Takeaways From BYU Basketball’s Exhibition Win Over No. 25 North Carolina

SALT LAKE CITY – In a top 25 exhibition clash from the Delta Center, eighth-ranked BYU basketball got past 25th-ranked North Carolina, 78-76.

Here are some takeaways from the exhibition win.

BYU Basketball: A New Blue Blood

Kevin Young has elevated the Cougars to the same level as the top programs in college basketball — and he’s done it in only a year and a half. Despite being an exhibition game that didn’t count, BYU’s athleticism matched North Carolina’s. The Cougars and Tar Heels had some bouncing, high-flying basketball players on the Delta Center court.

BYU’s starting lineup is going to be special. Rob Wright III, Ritchie Saunders, Kennard “Moo” Davis Jr., AJ Dybantsa, and Keba Keita all showed unique traits on Friday night. As Cougar Sports Saturday producer Nate Slack posted on social media, “Any of these players would’ve been the star even just a few years ago.”

Moo with the flush 💪🏽

Pretty crazy to see all the talent on this year’s team. Any of these players would’ve been the star even just a few years ago.

— Nate Slack (@nateslack5) October 25, 2025

Rob Wright Has Some Moves

A transfer from Baylor and BYU’s new point guard, Wright, showcased some of the tricks in his bag against Carolina. The sophomore is quick and can get by defenders. Wright pulled out an awesome spin move amidst a crafty drive before banking in a shot against UNC.

It wasn’t the best shooting performance for the guard, who went 4-for-13 from the field, but his speed was critical in getting the ball into the paint against Carolina’s size. Wright’s ability to create shots for himself and others will propel BYU’s offense this season.

😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨pic.twitter.com/FjZNluxEPI https://t.co/kRCJqWjbZJ

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) October 25, 2025

AJ Dybantsa Is Awesome

He’s the No. 1 recruit in the country for a reason. In past seasons, you’d expect a talent like Dybantsa to be wearing baby blue in this matchup instead of royal blue. The freshman phenom looks so fluid on the hardwood.

He’s going to be a top pick in the NBA Draft for obvious reasons, but it’s impressive to see in person. Dybantsa finished the night with a team-high 18 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field. On Friday night, he played on the home court of the NBA’s Utah Jazz — and looked the part of a pro.

Hesi ➡️ Slampic.twitter.com/9kkeND2PDK https://t.co/tdgKXDSL7s

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) October 25, 2025

Chemistry Remains A Question

My only concerns for BYU basketball this season — and reasons why I think high expectations might not be met — are 1) chemistry and 2) health.

If BYU’s stars can remain healthy this year, the only hindrance to the team’s lofty goals will be chemistry, or the lack thereof. The Cougars’ “Tot King,” Saunders, struggled shooting the ball against UNC, going 4-for-12 overall and 2-for-9 from downtown. I don’t expect that to be a constant, but I do wonder how much time it will take Saunders to gel with newcomers Dybantsa, Wright, Davis, etc.

After the game, head coach Kevin Young said he was pleased with the looks his team got and that Friday’s shooting was more or less just a part of the game being “make-or-miss” sometimes.

Keba Keita FTW 🖐️ pic.twitter.com/cNDCXdcAYx

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) October 25, 2025

Up next for BYU Basketball

Up next for the Cougars is their season opener. BYU will face off against Villanova in Las Vegas on November 3.

Kyle Ireland is a Co-Host on Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL NewsRadio (Saturday, Noon-3 p.m.) covering BYU athletics. Follow him on X: @KyleIreland.

Follow @kyleireland