A tale of two games.
BYU’s signature win on Saturday against No. 6 Iowa State was a physical dogfight. Tuesday night’s battle against UCF (9 p.m. MST, ESPN2) is more of a mind game. The team who can keep its wits about them stands the best chance for victory.
Kevin Young is banking on his guys.
“This is a smart group of guys,” Young said after practice on Monday. “I think (they) understand (it’s) the time of year to turn things up. You have a UCF team coming in that is tied with us in the standings.”
“Our league is a bear. Everybody understands it. Any team can beat anybody on a given night. They (UCF) have proven they can beat any team in our league.”
— BYU coach Kevin Young
BYU, playing without injured star and feisty rebounder Richie Saunders, outrebounded Iowa State 39-28 on Saturday and outscored the Cyclones 40-22 in the paint.
“They were the more physical team,” said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose Cyclones were coming off their own 70-67 conquest against No. 2 Houston.
The victory restored optimism to a team in search of a signature win. Now, the Cougars must go out and defend it — against another team looking for its own late-season spark.
The No. 19 Cougars (20-7) and Knights (19-7) are locked in sixth place in the Big 12 at 8-6. BYU knocked off the Cyclones 79-69 on Saturday in Provo while UCF held off Utah 73-71 in Salt Lake City. UCF also has home victories against No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 17 Kansas.
“I say this with all due respect for UCF, but I don’t need to see anything for any team to grab my attention,” Young said. “Our league is a bear. Everybody understands it. Any team can beat anybody on a given night. They (UCF) have proven they can beat any team in our league. This is a huge game for them, as it is for us. Our guys will be ready to go.”
BYU is led by freshman AJ Dybantsa, who remains the nation’s leading scorer (24.9), and Rob Wright III (18). The dynamic pair also leads the team in minutes played, including a full 40 on Saturday against Iowa State.
On Monday, Dybantsa picked up Big 12 honors as the Player and Newcomer of the Week while also advancing his case to be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s NBA draft. Young likes how the 19-year-old is leading the way.
Cougars on the air
No. 19 BYU (20-7, 8-6) vs. UCF (19-7, 8-6)
- Tuesday, 9 p.m.
- Marriott Center
- TV: ESPN2
- Radio: BYU Radio 107.9 FM / BYURadio.org / BYU Radio app
“I’ve been very impressed with AJ. He’s a guy that has a great personality. I enjoy watching him and Rob — let their personalities shine within the group,” Young said. “AJ is just a likable guy. His teammates enjoy being around him. I do push him and Rob to not just be vocal leaders, but leaders by example. I think they have answered the call there.”
On Tuesday, they will have to answer a different call.
In a swing of three days, BYU will go from being the hunter to the hunted. The Cougars will get help playing on their home floor, but it’s what they have upstairs, in their heads, that will determine this late February battle of wits.
Young is confident his Cougars are in the right frame of mind to get the job done.
BYU head coach Kevin Young talks with guard Robert Wright III (1) at the end of a timeout during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.
