BYU, Texas face-off in NCAA Tournament

PORTLAND, Ore. - BYU makes its 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament this week when the sixth-seeded Cougars take on Texas on Thursday, March 19, at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore. Tip is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. PT. 

WHERE TO WATCH
Thursday's Round of 64 matchup will be broadcast on TBS with Brad Nessler, Wally Szcerbiak and Jared Greenberg on the call. 

MARCH MADNESS HAS ARRIVED
The Cougars are 17-35 all-time in the NCAA Tournament including a 5-4 record as the six-seed. They are making their third straight appearance in The Big Dance which is BYUís longest streak since making the tournament six straight seasons under Dave Rose from 2007-12. 

The Big 12 had a Conference record-tying eight teams selected to the NCAA Tournament, matching the number form 2024. It marks the fourth consecutive season the Big 12 has had at least seven selections to the Big Dance. 

2026 also marks the first time in Big 12 history, all eight quarterfinals in the Big 12 Tournament made the NCAA Tournament field. It is only the occurrence of the feat from any league since 1997. 

SCORING MACHINE
With 26 points against No. 5 Houton, AJ Dybantsa moved closer to passing Devin Durrant for third on BYU's single scoring list as the freshman has scored 859 points in 34 games, eight away from passing Durrant. 

Name, Year	G	Pts	Avg
Jimmer Fredette, 2010-11	37	1,068	28.9
Devin Durrant, 1983-84	31	866	27.9
AJ Dybantsa, 2025-26	34	859	25.3

Dybantsa, Durrant and Jimmer Fredette are the only three players in program history to score 800 points in a season.

MAKING THEMSELVES AT HOME
Thursday will be the Cougars' 11th game played at a neutral site this season having already played in three NBA Arenas (TD Garden/Boston, Mass., Madison Square Garden/New York City, N.Y., Delta Center/ Salt Lake City, Utah). 

Speaking of NBA Arenas, BYU is 1-0 all-time at the Moda Center with the win coming against No. 12 Oregon as part of the Phil Knight Invitational on Nov. 16, 2021. In the 81-49 win over the Ducks, the second-largest margin victory over a ranked opponent in program history, Alex Barcello had a game-high 25 points going 9-of-11 from the field, 4-of-6 from three and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. The Cougars also went 8-6 in games played at Memorial Coliseum before the Portland Trailblazers moved to the Moda Center. 

Prior to last Thursday's 73-66 setback to No. 5 Houston, BYU had won a program record eight straight games played on neutral courts including wins over Clemson and No. 23 Wisconsin. 

TAKE ANOTHER EXIT, THIS ONE IS BLOCKED
The Cougars are on pace to finish in the Top 50 in blocks per game for the first time since 16th as they enter the NCAA Tournament fourth in the Big 12 and 41st in the nation with 4.4 rejections per game. Their 151 blocks in 34 games this season are the third-most in a season in program history and most since 2011-12. 

Keba Keita is the leader of the block party as the senior has accounted for more than 33 percent of the blocks this season. His 55 rejections are tied for the seventh-most in a single season in program history and most since since Yoeli Childs had 63 in 2017-18. 

THE 1-2 PUNCH-A-ROO
AJ Dybantsa and Robert Wright III are 23 points away from becoming the second duo in program history to combine to score 1,500 points in a single season. 

Season	Players	Points
2010-11	Jimmer Fredete (1,068), Jackson Emery (462)	1,530
2025-26	AJ Dybantsa (859), Robert Wright III (618)	1,477
2012-13	Tyler Haws (780), Brandon Davies (637)	1,417
1980-81	Danny Ainge (782), Fred Roberts (603)	1,385
2025-26	AJ Dybantsa (859), Richie Saunders (451)	1,310

They are the only players this season to play and start in every game for the Cougars having scored 1,477 points. Even with Richie Saunders out since the  opening minute of the Colorado game, the senior and Dybantsa have combined to score the fifth-most points by a duo in program history. 

With 23 points in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, Dybantsa and Wright III will become the 12th duo in NCAA Division I menís basketball since 1996-7 with 1,500 points in a season and first since Oaklandís Reggie Hamilton and Travis Bader did it in 2011-12. 

MAKING IT A HABIT
The Cougars will be a six-seed for the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight appearance in The Big Dance and fifth time in program history. The Cougars are 5-4 all-time having advanced to two of the program's three Sweet 16 appearances as a No. 6 seed. 

Date	Opponent	Location	Final Score
March 27, 2025	(2) Alabama	Newark, N.J.	L, 88-113
March 22, 2025	(3) Wisconsin	Denver, Colo.	W, 91-89
March 20, 2025	(11) VCU	Denver, Colo.	W, 80-71
March 21, 2024	(11) Duquesne	Omaha, Neb.	L, 67-71
March 20, 2021	(11) UCLA	Indianapolis, Ind.	L, 62-73
March 21, 1981	(1) Virginia	Atlanta, Ga.	L, 60-74
March 19, 1981	(2) Notre Dame	Atlanta, Ga.	W, 51-50
March 14, 1981	(3) UCLA	Providence, R.I.	W, 78-55
March 12, 1981	(11) Princeton	Providence, R.I.	W, 60-51

MAKING THEIR OWN LUCK
Something that has been a constant for BYU throughout the season and past five games in offensive rebounding. Their 13.8 offensive boards per game are the 33rd most in the nation during that timeframe while their 421 offensive rebounds through 34 games are tied for the third-most in a single season in program history.