Traffic fatalities are gold in the pursuit of conference titles, and they could be everything in the Big 12, which has six teams with a legitimate chance to hang the banner. No. 10 BYU is one of the “Fearsome Six,” and the Big 12 schedule makers are throwing the Cougars straight into the fire with Saturday's first road trip against Kansas a club desperate for a signature win.
AJ Dybanz And P.J. Haggerty two titans in this film. Dybanza ranks second in America in scoring, averaging over 23 points per game. Meanwhile, Haggerty (22.9 ppg) ranks third nationally. These two are destined to go head-to-head for the Big 12 scoring title.
Dybantsa may have been the only person who was hesitant to celebrate the New Year because he needed to remember December. The high-flying freshman had one of the best months in basketball history. It became the first Division I or NBA According to OptaSTATS, a player must have averaged at least 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting over 65% from the field for an undefeated team over the past 30 seasons. Legitimately ridiculous things from a sneaky robber.
He can't be that dominant in Big 12 play…right? We're going to find out.
BYU vs. Kansas State: Need to know
Could Kansas State test AJ Dybanza? Defense has been a major red flag for Kansas State all year, but especially against big wings. California Chris Bell (27 points), Creighton Josh Dix (18), Nebraska Price Sandfort (21) and Bowling Greens Sam Townes (27) Everyone had amazing days against this K-State defense. This is verified on film. WITH Flying Moby Sidelined with a leg injury, Kansas State doesn't really have a true quarterback on its roster. That's a scary thought going into a matchup with Dybanze, the best offensive player in all of college basketball. I would have expected Nate Johnson And C.J. Jones to try to slow down the BYU star, but the 6-9 Dybanza is much bigger than Johnson (6-3) and Jones (6-5). If Kansas State isn't careful, Dibanza can take advantage of his patented mid-range fade whenever he wants over smaller defenders. Dybantsa averages 1.4 points per possession. Kansas State better have a solid defensive plan because it doesn't have the personnel to handle DiBanza one-on-one without sending backup.
Will PJ Haggerty be able to get Keba Keita in trouble? This year, BYU became one of the top three (!) defenders in America when Keba Keita was on the court. for the guide hoop. A chiseled big man does make a difference in this regard, but BYU's defense drops off significantly (allowing another 13 points per 100 possessions) when Keita is not on the court. Kansas State's P.J. Haggerty is one of the nation's elite foul defenders, going up against a BYU defense that excels in non-foul defense (11th overall by KenPom). What does it give? If he can get a couple of early fouls out of Keita, the scales will start to tip rapidly in K-State's favor. Also keep a close eye on the influence of Kennard Davis. The big, strong forward was a standout defender for BYU. He must attack Haggerty first. If he can lift his chest and keep Haggerty out of the paint, it might also keep Keita out of harm's way.
Cougs second half: BYU was the best team in the country in the second half. His net rating of +43.9 in the second half is staggering and ranks in the 100th percentile nationally, according to CBB Analytics. Miami, Dayton And Clemson everyone learned how difficult it is to hold a lead against BYU, and the Cougars nearly erased a 20-point deficit in their only loss to University of California, Connecticut back in mid-November. I wouldn't expect these stats to hold up throughout the year, but it's proof of concept that this club believes it can climb out of any hole. However, Kevin Young would likely prefer to stop digging said holes… starting Saturday against Kansas State, because if K-State gets an early lead, Bramlage could feel overwhelmed in an instant.
Where to watch BYU vs. Kansas State live
Date: Saturday, January 3 | Time: 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Bramlage Colosseum — Manhattan, Kansas
TV: CBS | Live broadcast: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App
Streaming enabled Paramount+ Premium
BYU vs. Kansas State Predictions, Picks
BYU had 12 days off to enjoy the Christmas break and immerse themselves in this matchup. If he wins, the day off will be called a good reason for rest and relaxation. If he loses, I'm sure some will blame the long layoff. Ultimately, transition defense will decide the game. Kansas State likes to speed up the transition period for quick buckets. BYU isn't one to run away from athletic competition, so it's best to build a wall against Haggerty and back off from the shooters.
But the worst unit in this game is undoubtedly Kansas State's defense. Dybantsa has too many guys he can pick on to find inconsistencies. BYU's offense is so good at finding hot spots with Richie Saunders or Rob Wright too. Even on the road, I think BYU always has four of its top five players. Kansas State can stay afloat because of Haggerty's quick transition results and individual talent, but BYU has too many advantages schematically, coaching-wise and talent-wise to ignore. Pick: Kansas State +7.5
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