AJ Dybantsa poured in 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals, and the 10th-ranked Cougars held off the Wildcats with an 83-73 win at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

With 12 days between beating Eastern Washington and the start of the Big 12 schedule, the BYU men’s basketball team has been doing more than just opening presents at Christmas and welcoming in the new year.

Kansas State’s odyssey through the treacherous Big 12 gets no easier this week with a visit to sunny Arizona. K-State is coming off a 83-73 home loss to No. 10

The nation’s second-leading scorer, Dybantsa was coming off perhaps the best performance of his young career, when he scored 33 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Eastern Washington.

Has two seasons in the Big 12 prepared BYU for another run through conference play? Well, yes … and no. Certainly the Cougar coaching staff and players are aware of the high level of play they will be facing in their 18 league games.

The Wildcats have won four consecutive games to enter conference play with momentum and hopes of a NCAA Tournament berth. But their schedule is about to get much tougher. The No. 10 Cougars are one of the best teams in the country, led by star freshman AJ Dybantsa. Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff:

The state of Utah’s two teams in the Big 12 face very difficult openers. BYU (12-1) begins conference play Saturday at Kansas State (9-4), while Utah plays host to Arizona (13-0) at the Huntsman Center.

Dybantsa got the chance to see James up close when the Lakers faced the Utah Jazz on the road, and the two met on the court for a quick greeting, via BYU Men’s Basketball’s official X account: Dybantsa offered his own shoutout to James on his personal X account as well:

When BYU women’s basketball season tipped off, there was a big focus on the program's coaching change, returning players and their development, and the impact the Cougars could make in the Big 12 this year.

BYU’s football and basketball teams dominated the headlines, while new Cougars AJ Dybantsa, Jane Hedengren and Bear Bachmeier also emerged