BYU coach Kevin Young voiced considerable dissatisfaction with the officiating after his team's 73-66 quarterfinal loss to No. 5 Houston in the Big 12 tournament. Despite acknowledging Houston's deserved victory, Young specifically highlighted what he perceived as a significant imbalance in foul calls, particularly concerning his prolific free-throw shooter, AJ Dybantsa. He argued that Dybantsa, who normally leads the nation in free-throw attempts, should have been awarded more opportunities at the line, suggesting that missed calls impacted the game's flow and his team's performance.
During the post-game press conference, Kevin Young initially commended the Houston Cougars for their strong performance and for making the crucial plays to secure their win. However, his tone shifted as he addressed the officiating, describing a perceived disparity where 20 fouls were called on BYU compared to 17 on the physically aggressive Houston team. Young emphasized that while he wasn't accusing officials of bias, he believed there were clear missed calls that directly led to turnovers and frustration for his players.
AJ Dybantsa, BYU's leading scorer, finished the game with 26 points, shooting 7 of 18 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. Fellow guard Rob Wright added 15 points, converting 3 of 4 free-throw attempts. Young asserted that Dybantsa should have taken a minimum of 20 free throws, pointing out that Wright, a player who frequently drives to the basket, also received fewer foul calls than he deserved. He further noted that six of Houston player Emmanuel Sharp's ten free throws came in the game's final minute, when BYU was intentionally fouling to stop the clock.
Young identified Houston's offensive rebounding as a critical factor, with 14 offensive boards leading to 19 second-chance points for the Cougars. He stressed the importance of minimizing possession differences against a team like Houston. Despite the loss, Young defended Dybantsa's performance, refuting a reporter's suggestion that he had an 'off night.' Young highlighted Dybantsa's 26 points, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, arguing that his performance was strong and could have mirrored his 40-point outing from two nights prior if not for the officiating. He made it clear that his comments were not an attempt to diminish Houston's win but rather to critique the inconsistent application of foul calls.
The BYU head coach’s comments after the game underscored his belief that critical officiating errors affected the team's ability to compete at its best. He acknowledged Houston's legitimate victory but insisted that his team's star players were unfairly deprived of opportunities at the free-throw line, impacting the game's dynamics and ultimately, the final score.