BYU was supposed to have one of its best basketball seasons yet, but that has since faced a lot of setbacks, and another one just arrived as star forward Richie Saunders was seen leaving the game against the Colorado Buffaloes due to an injury. This leaves star freshman AJ Dybantsa to be the team’s top guy, but he may soon be overwhelmed with the team’s various problems.
This means that the Cougars will need Richie Saunders back as soon as possible, but will he, though? As it turns out, he tore his ACL during that 90-86 win over the Buffaloes, and this would require surgery. ACL tears often take months to heal, even with surgery, thus effectively ending his season entirely.
His missing the rest of the season was confirmed by BYU itself. He is now a senior and is out of eligibility, which means that he would also not be returning next season. He will be a big loss for BYU, as he contributed an average of 18 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Robert Williams III and AJ Dybantsa are expected to pick up the slack, but his loss effectively lessens the likelihood of BYU being selected for an appearance during next month’s National Championship Tournament. Still, the Cougars have two of the most dynamic scorers in college basketball, but are now without their Big 3.
With His Season Now Over, Where Does Richie Saunders Stand Among BYU’s Greats?
With that season-ending ACL tear, Richie Saunders is now in a lame duck season of sorts, as he is just awaiting the season to end. What is next for him is not yet clear, but he will finish as one of the greatest players in BYU history, spending much of his college career in Provo.
After that Colorado game, he finished his career with 1,544 points, which is the eighth best in BYU history. He also ends his career with 205 triples and 540 3-point attempts, as well as being in the Top 20 in all-time steals at 133.
With his eligibility now gone, entering the 2027 NBA Draft might be his next step, but he still has not decided on whether he would pursue a professional career in the league just yet.
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