Richie Saunders' Unlikely Journey to the NCAA Tournament Richie Saunders, a third-leading scorer for BYU’s men’s basketball team, found himself in an unexpected situation during the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City. After tearing his ACL in a game against Colorado nearly a month earlier, Saunders was confined to a knee brace and crutches, unable to move much. Yet, his determination to stay involved led to a viral moment that highlighted his resilience. Saunders, who had been sidelined for weeks, looked at his roommate and walk-on point guard Jared McGregor during a team stay in Kansas City and muttered, “I gotta get out.” The challenge was daunting—navigating the short distance from the hotel to a late-night trip to Insomnia Cookies without assistance. The team’s hotel bell cart became the solution, and McGregor’s Instagram post capturing the moment gained over 400,000 views in days. Despite his injury, Saunders remained a key figure for BYU, which will open its 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance on Thursday. His contributions were evident in a 82-76 win over then-No. 10 Texas Tech in the regular-season finale. Coach Kevin Young acknowledged Saunders’ mental strength, noting that his presence and leadership had become vital. “He’s showing a bit more of his personality,” Young said. “He knows this is just a minor step back, and he can’t change what’s happened. He feels good about the plan in place, which allows him to focus on supporting the team as an older brother figure.” BYU’s success in the NCAA Tournament hinges on a blend of experience and emerging talent. The team, which reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011, will rely on veterans like Saunders, Keba Keita, Mihailo Boskovic, and leading scorer AJ Dybantsa. However, the tournament’s intensity requires depth, and role players have stepped up.#byu #kevin_young #richie_saunders #jared_mcgregor #dominique_diomande
BYU's Ambitious Push into College Basketball's New Era AJ Dybantsa’s smiling face greets visitors to the bookstore inside BYU’s Wilkinson Student Center, a central hub on campus. Stacks of cream-colored T-shirts featuring his image, the No. 3 jersey he wears for the Cougars, and his autograph are on display, alongside five small stars and a quote from the nation’s No. 1 recruit. In December 2024, Dybantsa shocked the college basketball world by declaring on ESPN, “It’s just for the bigger picture,” before committing to BYU, a program unaccustomed to attracting generational talent. Less than 18 months later, as Dybantsa prepares for his first March Madness experience, those words echo the ambitions of the player and the program striving to join the ranks of college basketball’s elite. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 ball-dominant forward, is the clearest example of BYU’s new era of ambition. The school, owned and subsidized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has embraced the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era and revenue-sharing models, challenging assumptions about its financial limitations while navigating the LDS Church’s mission to balance athletic success with spiritual values. BYU coach Kevin Young emphasized the program’s long-standing desire to “prove they can play with the big boys,” a goal now amplified by Dybantsa’s arrival. Landing Dybantsa from his hometown of Brockton, Mass., marked a turning point for BYU. Reports suggest his single-year NIL compensation ranges from $4 million to $6 million, among the highest for a player. Young, who joined BYU in April 2024 after five years with the Phoenix Suns, declined to specify the exact amount but noted Dybantsa could have earned more elsewhere.#aj_dybantsa #byu #the_church_of_jesus_christ_of_latter_day_saints #kevin_young #silicon_slopes
