Keba Keita’s Defensive Dominance Is No Fluke - And BYU Will Need Every Bit of It vs. Kansas
Keba Keita doesn’t light up the scoreboard - he’s averaging just under seven points a night - but don’t let that fool you. The BYU senior is a walking highlight reel and a defensive anchor who’s making a serious impact every time he steps on the floor.
Whether it’s a rim-rattling alley-oop, a put-back dunk that shakes the building, or a shot block that ends up somewhere in the nosebleeds, Keita’s presence is undeniable. He’s the kind of player who might not stuff the box score, but you notice him - and more importantly, so does the opposition.
“He’s got a really good feel for the game, particularly on that end of the floor,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “He’s got great timing, but when you add his athleticism and physical tools on top of that, you get the kind of plays he’s able to make. I don’t know if people outside our program fully realize just how instinctive he is.”
The 6-foot-8 forward was just named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list - a nod to the top 25 defenders in the country. That list includes five Big 12 standouts, among them Kansas big man Flory Bidunga - who Keita will square off against on Saturday in Lawrence.
Consistency in the Paint
Keita’s numbers don’t scream superstar, but they’re impressively steady - and they’re trending in the right direction.
Here’s a quick look at his production over the past two seasons:
- Points per game: 7.4 (2024-25), 6.9 (2025-26)
- Rebounds per game: 7.9 (2024-25), 7.8 (2025-26)
- Offensive rebounds per game: 2.9 (2024-25), 2.8 (2025-26)
- Field goal percentage: 67% (2024-25), 68% (2025-26)
- Blocks per game: 1.2 (2024-25), 1.9 (2025-26)
He’s also cleaned up two key areas: free throw shooting (up from 41% to 58%) and foul trouble (down from 2.3 fouls per game to 1.8). That’s not just growth - that’s discipline, and it’s allowing him to stay on the floor longer and make more of an impact.
Young credits Keita’s basketball IQ as much as his physical tools. “He has a feel for when to come over and block a shot, when to stay back and rebound, when to be aggressive in passing lanes,” he said. “It’s just a natural knack.”
Freshman Firepower: Dybantsa vs. Peterson
While Keita will be doing the dirty work inside, the national spotlight on Saturday will shine brightest on two of the most electric freshmen in college basketball: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darynn Peterson.
This is a matchup that has ESPN College GameDay rolling into Lawrence - and for good reason. These two have history.
Last year, Peterson dropped 58 points in a high school showdown against Utah Prep. Dybantsa?
He scored 49 in that same game.
Fast forward to now, and both are putting up elite numbers at the college level. Dybantsa enters Saturday averaging 23.6 points per game, while Peterson - who’s only played in 10 games due to injury - is right behind at 21.6. Kansas head coach Bill Self said he expects his star freshman to be ready to go.
“You want to play in games that matter, and this one matters,” Young said. “They’ve got talent, we’ve got talent. That’s what makes it fun.”
Kansas Brings the Heat on Defense
BYU’s coming off a battle with Arizona, one of the best defensive teams in the country. Now they get Kansas - another elite unit, especially in the half court.
In Big 12 play, the Jayhawks lead the league in field goal percentage defense (.379), three-point percentage defense (.291), and blocked shots (6.15 per game). They make you work for everything - and they protect the rim like it’s sacred ground.
“That’s the beauty of playing in this league,” Young said. “We thought we cracked the code against Arizona, scoring 52 in the second half. But now it’s about taking what we learned and applying it to Kansas.”
That means smart spacing, controlled drives, and finishing with poise in the paint. Reckless shots won’t cut it against a Kansas defense that thrives on punishing mistakes - especially with Bidunga waiting at the rim.
“If we play off two feet, make the extra pass, and don’t force things, we’ll give ourselves a real chance to have a good offensive night,” Young said.
The Stage Is Set
Saturday’s showdown at Allen Fieldhouse has all the ingredients for a Big 12 classic:
- Two top-15 teams: No. 13 BYU (17-3, 5-2) vs.
No. 14 Kansas (15-5, 5-2)
- Two of the best freshmen in the country
- Two of the top defensive big men in the conference
- And two fan bases that show up in full force - Kansas ranks second in the Big 12 in home attendance (15,310 per game), while BYU leads the league (18,054)
BYU leads the all-time series 4-3 and has won the last two meetings - including a 91-57 blowout in Provo last February and a 76-68 win at Allen Fieldhouse in 2024.
But this is a new season, and the stakes are high. Keita will be tasked with anchoring BYU’s defense against a Kansas team that knows how to grind.
Dybantsa and Peterson will go bucket for bucket on the national stage. And the Cougars will look to prove, once again, that they belong at the top of the Big 12.
Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. MT on ESPN. Don’t blink.