Kansas Outlasts BYU in a Wild One, as Peterson Flashes, Tiller Emerges, and Council Delivers in the Clutch
Kansas vs. BYU was supposed to be a heavyweight showdown between two of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft: Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa.
And for a while, it looked like it might live up to the billing. But as the game unfolded, it became less about the draft hype and more about the familiar storylines that have followed both teams all season long.
The 1,000th game at Allen Fieldhouse ended with No. 14 Kansas pulling out a 90-82 win over No. 13 BYU - a gritty, imperfect, and revealing victory that said a lot more about Kansas’ depth and BYU’s resilience than it did about the individual stars.
Peterson Dazzles, Then Disappears
Let’s start with Peterson. In the first half, he was electric - the kind of performance that reminds you why he’s considered the presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.
He was unguardable, slicing up BYU’s defense with a mix of power, finesse, and pure scoring instinct. But just as quickly as he lit up the floor, he was gone.
Leg cramps sidelined him for most of the second half - another frustrating chapter in what’s been a stop-and-start season for the freshman phenom.
Peterson has now missed 10 games and parts of 11 more. When he’s on the court, he’s been as good as advertised.
But staying on the court? That’s been the challenge.
And once again, Kansas had to figure things out without him.
BYU’s Familiar Script: Another Furious Rally Comes Up Short
BYU, meanwhile, followed a script that’s becoming all too familiar. They were buried early - down big in the first half, unable to match Kansas’ energy or physicality.
But just like they’ve done against UConn, Clemson, and Arizona, the Cougars came roaring back. Fueled by a second-half surge and some hot shooting, they made it a game.
But here’s the thing: BYU is now 1-3 in those types of comeback efforts. They’ve shown they can fight - no question.
But they haven’t proven they can finish. And in March, that’s the difference between a second-weekend team and an early exit.
Bryson Tiller Breaks Out
The biggest development for Kansas? The continued emergence of redshirt freshman Bryson Tiller.
This was his best game yet - 21 points, seven boards, a block, and a whole lot of confidence. Tiller’s been up and down in Big 12 play, but he looked like a different player in this one.
He stretched the floor with three made threes - a huge development for a guy who had been hesitant to let it fly from deep for much of January.
At 6-foot-11, Tiller gives Kansas a massive presence alongside Flory Bidunga. And when he’s knocking down shots, he forces defenses to make tough choices.
BYU chose to collapse the paint, and Tiller made them pay. If this version of Tiller sticks around, Kansas becomes a much more dangerous team come tournament time.
That Peterson-Tiller-Melvin Council-Tre White-Bidunga lineup? It’s got size, skill, and serious defensive potential.
Against BYU, that group overwhelmed for long stretches. If Tiller keeps trending up, Kansas might be peaking at just the right moment.
Council: The Soul of the Jayhawks
With Peterson sidelined, someone had to step up. Enter Melvin Council Jr., the transfer guard from St.
Bonaventure who’s quickly become the heartbeat of this Kansas team. He’s not the flashiest player on the floor, but when Kansas needed a bucket - or a jolt of energy - Council delivered.
He hit a deep three, came up with a steal and layup, and knocked down a clutch jumper from the elbow to help Kansas hold off BYU’s late charge. His final line: 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, and just one turnover.
Council may not be the team’s best player - that’s Peterson. He’s not the anchor of the defense - that’s Bidunga.
But he’s the guy who holds it all together. The fans know it.
The team knows it. And in moments like this, he proves it.
Self’s Defensive Gambit Pays Off
Bill Self has pulled plenty of defensive tricks out of his bag over the years, but this one was bold: putting Flory Bidunga - Kansas’ 6-foot-10 center - on AJ Dybantsa, one of the most dynamic wings in the country.
And it worked.
Dybantsa looked thrown off early, taking just two shots in the game’s first 12 minutes. By then, Kansas had already built a 20-point lead.
Dybantsa eventually found his rhythm and finished with 17 points, but Bidunga’s length and agility clearly disrupted his timing. It was a calculated risk, and one that helped Kansas seize early control.
Saunders Shines in Defeat
BYU didn’t get the win, but they got a monster performance from guard Spencer Saunders. He dropped 33 points - 24 of them in the second half - and did it all: hitting threes off movement, crashing the glass, cutting hard, and defending with relentless energy.
It was the kind of performance that turns heads, especially with NBA scouts packing the house for the Peterson-Dybantsa matchup. Saunders made sure they left talking about him, too.
Thirty-three points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and a block on a stage like that? That’s how you punch your ticket to the draft.
Looking Ahead
With the win, Kansas is expected to move up from a projected No. 4 seed to a No. 3 when updated bracket projections drop. BYU, despite the loss, is still holding firm at a No. 4 seed.
But beyond the seed lines and bracket talk, this game offered a deeper glimpse into who these teams are - and who they might become.
Kansas showed it can win without its superstar. BYU proved, once again, that it won’t go down quietly. And while the Peterson-Dybantsa showdown didn’t quite deliver the fireworks we hoped for, the game gave us plenty to chew on.
March is coming. And if this one was any indication, both of these teams - and players - will have a lot more to say.