Kansas Prepares for Historic Showdown at Allen Fieldhouse Against No. 13 BYU
There’s never a shortage of electricity in Allen Fieldhouse, but Saturday’s matchup between Kansas and BYU is shaping up to be something special. Not only is it a Top-15 clash with major Big 12 implications, but it also marks the 1,000th game played in the iconic building. Add in the College GameDay spotlight, and you’ve got a stage tailor-made for a classic.
While the headlines are understandably drawn to the marquee freshman matchup between Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa - projected to be the top two picks in the upcoming NBA Draft - Kansas head coach Bill Self isn’t getting caught up in the hype. He’s got his eyes on the bigger picture: BYU’s depth and playmaking ability across the board.
“People talk so much about AJ [Dybantsa], but [Robert] Wright is good, and [Richie] Saunders has been just killing it the last two years,” Self said in a recent interview. “He is so good, he gets such great elevation with his jumper that it's a hard one to contest.”
That’s high praise from a coach who’s seen his fair share of elite talent roll through the Big 12. And it’s not just lip service.
BYU isn’t a one-man show. Dybantsa may be the headliner, but the Cougars have built a roster that can hurt you in a lot of different ways - and Self knows it.
Richie Saunders, now in his third year with the program, has evolved into a reliable scoring threat night in and night out. He’s putting up 18.8 points per game, shooting just under 50% from the field and knocking down nearly 40% of his threes. That kind of efficiency, combined with his ability to rise up and shoot over defenders, makes him a tough cover for any defense.
Then there’s Robert Wright III, the engine behind BYU’s offense. He’s averaging 17.6 points and dishing out 5.2 assists per game, making him not just a scoring threat but a true facilitator. His ability to break down defenses and create for others adds another layer to BYU’s already potent attack.
For Kansas, the challenge is clear: defend at an elite level or risk getting burned by a team that can score from all angles. Self understands that focusing too much on Dybantsa could open the door for Saunders, Wright, or any number of BYU’s weapons to take over the game.
This isn’t just a big game because of the rankings or the ESPN cameras - it’s a litmus test for where Kansas stands in a loaded Big 12. And with the atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse set to be as charged as ever for its 1,000th game, the Jayhawks will need to bring their best on both ends of the floor.
One thing’s for sure: Saturday’s showdown isn’t just about future NBA stars. It’s about two deep, well-coached teams battling it out in one of college basketball’s most historic venues. And if Kansas wants to protect its home floor and keep pace in the conference race, they’ll need to match BYU’s firepower - and then some.