Texas heads to Portland to face BYU after its First Four escape, and the Longhorns may have the size and defensive formula to spring a real upset.
Texas vs. BYU has all the ingredients for one of the most intriguing matchups in the bracket, and the Longhorns absolutely have a path to pulling this off.
After surviving the madness against NC State, Texas now gets a crack at a BYU team with star power, scoring punch, and one massive weakness: it leans hard on two elite creators to carry everything.
That’s where this game gets interesting.
Everyone knows about AJ Dybantsa, and for good reason. The 6-9 forward is averaging more than 25 points per game, leads BYU in scoring, and looks every bit like a future NBA star.
He’s the headliner, the matchup nightmare, and the guy Texas has to make uncomfortable from the opening tip. If Dailyn Swain, Tramon Mark, and Chendall Weaver can crowd him, bump him, and force the ball out of his hands, the Longhorns give themselves a real chance.
But BYU doesn’t only run through Dybantsa.
Robert Wright III is the other problem. He’s averaging 18.2 points per game, shooting better than 42 percent from three, and can turn a game sideways if he gets hot. That means Texas can’t just load up on one scorer and hope for the best. It has to defend in waves.
The good news for Texas is that this game may be won inside.
Matas Vokietaitis should have a physical edge in the paint, especially against Keba Keita, who gives up size and weight.
If Texas controls the glass and turns this into a slower, more physical game, the pressure shifts squarely onto BYU’s star guards to be nearly perfect every trip.
The Cougars average 83.9 points per game, but they also allow 75.3, which means they can be scored on. And without Richie Saunders, their offense has looked far less stable when the top two aren’t cooking.
Texas doesn’t need a miracle. It needs discipline, rebounding, and another clutch night from Mark. Slow down Dybantsa and Wright just enough, and this upset is there for the taking.
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