Kevin Willard probably planned for and schemed plenty as the first-year Villanova coach with some 18 years of college basketball experience prepared for the Wildcats' season opener against No. 8 BYU.

A 14-point second-half deficit to eighth-ranked BYU in what was effectively a road environment had been erased. BYU, led by top recruit AJ Dybansta, held a two-point lead with Villanova possessing the ball out of a media timeout with 3 minutes, 31 seconds to play. The Wildcats had gone cold, and maybe the extended timeout would be fruitful.

If you were told before tipoff that BYU would shoot under 40% from the field and under 30% from three against a quality program like Villanova, you’d probably chalk that up as an early-season loss.

Even as BYU veteran Richie Saunders struggled from the field, going 4-of-13 for 15 points, Dybantsa was there to pick up the slack. He finished 9-of-18 shooting with six rebounds. He also led BYU in assists and, as Young later joked, he gobbled offensive rebounds to extend some possessions late.

The AJ Dybantsa era at BYU begins with a matchup in Las Vegas against Villanova and first-year coach Kevin Willard.

Freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa took over the game in BYU's win over Villanova as he is expected to lead the Cougars to major success.