Scott Drew praises AJ Dybantsa and the Big 12 after Baylor's loss to BYU
Jackson has been writing about sports for the Deseret News since 2023.
Last year, Scott Drew witnessed the brilliance of his freshman point guard, Rob Wright III. This time, Wright's talent shone as an opponent.
Wright, who transferred to BYU in April, scored a career-high 30 points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out three assists in his return to Foster Pavilion. This performance helped the Cougars secure a crucial 99-94 road victory over Baylor.
"We knew he'd be a star," Drew said post-game, referring to Wright's impressive performance. But Wright wasn't the only star; freshman AJ Dybantsa dominated with 36 points, 14 of 20 shooting, seven assists, and five rebounds.
"AJ's seven assists and one turnover were impressive," Drew noted. "He's a scoring threat, but when he assists, it's a challenge for defenses."
Despite a low 3-point shooting percentage, BYU's strategy of driving to the basket proved effective, resulting in 64 paint points. Wright and Dybantsa's presence in the paint was a significant challenge for Baylor's defense.
"Our defense struggled to contain their inside game," Drew admitted. "We needed better gap control. Great players like AJ and Rob can create problems for defenses."
Baylor's offense, while scoring 94 points and shooting 51.6%, committed 13 turnovers, leading to 24 BYU points.
"Those turnovers were costly," Drew said. "Turnovers can be self-inflicted wounds. Against a well-coached team, those turnovers can be the difference."
Baylor's record fell to 13-11, 3-9 in the competitive Big 12.
Despite a down year for the Bears, Drew praised the Big 12's success.
"The Big 12 is offering an exceptional season," Drew stated. "The league features strong basketball teams, and more than ever, teams capable of reaching the Final Four."
"The Big 12's competitive nature builds confidence and challenges teams. It's a gauntlet that tests a team's mettle."
"I hope Baylor makes the NCAA tournament, but I'd love to see three Big 12 teams in the Final Four this year."
