The NCAA Tournament is finally here and the first wave of games takes place on Thursday, March 19th. BYU had to wait a bit to figure out their opening round matchup, with Texas and NC State clashing to determine who would face BYU. Ultimately, Texas won the contest and the Cougars will now take on a former Big 12 Foe. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for tonight’s game.
BYU vs. Texas Basketball Updated Odds
The Cougars opened as a 2-point favorite over Texas, with an over/under of 161 total points. By Thursday morning, the the line has shifted slightly, to BYU -2.5 points, but the over/under dropped to 157.5 total points.
Key Storyline: AJ vs. The World
With BYU’s roster slightly depleted due to injuries, it truly becomes a bit of AJ Dybantsa vs. the world. Texas hasn’t been very good this season, a main reason we watched them in the First Four, sitting at 19-14 overall and 9-9 in conference play. Still, they’re capable of pulling off an upset in the opening round. AJ Dybantsa has been one of the best players in college basketball season, and is fresh off earning All-American honors. If he continues his dominance, BYU should cruise onto the next round with relative ease.
Match Up to Watch: BYU Offense vs. Texas Defense
This game should come down to whether or not Texas can prevent BYU from doing whatever they want offensively. The Cougars have been one of the best offenses in the Big 12 this season, averaging 83.9 points per game. Meanwhile, Texas has been a middle-of-the-pack defense in the SEC, surrendering 83.9 points per game, which is the seventh-fewest in the league. Only time will tell what happens in this one, but a lot of eyes should be planted squarely on the matchup between AJ Dybantsa, and whichever Longhorn attempts to wrangle him.
Prediction: BYU 83, Texas 75
While this game could end up being close, it feels like BYU is the better team with a better coach. The offensive advantage should propel the Cougars past Texas in this one, but it still feels a little bit unpredictable. BYU’s struggled against Top 25 teams this season, and thankfully, Texas isn’t that. Give me the Cougars to take care of business and advance to the next round, led by a big performance from AJ Dybantsa and the boys.
