Overview
- No. 8 BYU enters the season as the Big 12’s preseason runner-up behind Houston, underscoring a shift from underdog to contender.
- At the league’s media day in Kansas City, the Cougars featured top recruit AJ Dybantsa, point guard Rob Wright III and returning scorer Richie Saunders.
- Dybantsa followed his commitment with a 30-point exhibition at Nebraska and balances high-profile NIL deals with routine campus life.
- Wright, a Baylor transfer and former Big 12 all-freshman, debuted with 8 points and five assists in limited minutes and is slated to play again in Friday’s exhibition versus No. 25 North Carolina at the Delta Center on ESPN+.
- Young, coming off a Sweet 16 in his first season, emphasizes daily preparation and lineup optimization around Dybantsa, Saunders and Wright.