About this episode
The first day of the 2026 NCAA Tournament was a whirlwind of "Big 12 brilliance" and heartbreaking goodbyes. While the conference saw dominant performances from its top seeds, it also witnessed the end of one of the most prolific individual seasons in recent history.
The Dybantsa Finale
In Portland, the AJ Dybantsa era at BYU likely came to a close in spectacular, albeit bittersweet, fashion. Despite Dybantsa pouring in a staggering 35 points and 10 rebounds, the No. 6 seed Cougars fell to No. 11 seed Texas, 79–71. The Longhorns, fresh off a First Four win, jumped out to a 17-point lead and fended off a furious second-half rally led by the nation's leading scorer. Dybantsa leaves college basketball having surpassed Kevin Durant’s tournament records, essentially clinching his status as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick.
The Survival of the Giants
While BYU stumbled, other Big 12 powers asserted their dominance:
Houston (No. 2 seed) looked every bit the title contender in Oklahoma City, dismantling Idaho 78–47. The Cougars' defense was suffocating, holding the Vandals to just 24 points in the first half. Kingston Flemings led the way with 18 points, while Chris Cenac Jr. dominated the glass with 18 rebounds.
TCU (No. 9 seed) provided the day's biggest thrill in Greenville. The Horned Frogs erased an early deficit to stun No. 8 seed Ohio State, 66–64. Xavier Edmonds proved to be the hero, sinking a clutch layup with just 4.3 seconds remaining to seal the upset.
With Arizona, Kansas, and Texas Tech all set to tip off on Friday, the Big 12's quest for a national title remains very much alive, even as it bids farewell to its brightest star.
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