BYU Still Searching for Defensive Identity as Big 12 Grind Continues with Road Test at Oklahoma State
After BYU’s 90-82 loss at Kansas on Saturday, head coach Kevin Young didn’t mince words.
“If I see one more analytic about how we’re the best offensive second-half team in the country, I’m going to throw up,” he said.
It was a moment of raw honesty from a coach whose team, once a Top 10 squad during non-conference play, is now 17-4 and clinging to No. 16 in the AP poll after dropping three of its last four Big 12 matchups. The Cougars have fallen to No.
13 Texas Tech, No. 1 Arizona, and No.
11 Kansas - all legitimate tournament contenders, all Quad 1 opportunities that slipped through BYU’s fingers.
Yes, BYU has statistically dominated second halves - they’ve only been outscored after halftime twice in 21 games - but that’s not the stat Young wants to hang his hat on. The issue, as he sees it, is what’s happening in the first 20 minutes.
First-Half Woes and Defensive Gaps
In his weekly press conference, Young laid it out plainly: the Cougars have to start games with more defensive intensity. They’ve been playing catch-up too often, and in a league as deep and physical as the Big 12, that’s a dangerous game.
“I think my real challenge with AJ [Dybantsa] is to get himself jump-started on the defensive end of the floor,” Young said. “Our intensity level raises in the second half, and that’s something we’ve discussed - not just with AJ, but with the whole team.”
He hinted at schematic adjustments, suggesting BYU might benefit from simplifying its defensive coverages to allow players to be more aggressive and instinctive, rather than bogged down by system.
“I think that [scheme] has probably put our guys in mud a little bit,” he admitted.
The numbers back up the concern. In conference play, BYU ranks 15th in 3-point percentage defense (.380), 11th in points allowed per game (81.1), and ninth in overall field goal percentage defense (.461). Not the kind of defensive profile that wins in March.
Young spent the weekend rewatching every defensive possession in Big 12 play, searching for answers. The goal now? A “less is more” approach - fewer complicated schemes, more freedom to make plays.
BYU Has a Target on Its Back
Another factor Young addressed: BYU is no longer flying under the radar. The Cougars are a marquee opponent in the Big 12, and opposing teams are treating them that way.
Just look at the numbers. When BYU comes to town, crowds swell.
Kansas State, Utah, Texas Tech, and Kansas all saw attendance spikes - an average bump of 2,687 fans. Sure, the Utah game skews that stat a bit, but the point stands: BYU games are events.
Young reminded his players of that after practice Tuesday.
“Every team is going to get up to play them, so buckle up,” he said.
He even cited Kansas head coach Bill Self, who said the first half against BYU was the best his team had played all season. That’s the kind of respect BYU is getting - and it’s also the kind of pressure that comes with being a program on the rise.
“Guys get up for it,” Young said. “They get tired of seeing BYU on Big Monday or College GameDay, or AJ Dybantsa this, Richie Saunders that, Rob Wright this, Keba Keita Defensive Player of the Year Watch. So they just get sick of it.”
That’s the human element. BYU’s players have become names in the scouting report, faces on highlight reels, and targets for every team looking to make a statement. And in a league where half the teams seem to live in the Top 10, there are no easy nights.
“You’ve got no choice but to respond to it,” Young said, “or you’re going to get left in the dust.”
Next Up: A High-Octane Matchup in Stillwater
That response will be tested again Wednesday night in Stillwater, where BYU faces an Oklahoma State team that’s also had its share of defensive struggles - but has no shortage of offensive firepower.
Cowboys head coach Steve Lutz completely overhauled his roster in Year 2, and it’s starting to click. Oklahoma State’s top six scorers are all transfers, and they’ve formed a potent, balanced attack.
Leading the way is sixth-year guard Anthony Roy, who’s averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting 44% from deep. He’s coming off a 26-point performance in an 81-69 win at Utah.
Big man Parsa Fallah (13.9 ppg), a 6-foot-10 Oregon State transfer, and LSU transfer Vyctorious Miller (13.1 ppg) give the Cowboys multiple scoring options. Jaylen Curry, a UMass transfer, adds 10.5 points and 4.3 assists off the bench.
“They’re really fast,” Young said. “They get out in transition better than anybody in our league.
They really make the game hard on you. They’re physical, they get into you, and they’re denying some passes.
They’re crawling into the ball.”
With both teams struggling defensively in Big 12 play - BYU allowing 81.1 points per game, Oklahoma State giving up 82.4 - this one has all the makings of a high-scoring affair.
The Numbers and the Stakes
BYU leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State 6-4, including wins in the last two meetings. But Stillwater hasn’t been kind to the Cougars. They’re just 1-2 at Gallagher-Iba Arena, with their last win there coming all the way back in 1971.
Wednesday’s game isn’t just about getting back in the win column - it’s about proving BYU can bring intensity from the opening tip, not just after halftime. It’s about showing they can defend at a level that matches their offensive firepower. And it’s about responding to the weight of expectations that come with being a ranked team in the Big 12.
Because in this league, there are no moral victories. Just wins, losses, and the lessons in between.
No. 16 BYU (17-4, 5-3 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (15-6, 3-5 Big 12)
📍 Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, OK
🕖 *Wednesday, 7 p.m.
MT*
📺 FS1
📊 Live stats: byucougars.com