No. 6 seed BYU (23-11) vs. No. 11 seed Texas (19-14)
- Tip: Thursday, 5:25 p.m. MDT
- Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- TV: TBS
- Radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM
- Series: BYU leads 2-0 (most recent meeting: 2024)
The trends
For BYU: 15-11 record in Quad 1/2 games, No. 23 in KenPom, averaging 83.9 points scored and 75.3 points allowed per game
Best win of the season: 79-69 vs. No. 6 Iowa State
For Texas: 7-13 record in Quad 1/2 games, No. 37 in KenPom, averaging 83.3 points scored and 76.5 points allowed per game
Most recent game: 68-66 win over NC State in NCAA Tournament First Four round
Players to watch
BYU wing AJ Dybantsa: First Team All-American, leading the nation with 25.3 points per game
BYU point guard Rob Wright III: All-Big 12 Third Team selection, averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game
BYU guard Kennard Davis: averaging 13.8 points and shooting 43% from 3-point range across the past four games
Texas guard Dailyn Swain: Second Team All-SEC selection, averaging 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game
Dailyn Swain is the best NBA prospect in this year’s First Four of the NCAA Tournament, and he’ll carry major influence if Texas works up any March magic.
Long, versatile, instinctive, and has taken his offensive game to new heights this season in the SEC. Young for a junior. pic.twitter.com/9oBE4zJx33
— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) March 16, 2026
Texas guard Tramon Mark: averaging 13.6 points per game, hit game-winning shot to defeat NC State in First Four
Texas center Matas Vokietaitis: averaging 15.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 62% from the field
Pregame prep
Here are a few stories to help get you ready for the NCAA Tournament matchup between BYU and Texas
Photo Gallery: 1 of 14
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa recalls his favorite bible verse after being posed the question by Cy Pittman, 8, right, and Hank Pittman, 6, both of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, after a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU guard Richie Saunders holds a ball as he watches his teammates warm up during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after a teammate hit a deep shot during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kevin Young talks with his players as they and coaches huddle during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kevin Young talks with his players as they and coaches huddle during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, right, calls out to guard Robert Wright III as he takes a shot during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU assistant coach John Linehan reacts after hitting a deep shot during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU players warm up during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, right, reacts beside guard Jared McGregor (51) during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 10 of 14
BYU head coach Kevin Young watches his players warm up during a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU coaches prepare to start practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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BYU players, coaches and staff pose for a group photo after a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 13 of 14
BYU guard Robert Wright III signs basketballs for Cy Pittman, 8, right, and Hank Pittman, 6, both of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, after a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 14 of 14
BYU players, coaches and staff pose for a group photo after a practice the day before a first-round college basketball game against Texas in the NCAA Tournament held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
