Texas has played very well in the first half except for a couple of defensive possessions, but when Coach Miller was asked about how he plans on limiting A.J. Dybantsa, his response hit us pretty hard.
"I don't think we can."
What a reality check and something that fans don't hear from coaches that often when it comes to how to stop something from happening, in any sport, really. To be 100% honest, I think that's what makes Sean Miller so special compared to other head coaches. He keeps it real with everyone and doesn't sugarcoat things that he's actually concerned about.
AJ Dybantsa is COOKIN' for BYU in the first half 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ap0WygQ8YS
— ESPN (@espn) March 20, 2026
He's also completely right in this situation. Nothing Texas did in the first half slowed Dybantsa down in the slightest, as he danced his way to an easy 20 points. The Longhorns tried double-teaming him for a bit, as well as manning him up with Dailyn Swain and Simeon Wilcher, but Dybantsa's just too dynamic of a scorer.
It does look like one thing has worked though, in terms of an overall gameplan throughout the first half and it's what Texas will most likely do in the second half.
Limit and shutdown literally every other Cougar on the floor.
As we can see by the score, the Longhorns did an excellent job of blanking BYU's Keba Keita, Robert Wright, and whoever they have rotating at the other guard spot over the first 15 minutes of the game. If Sean Miller and Co. can replicate what the team did in the first half, A.J. Dybantsa could have 35-40 points, and it may not even matter.
Making the Cougars completely one-dimensional on offense made an incredible difference towards the end of the first half tonight. Let's just hope that Matas Vokietaitis and the offense can continue doing their thing in the second half.