- Matchup: BYU Cougars vs Kansas Jayhawks
- Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Venue: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
- Broadcast: ESPN
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
On Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks (15-5) will host the BYU Cougars (17-3) at the iconic Allen Fieldhouse.
In their previous game, BYU faced off against Arizona, suffering a narrow defeat with a score of 86-83. The Cougars recorded a field goal percentage of 40.3%, making 29 of their 72 attempts, including 13 out of 34 from behind the arc. At the free-throw line, BYU converted 12 of 19 attempts, resulting in a 63.2% free throw shooting rate. They collected a total of 31 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive glass, and dished out 16 assists. BYU’s defense forced 13 turnovers and achieved 5 steals. Arizona shot an impressive 52.8% (28 for 53) with 13 assists and 7 steals, while grabbing 34 rebounds (5 offensive, 29 defensive) without any blocks. They finished the game with an 81.3% free throw percentage, converting 26 of 32 attempts and 4 of 12 from three-point range. BYU committed 22 personal fouls, while Arizona had 19.
AJ Dybantsa was a standout player, contributing 24 points on 6 of 24 shooting, along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 35 minutes of play.
BYU enters this crucial matchup boasting a record of 17-3 this season, averaging 86.7 points per game (20th nationally) with a shooting percentage of 48.6%. The Cougars have been effective from beyond the arc, hitting 35.6% of their three-point attempts (180 of 506) and 75.1% from the charity stripe. As a team, BYU grabs 40.1 rebounds per game, totaling 304 assists this season, ranking 165th in the nation. They average 10.9 turnovers and commit 15.1 fouls per game.
Defensively, the Cougars force their opponents into 12.5 turnovers per game and commit 19.1 personal fouls. They limit opponents to 31.8% shooting from three-point range and rank 109th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (70.9). BYU’s defense allows a field goal percentage of 41.5% (513 of 1,236) and gives up an average of 33.6 rebounds per game, ranking 179th in the nation for assists allowed, with 277 surrendered throughout the season.
In their latest game, the Kansas Jayhawks secured a decisive victory, defeating Kansas State 86-62. In terms of rebounds, Kansas permitted Kansas State to collect 28 boards (13 offensive). The Jayhawks shot 34.5% from three-point range, hitting 10 out of 29 attempts, and went 10 of 14 from the free-throw line (71.4%). Kansas State managed to shoot 21 of 61 from the field, achieving a 34.4% shooting rate. The Jayhawks finished the game shooting 53.4% (31 of 58) from the field and made 4 of 16 three-point attempts (25.0%). Kansas also capitalized on free throw opportunities, making 20 of 24 for an 83.3% success rate. The Jayhawks collected 35 rebounds in total, including 24 defensive boards and 11 offensive boards.
Flory Bidunga was instrumental for the Jayhawks in this game, scoring 21 points in 33 minutes on the court, with 1 assist and 10 rebounds while shooting an impressive 76.9% (10 of 13) from the field.
Kansas holds a record of 15-5 this season. They are shooting 47.4% from the floor, which ranks 70th nationally. The Jayhawks have tallied 1,565 total points this season, averaging 78.3 points per game, and securing 39.5 rebounds per game. On average, they achieve 15.3 assists per game (ranking 114th nationally) while committing 10.4 turnovers per game. Kansas averages 14.5 personal fouls per contest and boasts a 76.5% free throw percentage.
The Kansas defense is excellent against three-point attempts, limiting opponents to 29.1% (161 of 553), while foes convert 65.8% of their free throws. They allow 11.7 assists and 35.4 total rebounds per game, ranking them 60th and 236th in the nation, respectively. The Jayhawks rank 40th in college basketball for points allowed per game (67.3) and force 9.4 turnovers while permitting opponents a shooting percentage of 37.9% (5th in college basketball).
Who will come out on top in this exhilarating NCAA matchup?
Prediction: Back Kansas to cover the spread
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
