There is plenty of noise going on around the BYU basketball program this week, but losing certainly hasn't been one of them. I'll avoid commenting on the Kennard Davis off-court situation until more information is released, but one topic I'll never hold my tongue about is what's happening on the court.
And for those of you who'd like to join me, this weekend's matchup against the UConn Huskies may just be the most high-profile matchup in the history of BYU basketball, considering the status and prestige of UConn's program, the team's recent string of success, and (oh yeah) the fact that BYU enters this game as a top 10 team themselves.
AJ Dybantsa is a collegiate superstar. A player who could play impact hoops in the NBA today if he were able to, Dybantsa is a preseason All-American, a McDonald's All-American, and the number one prospect in the 2025 high school class. BYU has never seen a star of his caliber, and it's possible that he's a comet the likes of which this basketball program may never see for another 1,000 years.
With the help of notable stars in First Team All-Big 12 addition, Richie Saunders, All-Freshman point guard Rob Wright, and force of nature down low Keba Keita, this is a team built to compete for a Final Four berth, and just about anyone in the nation.
But against UConn? That's a measuring stick few can stack up against, and an absurd request for a second-year head coach with a talented, though essentially brand-new roster to work with.
Dan Hurley doesn't mess around when it comes to competing in basketball games, and that's been on full display during his stretches as UConn's head coach. Call him a maniac, call him a genius, call him whatever you like, just don't believe anyone who counts Hurley and the Huskies out of any contest. They are a perpetual threat when within a mile of a basketball court. The third-ranked team in the nation. Back-to-back national champions a year ago. And most importantly, very experienced when it comes to playing against top-10 basketball teams.
Related: Inside the mind of Dan Hurley, UConn's dynastic mastermind
UConn enters this game 3-0, without a single matchup against a Power Five team. They beat up on New Haven, UMass-Lowell, and Columbia on the road to TD Garden, and they've had this battle with BYU circled for months. Unfortunately for the Huskies, however, it will be a challenge to ignore the death row of Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, and Florida on the remaining non-conference schedule.
This is a team equipped to tackle giants, and BYU is still in its adolescence. Junior guard Solo Ball, Senior wing Alex Karaban, and former Gonzaga Bulldog Malachi Smith lead the way for Hurley, and following last season's frustrating second-round exit from the NCAA Tournament, it's championship or bust for UConn.
AJ Dybantsa has likewise been clear that the Cougars are gunning for a national championship this season, but it's all just a bit too early for BYU to be slaying giants. A competitive game against such a high level of competition is the bar for Kevin Young and the Cougars. If they clear it, great! If they can't, this is a team with lots of growing to do before March. UConn stands as 5.5-point favorites at the time of writing this, and I think that's a fair line to follow.
Final score: BYU 72, UConn 77