All eyes on Darryn Peterson & AJ Dybantsa in KU-BYU matchup. Here’s our prediction
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU-BYU spotlights NBA prospects Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa ahead of Saturday.
- BYU boasts elite offense but shallow bench and low assist rate; defense key for KU.
- Prediction: Kansas by five, with KU needing multi-scorer balance and tight defense.
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team has a big-time matchup against BYU on Saturday.
No. 14 KU (15-5) beat K-State last Saturday, while No. 13 BYU lost to Arizona on Monday.
This matchup is a highly anticipated one as KU star Darryn Peterson and BYU star AJ Dybantsa are competing with Duke’s Cameron Boozer to be picked No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Here is more about Saturday’s game, including a scouting report and prediction:
No. 14 Kansas vs. No.13 BYU: Game Details
When: 3:30 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, Jan. 31
Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence)
TV/streaming: ESPN
Opponent’s record: 17-3
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 15
Betting line: KU is a 4-point favorite.
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats include only Division-I competition.
BYU Strengths
Two-point makers: BYU ranks No. 33 in 2-point percentage (57.4).
Great defense: The Cougars rank No. 25 in adjusted offensive efficiency (98.7), which measures the number of points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent.
Elite offense: BYU ranks No. 12 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (125.5), which measures the number of points scored per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent.
BYU Weaknesses
Limited trips to line: The Cougars rank No. 151 in free-throw rate (28.2).
Sharing? Not so much: BYU ranks No. 250 in assist rate (50)
Bench trust: BYU ranks No. 285 in bench minutes percentage (28.3)
BYU Name to Know
6-foot-9 freshman forward AJ Dybantsa (No. 3)
+ Elite scorer (23.6 points per game)
+ Efficient scorer (53% from the field)
+ Good rebounder (6.7 per game)
+ Quality facilitator (3.6 assists per game)
- Okay free-throw shooter (76.2% at the free-throw line)
- Issues from deep (31.8% on 3-pointers)
- Turnover prone (2.8 per game)
Kansas-BYU game prediction
The hype around this game is huge. Not only are these two great teams matching up against each other, but all eyes will be on KU’s Peterson and BYU’s Dybantsa.
That said, they won’t be the only ones on the court. The key to this game for Kansas will be to play excellent defense against a BYU offense that doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses. That means forcing Dybantsa into taking bad shots and making him play inefficient basketball.
He’s got a good supporting cast, but if KU plays as it has lately on offense, it’s hard to see BYU winning unless Dybantsa has an efficient game shooting-wise.
He’s likely to get his points regardless, but the Jayhawks will aim to make him shoot poorly while playing defense without fouling.
On offense, KU needs all the starters alongside Peterson to be aggressive. KU big man Flory Bidunga should look for his shot early and guard Melvin Council shouldn’t be afraid to drive to the rim and put pressure on BYU’s defense.
If KU can make Dybantsa’s day difficult, while getting multiple players to score in double-digits, I think the Jayhawks will walk out victorious. Either way, this should be a close matchup.
Prediction: Kansas 75, BYU 70
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (-4)
Shreyas’ season record: 16-4
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 13-7
KU Player to Watch: Darryn Peterson
The intrigue of Peterson and Dybantsa going at it as freshmen stars is big.
The pair has quite the rivalry. In their two high-school circuit matchups, Peterson had the edge and his team won both times. He finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the first game. He scored 58 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had five assists in the second matchup. Peterson scored 47 points while being guarded by Dybantsa.
Meanwhile, Dybantsa had 49 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the second game.
Both players can obviously fill it up.
The feel around this matchup is a little different as Peterson has dealt with a number of health issues, while Dybantsa has played all 20 games.
You’ve got to believe that both will be highly motivated for this marquee matchup at the big-time college level.
This story was originally published January 31, 2026 at 6:58 AM.
