BYU Drops Another Ranked Battle - And This Time, There Was No Comeback
BYU’s trip to Allen Fieldhouse didn’t end with magic. Instead, it ended with a second straight loss - something the Cougars hadn’t experienced all season - falling 90-82 to No. 14 Kansas.
Now sitting at 17-4 overall and 5-3 in Big 12 play, BYU is still very much in the thick of things. But this one stings. Not just because it’s a loss, but because of how it unfolded - a familiar script that’s becoming a little too familiar.
1. Another Slow Start, Another Uphill Climb
If there’s a recurring theme in BYU’s season, it’s this: sluggish starts followed by furious second-half rallies. But against a team like Kansas - especially in Lawrence - that formula doesn't always work.
The Cougars found themselves in a 20-point hole at halftime, and the numbers told the story. Kansas torched the nets from deep, hitting 75% of their three-point attempts in the first half. BYU, on the other hand, couldn’t buy a bucket from distance, shooting just 25% from beyond the arc.
Credit to BYU for winning the second half 49-37 - they didn’t quit, and they made it interesting late. But when you’re down 20 against a top-15 team in their building, you’re asking for a miracle. And this time, there wasn’t one.
2. NBA Prospects Took Center Stage - But Richie Saunders Stole the Show
This game had plenty of buzz thanks to the matchup between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson - two of the most hyped prospects in the upcoming NBA Draft. But while scouts came for the future lottery picks, they left buzzing about someone else entirely: Richie Saunders.
Let’s start with the headliners. Peterson was electric in the first half, dropping 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including three made threes. He looked comfortable, confident, and every bit the top-tier scorer scouts expected to see.
Dybantsa had his moments too - finishing with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting - but Kansas’ defense clearly disrupted his rhythm. He added just one rebound and one assist, and at times looked a bit overwhelmed by the moment.
Then there was Saunders.
The reigning First Team All-Big 12 wing played the best game of his college career - and he did it in one of the most intimidating arenas in the sport. Saunders poured in a career-high 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting, hit six threes, grabbed 10 boards, and added two steals for good measure. He was relentless, fearless, and flat-out dominant.
While the rest of the Cougars struggled from deep (a combined 27.7% from three), Saunders was dialed in, shooting nearly 43% from long range. In a game filled with NBA talent, he was the best player on the floor.
You can bet the scouts took notice.
3. Time to Regroup - Fast
Back-to-back losses to top-tier opponents - including the No. 1 team in the country and now Kansas on the road - aren’t necessarily red flags on their own. But the way BYU has looked in stretches during those games raises a few eyebrows.
There’s no shame in losing at Allen Fieldhouse. But the Cougars’ inconsistency - particularly on defense and in early-game execution - is becoming a concern.
If BYU wants to make a deep run in March, they’ve got to clean things up. Fast.
The good news? There’s still time.
Ten regular season games remain, and according to KenPom, BYU is favored in nine of them. But let’s be real - winning 9 of 10 in the Big 12 is a tall order for anyone.
It starts next week at Oklahoma State, a team that’s struggled in conference play. After that, the Cougars return home to face a top-10 Houston squad before heading back on the road to face Baylor.
It’s a critical stretch. If BYU wants to lock in a strong NCAA Tournament seed, they’ll need to tighten the screws - and rediscover the version of this team that started the season 17-2. The margin for error in this conference is razor thin.
But with a player like Saunders heating up and lessons learned from two tough losses, the Cougars still have every opportunity to bounce back.