BYU Cougars Face Kansas State Wildcats in Big 12 Tournament Opener

Cougars look to build on late-season momentum against struggling Wildcats in Kansas City

Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:39am

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The BYU Cougars will take on the Kansas State Wildcats in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament in Kansas City. BYU enters the tournament as the 10th seed, while Kansas State is seeded 15th. The Cougars are riding high after a strong win over Texas Tech to close the regular season, while the Wildcats have struggled under interim coach Matthew Driscoll following the mid-season firing of Jerome Tang.

Why it matters

This matchup represents an opportunity for BYU to make a deep run in the Big 12 Tournament and potentially earn an NCAA Tournament bid. For Kansas State, the game is a chance to end a difficult season on a high note and potentially play spoiler against the higher-seeded Cougars.

The details

BYU (21-10, 9-9 Big 12) and Kansas State (12-19, 3-15 Big 12) have already met once this season, with the Cougars securing an 83-73 victory on January 3rd in Manhattan. This prior win gives BYU a psychological edge heading into tonight's matchup. The Cougars will be looking to build on their late-season momentum, while the Wildcats aim to pull off an upset under interim leadership.

  • The game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th at 6 p.m. CT in Kansas City, Missouri.
  • The winner will advance to face the seventh-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers on Wednesday at 5 p.m. MST, televised on ESPN2.

The players

BYU Cougars

The BYU Cougars are the 10th seed in the Big 12 Tournament, entering the postseason with a 21-10 overall record and a 9-9 conference mark.

Kansas State Wildcats

The Kansas State Wildcats are the 15th seed in the tournament, struggling through a 12-19 season (3-15 Big 12) under interim coach Matthew Driscoll.

AJ Dybantsa

A key player for the BYU Cougars, the freshman forward has the potential to significantly impact the outcome of the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to play our best basketball tonight if we want to advance in the tournament.”

— Mark Pope, BYU Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the BYU-Kansas State matchup will face the seventh-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers on Wednesday at 5 p.m. MST, with the game being televised on ESPN2.

The takeaway

This first-round Big 12 Tournament game represents an opportunity for both BYU and Kansas State to make a statement. The Cougars will look to build on their late-season momentum, while the Wildcats aim to pull off an upset and end their challenging season on a high note.