Sports
No. 13 BYU takes aim at No. 14 Kansas in likely battle of top NBA prospects
Jan 26, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) takes a three point shot during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images A showdown between potential NBA draft lottery picks awaits when No. 13 BYU heads to No. 14 Kansas for a Big 12 matchup on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan.
In his first season of college basketball, freshman AJ Dybantsa has figured out a recipe for success by averaging 23.6 points a game for BYU (17-3, 5-2).
While he’s a prolific scorer, his all-round game is what has him positioned to be an NBA franchise cornerstone one day.
Dybantsa also pulls down an average of 6.7 rebounds, is second on the Cougars with 72 assists, and knows how to draw fouls from opponents. He has 172 free-throw attempts and shoots 76.2% from the line.
The Jayhawks (15-5, 5-2), meanwhile, played without explosive, high-scoring freshman Darryn Peterson (21.6 ppg) in an 86-62 win over Kansas State on Saturday. The Ohio native leads the Jayhawks in scoring and missed the game with an ankle injury. But coach Bill Self told Inside College Basketball with Jon Rothstein he expects Peterson to return against BYU.
“Has he been 100% up to this point?” Self said. “No, he hasn’t been 100%. But I don’t see any reason why he won’t be ready to roll, have great practices on Thursday and Friday and be ready to go.”
While the dynamic duo could square off in a defensive switch, Self said such a faceoff won’t determine the outcome of the game.
“That storyline is one everyone will run with because it’s two great, great prospects,” Self said. “Two of the better prospects we’ve had in recent memory. They’re really great prospects. But it is still Kansas versus BYU. The players that understand that and can play to that will give their team the best chance to win. It’s not a 1-on-1 deal. It’s a team-versus-team deal. It will be a story line within the game.”
BYU has lost two of its last three games, the latest an 86-83 home setback to No. 1 Arizona on Monday. The Cougars cut into a 19-point deficit in the second half before the Wildcats escaped with the victory.
Due to the Cougars’ mindset, BYU coach Kevin Young said his team is never out of the game. Dybantsa scored 24 points against Arizona despite making just 6 of 24 field-goal attempts.
“We have a never-quit mentality, and our guys are smart in terms of making adjustments on the fly,” Young said. “Every game has a personality of its own and different buttons we need to push. Sometimes it takes a full 40 minutes to figure out the recipe.”
As for Kansas, which has won four straight games, Flory Bidunga led the team with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday vs. Kansas State.
“I was excited because I thought we played the way we are supposed to play,” Self said about the 27 points Kansas allowed after halftime. “We shared the ball and were great in the late clock. It’s nice to see the guys play how you envision them playing. We haven’t done that consistently at all.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
ATP roundup: Ben Shelton shows love of clay, wins BMW title
Ben Shelton connects with the ball during his second-round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Friday, March 6, 2026. Ben Shelton rolled to his second title of the year, winning the BMW Open with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli at Munich, Germany.
Shelton won 85% of his first-serve points on the clay surface and saved all six break points he faced to win his fifth career title and first since Dallas earlier this year. Shelton showed his form early when he broke Cobolli’s serve twice in the first three games of the match.
With the second set tied 5-5, Shelton broke Cobolli again and won on serve on his first match point. Shelton became the first American man since 2009 to win three ATP 500 titles.
“I have big ambitions for the clay courts,” Shelton said in his post-match interview. “It is a surface I want to get better on each year. It is slowly becoming one of my favorite surfaces to play on.”
Barcelona Open
Arthur Fils of France held off a late charge from Russia’s Andrey Rublev to record a 6-2, 7-6 (2) victory in the final of the tournament.
Fils won his first title since returning in February after missing eight months because of a back injury.
Fils was well on his way to victory after cruising in the first set and leading 5-2 in the second before Rublev dug in his heels. Rublev broke Fils’ serve to pull within 5-4 in the second set, then staved off one match point to make it 5-5.
Rublev broke serve again to lead 6-5 in the second set before Fils finally regained control and finished off the match in a tiebreak.
“The end of the second set was just about the mental (pressure),” Fils said. “The whole match was a bit tough because I was a bit tight. I played well for a set and a half, but when I had to close, I started to think a little. But I’m very happy with the way I played the tiebreak.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
WTA roundup: Elena Rybakina wins at Stuttgart for second time
Aug 31, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic in the fourth round of the women’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Second-seeded Elena Rybakina won 25 of her 32 first-serve points (78.1%) and needed just 78 minutes on Sunday to post a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova to win the championship match of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.
Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, had three aces while winning her 13th career title and second in Stuttgart. She also won the event in 2024. This victory marks the first time she has won multiple titles at a tournament.
The Czech Republic’s Muchova, the No. 7 seed, was much less efficient on her first serves, winning just 52.3% (23 of 44). She saved four of eight break points.
Muchova trailed 5-2 in the first set before winning three straight games to knot the match. But Rybakina won the final two games and then sailed through the second set to win her fifth clay court title.
Rouen Metropolitan Open
Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk hit 34 winners against 23 unforced errors while claiming a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Veronika Podrez in the first all-Ukrainian WTA final at Rouen, France.
Kostyuk converted 6 of 9 break points against the 19-year-old Podrez to win her second singles title. Podrez, a qualifier, was playing in her first final.
“This match today was not just a match,” Kostyuk said during the trophy presentation. “It was a historical moment for Ukrainian tennis. First time two Ukrainians playing in the final. I know how much work, sacrifice, tears and sweat goes into this sport and to be able to be on this stage. So I’m incredibly proud of Ukrainian tennis right now.”
Podrez had just one ace while committing seven double faults.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Former Georgia WR Zachariah Branch arrested
Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) takes questions from the press during the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals Media Day at Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, La., on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. Players and coaches from Ole Miss and Georgia took questions from the press. Wide receiver Zachariah Branch, a Georgia standout who was expected to be selected in the NFL Draft later this week, was arrested early Sunday in Athens, Ga., according to Athens-Clarke County jail records.
Branch, 22, was charged with obstructing public sidewalks/streets and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, both misdemeanors. He was booked at 1:26 a.m. and released on bond at 3:44 a.m.
Widely projected as a Day 2 NFL draft pick, estimates show Branch going as high as the second round on Friday.
In his first season at Georgia, following a transfer from Southern California, Branch led the Bulldogs with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns last season. Georgia went 12-2 and lost 39-34 to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.
In three college seasons, the first two at USC, Branch had 159 receptions for 1,634 yards and nine touchdowns in 37 games.
–Field Level Media
ATP roundup: Ben Shelton shows love of clay, wins BMW title
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