Utah and BYU schedule four more games in hoops

If and when we are fortunate to have sports in our lives again, we can look forward to the newly signed series between Utah and BYU in basketball. It was announced that the two school have added four more games to their current series that will run through the 2023-24 season.

The series only took the one season off after Coach K and the program decided to it was time to let things cool off a bit after some overly aggressive play on the floor. BYU was on a two game winning streak against the Utes, but Utah snapped that this past season why Timmy Allen and Rylan Jones stepped up at the Huntsman Center to get things back on track. The win this past season against the Cougars was one of the better ones on Utah’s resume.

This coming matchup will be an interesting one, as the two teams will be coming at it from entirely different starting points. The Utes will be returning a talented team, that went through some growing pains this past season, while adding one of the best recruiting classes in many years. While BYU will be in a rebuilding season after losing some program fixtures.

This next season will also be the first where there will be 20 Pac-12 games on the schedule, eliminating two out of conference games, and that will be interesting to see how that has any affect on the season and post season implications.

Here’s the official press release on the announcement from the Utah SID.

SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah men’s basketball team and rival BYU have agreed to a four-year extension in the rivalry series through the 2023-24 season.

The Runnin’ Utes will start on the road with a Dec. 12 date at the Marriott Center against the Cougars this fall and return to Provo in 2022. BYU will make trips to the Jon M. Huntsman Center in 2021 and 2023 to close out the series extension.

Utah snapped a two-game skid against BYU this past season in an overtime thriller, charging back from a 16-point deficit to outscore the Cougars 16-9 in the extra period for the 102-95 victory behind Timmy Allen (27pts) and freshman Rylan Jones (25pts).

Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011-12, the Runnin’ Utes have gone 4-4 against their rivals under head coach Larry Krystkowiak and trail the all-time series 131-129.

The non-conference schedule continues to take shape with the addition of Cal State Fullerton (Nov. 20) for the upcoming 2020-21 campaign. With the additions of the Cougars and Titans, here is a look at the non-conference schedule thus far for the Runnin’ Utes.

Nov. 10 – Utah Valley (Season/Home Opener)

Nov. 13 – at Missouri

Nov. 20 – Cal State Fullerton

Nov. 25-27 – Battle 4 Atlantis

Dec. 12 – at BYU