Takeaways From BYU Basketball’s Loss At No. 14 Kansas
Jan 31, 2026, 9:55 PM | Updated: Feb 2, 2026, 12:12 pm
LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the first time this season, BYU basketball has lost back-to-back games.
No. 13 BYU had a winless week after falling to the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, 90-82.
The loss to Kansas follows a setback earlier in the week against No. 1 Arizona. There’s no shame in losing back-to-back games against top-15 teams; however, they are missed opportunities for a BYU team that continues to search for a signature win this season.
Here are some takeaways from the eight-point setback.
BYU basketball has to figure out the issues in the first half
Through eight games in Big 12 play, BYU is minus-eight against opponents in the first half. In games against Quad 1-A opponents, BYU is minus-45 in the first halves of those four games.
Was the attention and the stage too big? It seemed BYU pressed at times.
Kevin Young on BYU's first-half woes:
"If I see one more analytic about how we're the best second-half team in the country, I'm going to throw up." pic.twitter.com/sWofbtVRI6
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) February 1, 2026
Also, Kansas capitalized on the six BYU turnovers in the first half with 13 points.
As Kevin Young said in the postgame press conference, “If I see one more analytic about how we’re the best second-half team in the country, I’m going to throw up.”
Richie Saunders should see his draft stock rise
During the night broadcasts on ESPN, BYU-Kansas highlights were playing, and analyst Tom Crean said, “Richie Saunders is an absolute pro, he’s going to play in the NBA for a dozen years.”
On a day when more than three dozen NBA personnel were in attendance, Richie Saunders showed his versatility on both ends of the floor and also displayed his signature toughness.
Saunders finished with a career-high 33 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out two assists, had two steals, plus a block.
The senior leader deserves to be viewed as a first-round NBA draft prospect after that performance.
Darryn Peterson/AJ Dybantsa battle
Both players delivered solid performances in the game. Darryn Peterson had the more clip-worthy moments, headlined by the slam dunk over Keba Keita and Mihailo Boskovic in the first half.
His playmaking ability was on full display. However, the ongoing issue for Peterson resurfaced: his availability. Peterson was sidelined in the final 16 minutes with cramps.
AJ Dybantsa settled in during the second half and finished with 17 points.
Dybantsa faced loud chants of “Over-Rated” when he took the foul line for the first time in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse, but that is nothing new to the former No. 1 recruit.
Kevin Young probably put it best when it comes to the debate over Peterson and Dybantsa, “it’s a flavor type of deal.” Do you like chocolate or cookies and cream? Either way, you can’t go wrong with these two.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com 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.
