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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) takes a pass under the basket with BYU forward Fousseyni Traore defending as the two in-state rivals play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Dec. 17, 2022. The two talented big men are questionable for Saturday’s game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
For BYU and Utah, Saturday marks the end of an era — again.
When the No. 14 Cougars (8-0) and Runnin’ Utes (6-2) tip off at the Hunstman Center (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network) it will mark the final battle outside of the same conference since BYU beat Utah 61-42 in Salt Lake City in 2011.
Cougars, Utes on the air
No. 14 BYU (8-0)
at Utah (6-2)
Saturday, 5 p.m. MST
Jon M. Huntsman Center
Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: Pac-12 Networks
BYU radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM
Utah radio: 700 AM
The following summer, on July 1, both programs left the Mountain West Conference. BYU joined the WCC and Utah signed up for the Pac-12. On July 1, 2023, 12 years later, BYU officially joined the Big 12. Utah, after the Pac-12 collapsed when heavyweights Oregon and Washington chose to follow USC and UCLA into the Big Ten, also accepted an invitation to join the Big 12.
No matter the crooked roads it took to get here, starting next year, the Cougars and Utes will be together again in the same conference, just like they were between 1922 and 2010. They are also likely to return to a home-and-home series during the regular season with potential for a third meeting in the conference tournament.
This is how it should be.
Staging six games between birthright rivals over the last 13 years is not enough. Even as the basketball rivalry pales in comparison to how everybody feels about football, playing the game as conference members still carries weight for bragging rights, recruiting and in the standings. Plus, it’s fun!
Making games happen outside…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/last-blast-outside-same-conference-183000600.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2023-12-08 18:30:00
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