BYU’s First Loss Stings, But the Season Is Far From Lost
After 13 straight wins, BYU men’s basketball finally hit a wall - and it hit back hard. The Cougars walked into Lubbock with momentum and a nine-point lead with under 10 minutes to play, but left with an 84-71 loss that felt like a gut punch. For a team that’s been riding high, this was a harsh reminder of how fast things can turn in the Big 12.
Let’s be clear: losing at No. 15 Texas Tech isn’t some catastrophic failure.
The Red Raiders are a tough out, especially at home, and BYU came in as slight underdogs. But it’s how the Cougars lost that left fans reeling.
Up 61-52 with 9:26 to go, BYU was in control - then the wheels came off. Texas Tech closed the game on a 32-10 run, flipping the script in a matter of minutes.
That kind of collapse doesn’t just sting - it leaves fans asking questions. And they did, loudly.
Social media lit up with concerns: Where was the defense? Why couldn’t they buy a three late?
Why did Rob sit in the second half? What’s going on with AJ Dybantsa?
Can the bench give them anything?
These aren’t just emotional outbursts - they’re valid questions for a team that has real postseason aspirations. The Cougars have shown they belong in the national conversation, but Saturday’s loss exposed some cracks that need sealing.
Still, let’s not lose the forest for the trees. BYU is 16-2 overall, 4-1 in Big 12 play, and ranked No. 13 in the country.
This team is legit. They’ve already beaten Villanova, Wisconsin, Miami, Dayton, and Clemson.
They gave No. 12 Texas Tech all they could handle - for 30 minutes.
And even No. 2 UConn knows what kind of fight this Cougar squad brings.
But the Big 12 is no joke. The road ahead is filled with landmines - No.
1 Arizona, No. 19 Kansas, and No.
6 Houston are all looming. That’s the nature of this conference.
Every night is a battle, and every win is earned.
The good news? BYU has time to regroup.
A full week separates them from their next test - a rivalry showdown with Utah at the Marriott Center. That’s a chance to reset, refocus, and maybe even get AJ Dybantsa back to full strength.
It’s also a chance to tighten up the perimeter shooting and get the rotation humming again.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory. Just last year, the Cougars bounced back from a brutal overtime loss at Utah by rattling off 13 wins in their next 15 games and making a run to the Sweet 16. This group has shown it can respond to adversity - and now they’ll need to do it again.
For fans, the emotional swings are part of the deal. That’s what makes sports so compelling.
One week you’re flying high, the next you’re asking existential questions about your team’s identity. But the lows give the highs their meaning.
The sting of a loss like Saturday’s? That’s the seasoning that makes a future win taste even better.
And let’s not forget - even in victory, the game can take something from you. Just ask Denver.
The Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game, only to lose quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle moments later. That’s the cruel beauty of sports - nothing is guaranteed, and everything can change in an instant.
So when BYU tips off against the Utes on Saturday, the Lubbock collapse will already be in the rearview mirror. What matters now is how the Cougars respond.
Do they let one loss spiral? Or do they use it as fuel?
This team is built to win. But in a conference like the Big 12, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Every possession, every substitution, every shot matters. The Cougars have the talent.
Now it’s about execution, resilience, and staying locked in for the long haul.
Because the fish only get bigger from here. And if BYU wants to land the big one in March, they’ll need to keep casting - and keep believing.