Kansas State's season is over. A preseason full of promise quickly dived into darkness, and the Tuesday night loss to BYU was the nail in the coffin.
Give credit where credit is due. The Wildcats held on far longer than expected, and there were moments where it looked like they could have actually pulled off the upset. In the end, though, the Cougars (most AJ Dybantsa) were too much for Kansas State to handle.
Here are the takeaways from the Big 12 opening round matchup:
KANSAS STATE: Nate Johnson ends season on high note
It's been a rough go for Nate Johnson this season. The 2024-25 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player and Defensive Player of the Year was expected to complement PJ Haggerty in the backcourt, but has been largely disappointing in Manhattan, KS.
He's been able to redeem himself the past few weeks. Johnson continued this positive trend against BYU, dropping 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. He started the game off with 12 points, leading the Wildcats in scoring and leading the offense while Haggerty struggled. His early heavy scoring kept Kansas State competitive.
BYU: AJ Dybantsa's historic day
After Darryn Peterson had his best collegiate performance over the Wildcats last week, the team needed to lock in and not allow the other top Draft pick to do the same.
They didn't. It was pretty much Dybantsa's night from the jump, dropping 40 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. He set the Big 12 Tournament record for points scored by a freshman, dropping just the second 40-point performance in conference Tournament history. He passed his idol Kevin Durant in the record, and anytime you're mentioned with the Slim Reaper, you're probably in good territory.
BYU: Ball movement
When Rob Wright went out with his hit to the face, it looked like BYU was headed toward a collapse. Alas, it went on a 22-4 run in just five minutes and 30 seconds. Even with Kansas State's trio of Haggerty, Johnson, and Khamari McGriff combining for 59 points, it was the Cougars' depth that kept them afloat. The ball movement was excellent around the perimeter, with multiple double-digit performances and solid contributions from the role players.
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