New Headline: Falcons Dominate Conference, Ignite Heartfelt Admiration!

BYU players celebrate in the Marriott Center Annex in Provo as their name was called during the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday, March 15, 2026. | Courtesy BYU Athletics Perhaps superstar freshman AJ Dybantsa said it best after the NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed Sunday afternoon and the up-and-down BYU Cougars found themselves as a No. 6 seed playing in Portland, Oregon.

“Obviously going into the tournament you wanted to be a higher seed, but as long as you’re dancing, that’s all that really matters,” Dybantsa said in a teleconference with reporters from the Marriott Center Annex. “We had a lot of adversity through this year with injuries and everything like that, so for us to even be a six seed … we’re proud of that. ” In other words, it could have been worse.

A couple weeks ago after three straight losses, including one at home to so-so UCF and two to teams that didn’t make the tournament — West Virginia and Cincinnati — the Cougars would have done just about anything for a No. 6 seed. The fact that they get to start the tournament out West, where BYU fans will be plentiful at the Moda Center — much like they were last year in Denver — is icing on the cake.

Sure, a possible second-round game against former WCC foe Gonzaga, a No. 3 seed, could be problematic with Spokane a half-day’s drive (5-6 hours) away from Portland, but first things first. The Cougars will have to get past either Texas or North Carolina State, as those power conference teams were among the Last Four In and will meet on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, for the right to move on and face BYU (23-11).