2026 Men’s Basketball Season Highlights
In a surprising turn of events for the 2026 men’s basketball season, the All-Big 12 first team featured three standout freshmen—AJ Dybantsa from BYU, Kingston Flemings of Houston, and Brayden Burries of Arizona—who collectively earned praise from reporters across the USA TODAY Network. Notably, Dybantsa and Flemings were recognized as unanimous selections, an indication of their exceptional performances throughout the year.
Player Achievements
In contrast, Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson, despite his talent, secured a position on the second team after being sidelined for 11 games due to injury. Dybantsa, who shone brightly this season, not only clinched the title of Big 12 Player of the Year, garnering half of the votes, but also emerged as the unanimous choice for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, showcasing his standout skills with averages of 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. However, it’s worth noting that his team, BYU, faced struggles in the latter part of the season, finishing Big 12 play at a .500 record, having lost eight of their last twelve matches during the regular season.
Coaching and Defensive Honors
The Big 12 Coach of the Year accolade went to Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, who led the Wildcats to an impressive 29-2 overall record, including a 16-2 conference mark, ultimately taking home the regular-season title. This successful run has positioned Arizona as a likely No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, with hopes of reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2001.
Additionally, Kansas player Flory Bidunga was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, enjoying near-unanimous support for his formidable presence in the paint. He averaged nine rebounds and led the conference with 2.7 blocks per game, tying for second nationally.
All-Big 12 Teams
The full lists of the All-Big 12 first and second teams are as follows:
- 2026 All-Big 12 First Team: AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Kingston Flemings (Houston), JT Toppin (Texas Tech), Brayden Burries (Arizona), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State).
- 2026 All-Big 12 Second Team: Christian Anderson (Texas Tech), Jaden Bradley (Arizona), Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State), PJ Haggerty (Kansas State).
Many other players received attention as well, such as Motiejus Krivas and Koa Peat from Arizona, Houston’s Emanuel Sharp, and several deserving talents from various schools.
Conclusion
In summation, the 2026 season’s recognitions reflect the depth of talent and competitive nature of the Big 12 conference, with an exciting NCAA tournament on the horizon.
The USA TODAY Network reporters instrumental in these selections included esteemed writers like Christopher Boyle from the Daytona Beach News-Journal and Scott Springer from the Cincinnati Enquirer, among others.
