Big 12 tournament, meet AJ Dybantsa.
BYU’s freshman phenom was electric in Tuesday’s first round tournament action, scoring 40 points in a blowout win over Kansas State to capture the attention of the basketball world.
There was no shortage of buzz for Dybantsa’s historic outing. Here are some of the most notable reactions from social media.
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 11, 2026
AJ Dybantsa just WENT OFF in his Big 12 Tournament debut 🔥
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 11, 2026
Dybantsa finished with 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in the win. pic.twitter.com/z1RzAFgvWh
AJ Dybantsa goes NUCLEAR in his Big 12 Tournament debut for @BYUMBB 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dj8OtC2zuJ
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 11, 2026
AJ Dybantsa vs KSU:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 11, 2026
40 PTS
9 REB
6 AST
3 STL
15-21 FG
👀 pic.twitter.com/9vTEuuDNIf
Generational.#Big12MBB | @Phillips66Gaspic.twitter.com/cTiPXYecKC
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 11, 2026
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) March 11, 2026
AJ Dybantsa in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament:
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) March 11, 2026
🏀 First player ever with 35 PTS & 5 AST in the tournament
🏀 Second-most PTS in tournament history
🏀 Most career 35-point games in Big 12 history pic.twitter.com/92rnESWGns
"Most career 35-point games in Big 12 history" and he wasn't player of the year? https://t.co/xEjP9zHZ2B
— Hype Train Podcast (@thehypetrainpod) March 11, 2026
@AJ_Dybantsa isn’t the MVP of the @Big12Conference? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/uVQ8WCCamO
— Will Voigt (@CoachWillVoigt) March 11, 2026
AJ Dybantsa went OFF in his Big 12 Tournament debut 🔥
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 11, 2026
40 PTS
15-21 FG
9 REB
6 AST pic.twitter.com/0ATOW2FLTF
Players to record 35 PTS & 5 REBs in the Big 12 Tournament:
— Underdog (@Underdog) March 11, 2026
- AJ Dybantsa
End of list pic.twitter.com/DTyQvIDcux
I've covered the Big Eight/Big 12 tournament since the 1980s. AJ Dybantsa (40 points tonight vs. K-State) is one of the best players this tournament has seen. It is his first and last appearance this week. BYU plays West Virginia tomorrow at 6 CT.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 11, 2026
AJ Dybantsa vs Kansas St. BIG 12 First RD..
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) March 11, 2026
40 PTS (15-21 FG, 2-6 3PT, 8-9 FTs)
9 REBS
6 AST
3 STLS
Bro looked really good and aggressive tonight… pic.twitter.com/H9ZTttWLPd
Biggest figures in Kansas City right now:
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 11, 2026
1. AJ Dybantsa (40, nine rebounds, and six rebounds tonight against Kansas State)
2. Patrick Mahomes
3. Brent Stover https://t.co/NksNKwz6qj
So much Tracy McGrady in AJ Dybantsa.... https://t.co/RiVwQBgEjV
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 11, 2026
The coaches gave Jaden Bradley the B12 POY over AJ Dybantsa pic.twitter.com/d9HZ1Zua4h
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) March 11, 2026
The only thing that stopped AJ Dybantsa tonight was his Red Bull. He was made to remove it during the postgame press conference because it wasn’t a sponsor. pic.twitter.com/a9PKmFJBXh
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 11, 2026