Don't let BYU's struggles take shine off AJ Dybantsa's historic freshman season

Expectations for BYU hoops this season were incredibly high. For most BYU fans, the view coming into the season was that the Sweet Sixteen was the floor. The ceiling was a legitimate contender for the Final Four, if not a national championship.

But BYU isn't living up to those lofty expectations right now with a ho-hum 5-4 conference record and a bad loss at Oklahoma State, the Cougars fourth loss in their last five games.

Expectations were equally high on freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa.

Unlike the team as a whole, AJ isn't just living up to the almost impossibly high expectations placed on his individual shoulders; he's somehow exceeding them. Don't let the team's struggles take the shine off AJ's incredible freshman season.

Dybantsa only has nine conference games left in a BYU uniform, plus the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. That's not much basketball left for perhaps the greatest freshman hoops player in program history. As a BYU fan, learn to keep both of these truths in your mind at the same time: The team as a whole is frustrating, but what AJ is doing may never be done again, and I'm going to relish it.

For example, some fans don't realize that in the wake of BYU's listless, gut-punch loss to Oklahoma State that AJ scored 36 points on 13-of-20 shooting. That's incredible! But because the Cougars lost, AJ's individual brilliance somehow quickly turned into a forgotten footnote. Many BYU fans have collectively shrugged our shoulders after one of the most dominant offensive games by a freshman in BYU history, simply because the Cougars lost. Yes, that's a bummer, but don't let it spoil what BYU's in credible freshman is doing.

Just enjoy AJ Dybantsa while you still can.

AJ Dybantsa's incredible freshman campaign

The 6-foot-9 phenom has lived most of his young life under the bright spotlight of national attention. By his senior season in high school last year he ended up as the No. 2 recruit in the country and was being labeled as a potential generational talent. Before he even played a single minute of college basketball he was being placed on preseason All-America teams.

AJ has more than lived up to the billing.

For one, his 23.9 points per game leads the nation.

Dybantsa can be unstoppable at times with the ball in his hands. He's smart beyond his years in knowing when to push, when to attack, when to distribute, and when to put his head down and barrel to the basket. He's adept at creating contact and drawing legitimate fouls.

On the season he's shooting a blistering 53.6% from the field and a healthy 35.9% from the 3-point line. He's not just a volume scorer. He's efficient.

In addition to being the best scorer in all of college basketball, he's also averaging 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Those numbers are on par with those of BYU's two former Wooden Award winners -- Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette -- as the best player in college basketball. While the numbers Dybantsa is putting up this year are on part with Ainge's and Fredette's legendary seasons, they were seniors during those legendary campaigns.

AJ Dybantsa is doing this as a freshman.

He only has one season in Provo, and most of that season is already gone.

Despite the team's current struggles, just enjoy the ride on the AJ Dybantsa train while you still can.