pointers.
He had the best plus/minus of the day for BYU with a (+17).
BYU basketball will want to clean up the turnovers
BYU committed 19 turnovers that led to 17 points for Kansas State. If BYU were at their season average of 10 or fewer, this game could have had a larger margin of victory.
It’s a teaching moment for Kevin Young’s team, and those are always the best after a win.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
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