Alone at the bottom of the Big 12, it's been a season to forget for the 9-10 Utah Utes, who have yet to win a game on the road in five tries and are 1-5 against conference opponents.
Two weeks ago, BYU added salt to the wound by winning 89-84 at the Huntsman Center, something the Cougars hadn't done since 2021.
Since that game, Utah has gone 1-2, losing both road matchups to No. 12 Texas and, earlier this week, to Kansas State, 81-74.
While Salt Lake City hasn't been kind to the Cougars, the Marriott Center has been a house of horrors for the Utes, who haven't won in Provo since 2014 and have lost 11 of their 12 games there, with the previous win coming all the way back in 2005.
| February 12, 2011 | BYU, 72-59 |
| December 8, 2012 | BYU, 61-58 |
| December 10, 2014 | Utah, 65-61 |
| December 16, 2017 | BYU, 77-65 |
| December 12, 2020 | BYU, 82-64 |
| December 17, 2022 | BYU, 75-66 |
| March 8, 2025 | BYU, 85-74 |
So, what's gone wrong for Utah?
For starters, only Arizona State has given up more points per game, with the Utes allowing 86.5 points on average. The floodgates have opened in nearly every matchup, with the only game Utah kept under 80 points coming in their lone Big 12 win against TCU, an 82-79 victory.
The Cougars, meanwhile, have established themselves as an offensive arsenal, scoring an average of 85 points per game, second only to No. 1 Arizona in the Big 12.
If Utah wants to keep its head above water, it'll be tested in containing BYU’s big three — AJ Dybansta, Richie Saunders, and Robert Wright III — all of whom are averaging more than 20 points per game in conference play.
One of the bright spots this season for the Utes has been junior guard Terrance Brown, who is in his first year at Utah after transferring from Fairleigh Dickinson of the Northeast Conference.
The Minnesota native currently leads the Big 12 with 143 points in conference play and has thrived as Utah’s primary offensive option, knocking down 54 field goals against league opponents. Brown is coming off a 33-point performance against Kansas State, his second 30-point outing of the season. This made him the fifth Ute since 1996 to achieve this.
While Brown has put together an impressive individual season, Utah has struggled to surround him with consistent support. Forwards Keanu Dawes and Seydou Traore have carried much of the frontcourt load, with Dawes averaging 11.8 points and 9.0 rebounds and Traore adding 9.1 points on 40.4% shooting. For players logging around 30 minutes per game, their production hasn’t been enough to keep the Utes competitive in the high-scoring matchups they’ve faced.
Utah isn’t necessarily bad offensively — the Utes rank eighth in the Big 12, averaging 78.2 points per game — but when the team is forced into these fast-paced, high-scoring games, it will take more than Brown to carry the load.
One player who has to be a difference maker if Utah wants to pull off the upset is senior guard Don McHenry. The first-year Ute has emerged as a reliable secondary scorer, averaging 18.1 points per game and shooting nearly 40% from three.
Like many of the Utes, McHenry’s production has dipped in recent weeks, as the offense leans heavily on Brown. His field goal percentage has been 40% or lower in five of his last seven games, making it harder for Utah to find consistent scoring outside of Brown.
While this has not been the type of season the Utes hoped for, as they possibly face a second straight losing campaign in the Big 12, there is no better opportunity than against their rival, who has made a habit of beating them at home.
After losing six of seven, will Utah get its revenge, or will BYU extend its win streak at home for a 13th straight? Find out at the Marriott Center for the 3:30 p.m. tipoff or watch it live on FOX.