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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Heartbreak for BYU.
The 6-seeded Cougars found themselves on the wrong side of an NCAA Tournament upset Thursday in Portland, falling 79-71 to the 11-seeded Texas Longhorns in the round of 64.
BYU fans were understandably emotional regarding Thursday’s result and the end of the season as a whole. Here are some of the most notable such reactions.
No. 11 Texas takes down AJ Dybantsa and No. 6 BYU 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BKPLbfGvmq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2026
HORNS UP 🤘
(11) Texas upsets (6) BYU 79-71 to keep dancing! #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/7P5vB80Qnz
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2026
BYU had injuries, but arguably the most disappointing season in BYU history. AJ was phenomenal and BYU will always have AJ as part of Cougar nation, but no one other way to characterize the season.
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) March 20, 2026
Couldn’t get stops. Aj did all he could do! If we had Richie different story!! Cougssss for life!! Good fight boys!! @BYUMBB
— Elijah Bryant (@Elijah_Bryant3) March 20, 2026
My heart hurts for AJ and Richie
— Zach (@zachnelson121) March 20, 2026
It’s the hope that hurts the most…
— Joseph (@BetaTurtle21) March 20, 2026
Even though I feel like we all knew this was coming, a 1st round exit while having the best college basketball player in the world is simply pathetic 🤷🏽♂️
— Jake McCleary (@jakemmccleary) March 20, 2026
very disappointing way to end the season 🙁
— boyd (@boydjohnsonn) March 20, 2026
AJ is one of the greatest to come through BYU. Injuries impacted the team, yes, but incredibly disappointing that no one stepped up consistently to help. I expect a VERY different roster next year. There are no excuses in the NIL era. BYU underperformed.
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) March 20, 2026
Sigh. That’s a bummer.
Cougs bounced in first round.
The problem with “the most anticipated season in BYU history” is high expectations lead to big disappointments.
— Geoff Johnston (@geoffjBYU) March 20, 2026
It was great having AJ Dybantsa in Provo for one season, but unfortunately, the season for the entire team didn’t remotely live up to the enormous preseason hype.
He will still end up a 1st Team All-American and the nation’s leading scorer.
— CougarStats (@CougarStats) March 20, 2026
— Yze Guy (@yze_guy) March 20, 2026
One heck of a year off college for AJ Dybantsa comes to an end. Some special moments. Wish he had a healthy team around him down the stretch.
The countdown to June and the Darryn vs. AJ debates are on!
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) March 20, 2026
BYU has struggled with defense most of the year. But they had the depth and talent early on to overcome it.
When you lose the talent and depth, then you have to be more effective defensively. That just didn’t happen down the stretch to end the season. Plus, size hurt them.
— Jackson Emery (@jacksonemery04) March 20, 2026
I understand BYU fans are disappointed. We all are. But you also need to grasp that this was never supposed to be the team. This team was supposed to have Richie, Dawson and Nate. Got a bunch of bad injury luck and could never fully overcome it. It’s frustrating, but it happens.
— Post-Jimmer (@PostJimmer) March 20, 2026
@AJ_Dybantsa Thanks for leaving it all out there on the court for the Cougs. We appreciate you. Go get that number one draft pick and keep balling out in the League.
— James Chevalier (@jjchev) March 20, 2026
AJ chose BYU.
He played all 40 minutes tonight. He ran the offense down the stretch while playing full court press defense, and scored 35 points to go with 10 rebounds.
Left it all the line every night. He deserved this season to end better than a first round exit.
— Hype Train Podcast (@thehypetrainpod) March 20, 2026
So I hear Roger Saleapaga and Walker Lyons look great in spring ball
— Joe Wheat (@joewheat27) March 20, 2026