Kansas 90, BYU 82 — January 31, 2026
Darryn Peterson — Kansas (Ranked No. 1)
Factual Summary (ESPN)
- Scored 18 points in 20 minutes, all in the first half.
- Kansas led by 20 points at halftime, shooting 64.3% from the field, including 9‑for‑12 from three. Peterson accounted for 18 of those points.
- Exited the game a little more than 3½ minutes into the second half due to cramping.
- Has been limited this season by ankle, hamstring, and calf injuries.
Draft Detective™ Analysis
Peterson’s first‑half production aligns with his projection as one of the class’s most advanced offensive engines. The recurring soft‑tissue issues remain a meaningful evaluation factor.
AJ Dybantsa — BYU (Ranked No. 2)
Factual Summary (ESPN)
- Entered the game averaging a nation‑leading 23.6 PPG.
- Did not attempt a shot until the 11:24 mark of the first half.
- Scored his first basket with 7:22 left in the first half, a three‑pointer that ended Kansas’ 13–0 run.
- Finished with 17 points.
Draft Detective™ Analysis
Dybantsa’s delayed shot attempts and reliance on late‑half scoring provide evaluators with a clear data point about how he responds to elite defensive length. The tools remain elite, but the timing of his involvement is notable for a projected top pick.
Bryson Tiller — Kansas (Ranked No. 7)
Factual Summary (ESPN)
- Recorded a career‑high 21 points and 7 rebounds.
- Delivered a late-game block that helped Kansas secure the win.
- Part of a Kansas team that led by as many as 21 points before BYU cut the lead to six late.
Draft Detective™ Analysis
Tiller’s combination of scoring volume, rebounding, and a documented late defensive play provides one of the strongest single‑game signals of his season. This performance supports his projection as a scalable two‑way forward.
Flory Bidunga — Kansas (Ranked No. 12)
Factual Summary (ESPN)
- Made a late dunk that contributed to Kansas’ closing stretch.
- Was involved early, scoring Kansas’ first basket of the game (from the play‑by‑play: layup at 18:04).
- Played in a game where Kansas shot 64.3% in the first half and built a 20‑point lead.
Draft Detective™ Analysis
Bidunga’s finishing and interior presence continue to align with his projected NBA role as a rim‑runner and paint defender. His contributions were efficient and within his established usage pattern.
Richie Saunders — BYU (Ranked No. 89)
Factual Summary (ESPN)
- Scored a career‑high 33 points.
- Made six three‑pointers, tying a career high.
- Scored 24 points in the second half (ESPN recap: “BYU stayed within striking distance… Saunders scored a career-high 33”). The second‑half total is confirmed in AP/ESPN reporting.
Draft Detective™ Analysis
Saunders’ scoring output, especially from three, provides a clear statistical case for his value as a high‑energy, floor‑spacing wing. This is one of the most significant single‑game performances of his career.
Overall Draft Detective™ Summary
Factual Recap (ESPN)
- Kansas won 90–82.
- Kansas led by 20 at halftime and by as many as 21 overall.
- BYU cut the lead to six late in the second half.
- Kansas closed the game on an 8–4 run in the final minute.
Draft Detective™ Analysis
This game offered a rare, high‑pressure evaluation window featuring multiple top prospects. Peterson’s first‑half dominance, Tiller’s career night, Saunders’ scoring explosion, and Dybantsa’s delayed involvement all provide meaningful, data‑driven signals for updating the Draft Detective™ board.
Some additional notes After a dud of a first half AJ Dybantsa came back to usual form and along with his teammate Richie Saunders, helped BYU storm back from a big deficit. Darryn Peterson was on a minutes restriction but showed his usual amazing play in those limited minutes. Coach Bill Self resisted the urge to put him back in and Kansas held on to win.
Having one bad half doesn’t move AJ Dybantsa at all from his ranking but Darryn Peterson consistently shining keeps him at our number 1 spot. In fact, it showed resilience that Dybantsa adjusted from Kansas being able to stifle him in the first half. Richie Saunders impressed even more than usual by exploding for 33 points and was the main factor for driving BYU’s come back after being down big at half-time. We try not to judge too much on one game for anyone but it was a big game and he showed an ability to be a lot more than just being a catch a shoot scorer.