BYU Searching for Answers as Road Test at Baylor Looms
There’s no easy fix when a team hits a skid. Coaches can either double down on what’s worked before or shake things up in search of a spark. Right now, BYU men’s basketball is living that dilemma in real time.
The Cougars are riding a four-game losing streak and have dropped five of their last six. With a tough road matchup at Baylor on deck, head coach Kevin Young is keeping all options on the table.
“We’re close,” Young said after Saturday’s 77-66 loss to No. 8 Houston.
“When you’re getting blown out, it’s easy to make changes. When you’re losing tight ones to elite teams, it’s harder to justify a big shake-up-but that doesn’t mean we aren’t evaluating everything.”
Depth Tested by Injuries
Injuries have played a major role in BYU’s recent struggles. Senior guard Dawson Baker, who brought shooting, playmaking, and veteran leadership, was lost for the season after a knee injury back in November. His absence has left a noticeable void in the Cougars’ rotation.
Meanwhile, transfer guard Nate Pickens-expected to compete for starting minutes-has yet to suit up this season due to a preseason injury. That’s left BYU thinner than expected, especially in the backcourt.
Young acknowledged that these injuries have forced the staff to experiment with bench combinations, and that could lead to a more significant rotation tweak. One possibility?
Moving sophomore sparkplug Khadim Mboup into the starting five and bringing junior guard Kennard Davis Jr. off the bench. Davis has struggled to find his rhythm offensively, connecting on just 29.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc (31-for-105).
In the frontcourt, senior center Keba Keita has had his share of issues on both ends lately. That could open the door for more minutes-or even a starting nod-for 6-foot-10 sophomore Abdullah Ahmed or junior Mahailo Boskovic.
“It’s not like we’re getting blown out every night,” Young said. “Arizona, UConn, Houston, Texas Tech-we’ve been right there in all those games.
But close doesn’t cut it. We’re not winning, and that keeps me up at night.”
Dybantsa Shines Bright
If there was a silver lining in the Houston loss, it was the continued emergence of freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa. The 6-foot-7 wing poured in 28 points on just 14 shots-a level of efficiency that turned heads, including those on the opposing bench.
“The Dybantsa kid is special,” Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said postgame. “You don’t stop a guy like that, you just try to make him work.
And he still got 28 on us. That’s high-level stuff.”
Sampson didn’t stop there, throwing out a nod to Dybantsa’s future: “Pretty soon, he’ll be doing this with Kenny, Charles, Ernie and Shaq talking about him on Inside the NBA.”
It’s high praise, but Dybantsa’s performance backs it up. He’s not just putting up numbers-he’s doing it efficiently and under pressure.
A New-Look Baylor
Tuesday’s matchup in Waco will be the first meeting between BYU and Baylor since their overtime thriller in January 2025, when the Cougars pulled out a 93-89 win at the Marriott Center. But don’t expect many familiar faces.
None of the seven Baylor players who saw the floor in that game are on this season’s roster. It’s a snapshot of how quickly rosters can flip in the NIL and transfer portal era.
Leading scorer VJ Edgecombe, who dropped 28 in that game, was selected No. 3 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the 76ers. Robert Wright III, who had 22 points, is now wearing Cougar blue. The rest of the Bears’ core either graduated or transferred out.
BYU’s roster has seen its own turnover. Kanon Catchings, who went a perfect 8-for-8 in that game for 23 points, transferred to Georgia. Only three Cougars from that win remain: Keita, Boskovic, and senior guard Richie Saunders.
This year’s Baylor squad started Big 12 play 1-7 but has shown signs of life lately. Wins over West Virginia and Colorado, plus a narrow three-point loss to No. 7 Iowa State, suggest the Bears are rounding into form.
Tennessee transfer Cameron Carr (19.6 points per game) and freshman Toundre Yessourfou (17.7) headline a dynamic backcourt that will test BYU’s perimeter defense.
Staying the Course
Despite the recent slide, Dybantsa and his teammates are keeping perspective. He pointed to last season’s team, which also hit a rough patch before rallying to reach the Sweet 16.
“Richie told us they lost three straight last year too,” Dybantsa said. “They still made a run.
We’re trying to find our identity. We kind of know what it is-we’ve just got to close out games.”
The Cougars showed fight against Houston, clawing back after falling behind by 15 in the first half. That resilience will be tested again in Waco, where BYU is 0-2 all-time.
Game Info
No. 22 BYU (17-6, 5-5 Big 12) at Baylor (13-10, 3-8 Big 12)
When: Tuesday, 5 p.m. MT
Where: Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KSL 102.7 FM / 1160 AM, BYU Radio Sirius XM 143
Live Stats: byucougars.com
Series History: BYU leads 7-6 overall, but is winless in Waco.
Streak Watch: BYU has lost four straight for the first time since 2023. A fifth straight loss would mark the program’s longest skid since 2005.
With the Big 12 grind in full swing, and March looming, the Cougars aren’t panicking-but they know the margin for error is shrinking. Whether it’s a lineup tweak, a defensive adjustment, or just a few more made shots, something has to click. And soon.