Down goes BYU — and 73% of the ESPN brackets. I’m betting the Provo crowd will take this L gracefully haha.

Arizona rolling along in round one.

I really like what this transfer addition could eventually turn into. Dawes could become elite at Utah:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/what-it-means-runnin-utes-land-former-rivals150-dawes

Utes get Dawes one year after he spurned them:

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Alex, any ideas on who the Utes are targeting in the portal and who they’ve made headway with? Any possible visits on the horizon? Thoughts on possible transfers in or out of the program? Any idea where Rollie Worster is leaning and if he would consider a return to the team? I’m craving some hoops content.

Here’s Matt’s recap from Thursday’s media availability:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utes-spring-ball-recap-defense-continues-to-reload

and Will Griffin will spend the bulk of Thursday on campus. It will be his first time and an offer has not yet been extended to the 2026 All-American.

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Here’s Matt’s article from yesterday:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/utes-spring-ball-recap-encouraging-practices-as-rising-rounds-into-form

-Everything is running, really smooth and good right now, they just need to focus on keeping that going.

-The competitive chippiness has been a fun aspect recently, and it’s really shown up in the practices, especially at the goal line drills.

-Asked why the defense is always so good and to give his critique, Rising said it has to do with the coaches having all of the players prepared, including the younger ones. When it’s time for the young guys to step in it’s seamless. It’s rinse and repeat.

-He absolutely loves Bernard. He mentioned that you always want to get him the ball on a route out of the backfield and just watch him go and make things happen.

-Rising said that both Kuithe and King are going to be special. He also said that Bentley has come along really strong too, and he expects it to be a three-headed monster like they had a few years ago.

-He mentioned that the chemistry with King is there especially since they were able to throw going into last season. He called him a special player and said that you just have to put the ball within his vicinity and he’s going to make a special play and come down with it.

-He’s was asked about how special the leadership has been over the years and a lot of that being because of him so he was asked about any of the young guys stepping up as leaders on the team. Interesting to note, he mentioned all upperclassmen, including Kuithe, Tafuna and Reid. He also mentioned guys on the leadership council like Bernard and Money Parks has really stepped up.

-It’s night and day different from last year. It's a really competitive every day. They practice and look like a championship squad.

-King is really close with Kuithe. Calls him his right hand man.

-The organization from the Utah coaching staff on how things are run on and off the field is next level, better than he had at Auburn.

-His dad has been in town and staying with him which has been nice and also helpful. His dad gets up and cooks for him every day at 5:30 in the morning. He said his mom absolutely loves this state as well.

-His favorite moment so far was the touchdown that he scored against USC and he talked about the Dragon Ball Z celebration that he did. Said he’s looking forward to a lot more of those type of celebrations and those they’re coming.

It was a quick one from Whittingham this time;

-Rising has really improved his arm strength in the 10 practices. It takes time to get in sync and step into the throws. He’s back to where he needs to be. There’s no rust in his game now.

-There’s a really nice rhythm with Rising and his targets in the passing game. It’s nice to develop that against this defense, too.

-Damuni is the one long-term injury they suffered. Whittingham usually just mentions lower leg injury, but he slipped this time and said that he ruptured his Achilles. It’s a tough blow to the defense for sure.

-It’s good to practice at the stadium because grass is so iffy this time of year.

-The backup QB job is a dead heat with Rose and Wilson. It’s expected to carry through fall camp. One of the two could always do something and run away with it in the last half of spring, but Whittingham is really happy with their progress.

While it's not an NCAA Tournament run, I still think that a win and deep NIT run is a net positive.

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Spoke a person in Logan that said rumor is Falslev and possibly Martinez on the portal? Anyone know anything?

After several strong games at home against solid competition, I'm very interested to see how we play in what is essentially a road game. Our bigs should be able to do some damage. Tomorrow would be a good time for either Lovering or Keita to put up some numbers.

Utah has been very good when at least three players play well. Lately that's been BC, Deivon and Gabe.

I’m seeing on Facebook today that former Ute Greg Hooks has passed away:

https://utestats.com/players.php?year=0&id=6769

I was thinking about the fact that a win tonight puts us in the Final 4 of the NIT. Then I thought about the teams who were seeded to win their first round game in the NCAA but lost and it made me wonder, how many games do you have to win in the NIT to beat making it to the NCAA but losing in the 1st round. Let's hear your answers.

-Today was their best practice so far.

-The playmaking is way up, the fundamentals and technique are great, body language… everything, when it comes to saying this team is having a great spring.

-Lots of playmakers on both sides of the ball

-Kennan Johnson has made plays all spring and really helped solidify the cornerbacks.

-Starters in the secondary could be as follows right now: Vaughn and Kennan Johnson on the outside, Snowden at nickel, and Tao Johnson and free safety. Strong safety has a great battle with Ritchie, Johnathan Hall, and Gilman.

-Four LBs were hurt on Saturday. None long term (Alex take: there is one that COULD take a while and I’m not referring to Barton).

-Whittingham really likes the freshman Lopes. He says he’s a natural with his length, great burst and great change of direction.

-Singer is back and really changes the complexion of the passing game.

-Asked if Singer gives them the true WR1 look and Whittingham heaped praise on Money Parks, as somebody who has really stepped up his game and could be that guy. He also highlighted Zipperer as somebody that’s really beginning to emerge.

-You instill toughness by it being a daily thing. Your demands, your expectations. How you handle yourself body language, wise, and in the weight room. Everybody is on board with wanting to be the most mentally tough and physically tough team in the country.

-They’re excited about their defensive ends, but there’s 4–5 of them unable to play right now. Come fall, Whitt believes that DE is going to be arguably the deepest position on the team.

-Brandon Rose has really stepped up and it’s been a great battle between him and Isaac Wilson for the number two spot. His confidence is as well as his knowledge of the playbook and command of everything. He’s being a leader out there.

Nothing to see here.

Big win last night, regardless of the tournament. Here are the takeaways:

https://utah.rivals.com/news/takeaways-runnin-utes-advance-to-nit-final-four