Notes from BYU’s opening practice in Portland at NCAA Tournament
Mar 18, 2026, 8:29 PM | Updated: Mar 19, 2026, 9:39 am
PORTLAND, Ore. – BYU basketball went through an open practice on Wednesday as they continue preparations for an NCAA Tournament matchup against the Texas Longhorns.
It was an open event to the public; some BYU fans were in attendance to watch the Cougars go through the lighthearted shootaround at the Moda Center, home of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.
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BYU arrived late at the Moda Center. One of the NCAA Tournament staffers said it was due to “Portland Traffic.”
The Cougars still went through their scheduled responsibilities, which included BYU basketball players AJ Dybantsa, Robert Wright III, and Kennard Davis Jr., speaking to the media from the press conference room.
Then BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young took the podium.
Along with the podium press conferences, interviews also took place in the locker room.
KSL Sports was inside the locker room to speak with some of the players.
BYU basketball starting center Keba Keita has previous experience with Portland
BYU center Keba Keita said that he had previously visited Portland for a fishing trip. The senior standout is a big fisherman.
Dominique Diomande looks to keep the momentum going
Dominique Diomande said he is continuing to put in the work to secure his opportunities. The redshirt freshman had strong performances in the Big 12 Tournament last week in Kansas City. Diomande feels confident he can provide a spark once again off the bench in the NCAA Tournament.
Diomande said he didn’t watch the NCAA Tournament much while growing up in France, but noted he remembered some runs by Duke and Gonzaga. BYU has an opportunity to face Gonzaga in the second round of this year’s NCAA Tournament if it gets past Texas, and the Zags take down 14-seed Kennesaw State.
Brian Santiago was chopping it up with Gonzaga AD
Speaking of the Zags, BYU athletic director Brian Santiago was having a conversation in a corner of the floor during the practice with Gonzaga AD Chris Standiford.
BYU and Gonzaga were once conference mates in the West Coast Conference from 2011 to 2023, before BYU moved to the Big 12 Conference.
Injury timeline on Nate Pickens, outlook for 2026-27
KSL Sports caught up with injured guard Nate Pickens. The UC Riverside transfer said the estimated return to full activity from his season-ending injury is two months away. Pickens also noted that he plans to return to BYU next season and is excited about the opportunity to play in an NCAA Tournament game.
Pickens was putting up shots during the shootaround on the floor at the Moda Center.
Xavion Staton latest
Injured center Xavion Staton said that he has been rehabbing a knee injury that dates back to his prep career. Staton said he is doing everything he can to hype up the team from the bench since he’s been sidelined.
Smile for the camera
Throughout the day, camera crews were following this BYU team. BYU is one of six teams in “March Madness Confidential,” a series produced by CBS/TNT for the NCAA Tournament.
All eyes on AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa had cameras following him everywhere inside the Moda Center. Dybantsa was going through some shooting contests during the open practice.
The Brockton, Massachusetts native, who has one of the best shoe collections you’ll find, was wearing some yellow Nike GT Cut shoes with red trim.
The Moda Center DJ
The aux cable through the Moda Center speakers was pushing out some solid tracks to put up some shots. Some of the songs included “To the Moon,” by JNR CHOI & Sam Tompkins, Pop Smoke’s “Mood Swings,” and Post Malone’s “Motley Crew,” among others.
(6) BYU vs. (11) Texas
2026 NCAA Tournament – First Round
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Location: Moda Center (Portland, Oregon)
Tip-off: 5:25 p.m. (MDT)/4:25 p.m. (PDT)
TV: TBS
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM only) — Pregame begins at 4:30 p.m. (MT)
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYUathletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
