How Colorado matched up against AJ Dybantsa

Colorado guard Barrington Hargress (left) defends BYU's AJ Dybantsa (right). (Photo by Aaron Baker/Aaron Baker Imagn Images)

From VJ Edgecombe to AJ Dybantsa, the Colorado Buffaloes have faced their fair share of top-end NBA prospect talent in the past few seasons. 

VJ Edgecombe was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers from Baylor in 2025. When the Bears came to Boulder, the Colorado defense was able to hold him to just 22% shooting while missing all three of his 3-point attempts. Edgecombe was held to just eight points and seven assists when the Buffaloes beat them 76-74 last season.

Most recently, however, the Buffaloes played the BYU Cougars and ESPN projected top-five pick, Dybantsa. 

While the score was certainly just as close against the BYU Cougars and freshman Dybantsa, Colorado struggled on the stat sheet but came up clutch in big moments.

Dybansta finished on just 30% shooting and only hit on one of his six 3-point attempts while coughing the ball up seven times. Despite this, Dybantsa brought down 13 boards and recorded eight assists while still scoring 20 points.

Even though he was just two assists short of a triple-double, the Colorado defense forced Dybantsa to take some tough shots. 

The Cougars drew up a play design to use Dybantsa’s athleticism and craftiness with the ball in his hands, tied 78-78 with just ten seconds left. Sophomore forward Sebastian Rancik guarded him and did enough to disrupt the shot to force overtime without fouling.

“Sebastian Rancik did a phenomenal job,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “Because the whole key with, I think, with guarding [Dybantsa], is being, having hand discipline and shot flight fake discipline at the end of his drives.” 

Dybansta got to the free-throw line ten times against Colorado, hitting on seven of them. Still, a conceited effort all around prevented that number from being more.

“If you don't have hand discipline, he's gonna get to the free throw line,” Boyle said. “We did a great job, I thought, of that all night long.”

During overtime, Dybantsa only recorded one turnover, one made free throw and two rebounds while Colorado largely held him quiet.

Over the course of the game, Dybantsa finished a +10 in 43 minutes of gametime.

Like Dybantsa is expected to do, Edgebombe was a one-and-done, declaring for the draft after his freshman season. Both players excel in their ability to get downhill and play with great finishing. 

Colorado, last season, in their matchup with Edgecombe, limited that downhill shot creation to hold him to just eight points. 

Despite their success against Edgecombe last year, great players will still make an impact, even if their shots aren’t falling. The inevitability of Dybantsa proves why he’s going to be a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA draft.