BYU basketball availability report entering NCAA Tournament game against Texas

PORTLAND, Ore. – BYU basketball is preparing to begin another potential run in the NCAA Tournament.

There’s a new wrinkle off the court in this year’s March Madness that hasn’t been used before: player availability reports.

Unloading the notebook from BYU's opening practice at the Moda Center at the NCAA Tournament. https://t.co/qnS6jcnSrS

📸: Isaac Hale, Deseret News pic.twitter.com/8MGliEKqhl

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 19, 2026

The concept of player availability isn’t something new for BYU as a member of the Big 12 Conference, as they did that for every conference game this season.

But it’s a first in the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA Tournament adopts player availability reports

The NCAA states that it is implementing player availability reports to prevent the “misuse of insider information while promoting transparency and good-faith reporting by institutions.”

Failure to adhere to the player availability reports may result in a fine for the institution or the head coach, as determined by the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. The fines could climb to $30,000 for an institution and $10,000 for a head coach if they don’t adhere to the new player-availability policy during March Madness.

As for BYU’s availability report ahead of their first-round matchup against 11-seed Texas, there are no changes from what they’ve been reporting during Big 12 play.

BYU-Texas availability report for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/DzBrc2SYZl

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 19, 2026

Richie Saunders, Brody Kozlowski, Xavion Staton, Dawson Baker, Nate Pickens, and KJ Perry are all “OUT” for BYU.

Saunders, a second-team All-Big 12 selection, suffered a season-ending ACL injury on February 14 in the opening minute of BYU’s win over Colorado.

Brody Kozlowski and Nate Pickens haven’t played all season. Pickens told KSL Sports on Wednesday that he was potentially two months away from getting cleared from his recovery.

Dawson Baker suffered a season-ending injury in November. Then Xavion Staton is rehabbing a knee injury.

KJ Perry, a former No. 1 JUCO recruit, joined the program at mid-year and is redshirting this season.

For Texas, the Longhorns will be without reserve Lassina Traore, who has been out since February 7.

BYU basketball player availability report for NCAA Tournament game against Texas

March 18, 2026

6-seed BYU (23-11)

OUT

• #4 Brody Kozlowski
• #10 KJ Perry
• #12 Nate Pickens
• #15 Richie Saunders
• #25 Dawson Baker
• #33 Xavion Staton

11-seed Texas (19-14)

OUT

• #23 Lassina Traore

(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 BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

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