Red and Blue Rivalry Returns to Huntsman Center as Utah Hosts #14/13 BYU Saturday

Saturday, December 9

Salt Lake City, UT

5:00 PM

University of Utah

Brigham Young

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Red and Blue Rivalry Returns to Huntsman Center as Utah Hosts #14/13 BYU Saturday

12/6/2023 4:44 PM | Men's Basketball

Utah Game Notes BYU Game Notes

The #--/RV Utah men’s basketball team plays host to in-state rival #14/13 BYU this Saturday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m.

SALT LAKE CITY – One of the nation's best rivalry resumes this Saturday, Dec. 9, when the #--/RV Utah men's basketball team entertains #14/13 BYU for the 264th edition of the Red vs. Blue rivalry game inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Guy Haberman will call the action for fans on Pac-12 Networks alongside the legendary Bill Walton with tip-off set for 5 p.m. (MT).

UTES VS. AP RANKED TEAMS
This Season vs. AP Ranked Opp: 0-1 (.000)
Last Win vs. AP Ranked Opp: #4 Arizona 81-66 (12/1/22)
Last Win vs. AP Ranked Opp (Home): #4 Arizona 81-66 (12/1/22)
All-Time vs. AP Ranked Opp: 69-162 (.299)
All-Time vs. AP Ranked Opp (Home): 39-44 (.470)
All-Time vs. #14 AP Ranked Opp: 6-16 (.272)

UTAH ALL-TIME VS. #14 AP RANKED OPPONENTS
Saturday's match-up will be Utah's 23rd game against a No. 14 AP ranked opponent. The Utes are 4-7 all-time when playing the No. 14 team in the nation at home, 1-7 on the road and 1-2 on a neutral court.

DATE	OPPONENT	H/A/N	RESULT
Jan. 27, 1950	Wyoming	HOME	L, 42-35
Dec. 30, 1950	Wyoming	NEUTRAL	L, 55-42
Feb. 6, 1953	California	HOME	L, 62-61
Feb. 7, 1953	California	HOME	W, 62-58
Jan. 29, 1954	California	AWAY	L, 70-59
Jan. 30, 1954	California	AWAY	L, 95-63
Jan. 20, 1956	Oklahoma City	HOME	W, 60-58
Jan. 15, 1972	BYU	HOME	L, 67-61
Jan. 28, 1978	New Mexico	AWAY	L, 113-89
Feb. 9, 1980	BYU	HOME	L, 83-82
Dec. 17, 1982	Houston	NEUTRAL	L, 82-57
Dec. 16, 1983	Oregon State	AWAY	L, 62-49
Jan. 29, 1986	Notre Dame	AWAY	L, 94-64
Dec. 12, 1992	Arizona	AWAY	L, 78-64
Dec. 9, 1993	Arizona	HOME	L, 88-81
Dec. 21, 1996	Texas	HOME	W, 80-68
March 7, 1997	New Mexico	NEUTRAL	W, 72-70
Feb. 1, 1998	New Mexico	AWAY	L, 77-74
Nov. 19, 1999	Kentucky	AWAY	W, 56-48
Dec. 22, 1999	Texas	HOME	W, 79-73
March 3, 2010	BYU	HOME	L, 71-51
Jan. 4, 2018	Arizona	HOME	L, 94-82

AGAINST A RANKED BYU
Heading into Saturday's rivalry game, Utah is 4-12 all-time when playing against an AP ranked BYU squad and 0-3 when the Cougars have been ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll. The Utes are also 3-6 all-time when playing against a ranked BYU team at home with its most recent victory stemming back on Feb. 27, 1993, when the Utes defeated a 23rd-ranked BYU team 89-23

DATE	H/A/N	BYU RANK	RESULT
Feb. 16, 1951	HOME	12	L, 73-60
Feb. 17, 1951	AWAY	12	W, 54-49
March 2, 1951	HOME	11	W, 67-58
March 3, 1951	AWAY	11	L, 69-50
Jan. 15, 1972	HOME	14	L, 67-61
Feb. 19, 1972	AWAY	11	L, 79-66
Jan. 12, 1980	AWAY	17	L, 89-72
Feb. 9, 1980	HOME	14	L, 83-82
Jan. 31, 1981	HOME	15	W, 60-56
March 7, 1981	AWAY	18	L, 95-76
Feb. 4, 1988	AWAY	3	L, 82-64
Feb. 27, 1988	HOME	11	W, 62-60
Feb. 27, 1993	HOME	23	W, 89-83
Jan. 30, 2010	AWAY	12	L, 82-69
March 3, 2010	HOME	14	L, 71-51
Jan. 11, 2011	HOME	11	L, 104-79
Feb. 12, 2011	AWAY	7	L, 72-59
Nov. 27, 2021	HOME	18	L, 75-64

KEBA KING EMERGES
Utah sophomore Keba Keita has had a strong return to the line-up, averaging 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in his three games back so far while shooting a white-hot .947 clip (18-for-19). During that 3 game stretch, Keita becomes the first Pac-12 player since Zeke Nnaji (Arizona) to average at least 13.6 points and 7.0 rebounds with a .947 shooting clip.

Through games on Dec. 5, Keita is just 1-of-2 players in the country to average at least 10 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting at least 70-percent from the field off the bench. The other player being Quinnipiac's Rihards Vavers, who is averaging 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds with a .786 shooting clip. However, Vavers has only played two games this season.

BIG BEN
Making his first start of the season, Ben Carlson showed up in a big way for the Utes. The 6-9 forward recorded his first-career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting with 2 assists and a steal. The 15 points was a new career-high for the Woodbury, Minn., product while his 10 rebounds was just one shy of tying his career-high.

IN WORSTER WE TRUST
Through games on Dec. 5, Utah floor general Rollie Worster is just 1-of-7 guards in the country to average at least 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

PLAYER	TEAM	GP	PPG	RPG	APG
Tristen Newton	UConn	9	17.1	7.6	6.1
Tamin Lipsey	Iowa State	8	15.1	6.5	6.3
Braeden Smith	Colgate	8	15.1	5.6	5.8
Carlton Carrington	Pitt	8	14.6	5.4	5.9
Braden Smith	Purdue	9	11.7	6.0	7.1
Jaquan Carlos	Hofstra	7	11.3	5.0	6.6
Rollie Worster	Utah	8	11.1	5.5	5.9

LAST TIME OUT
Utah wasn't its sharpest on defense against Southern Utah at home on Tuesday, but career-high nights from Keba Keita and Ben Carlson helped the Utes outlast the Thunderbirds 88-86 at home. Utah dominated the post, scoring 56 of its 88 points in the paint. Keita finished with a team-high and career-high 23 points on 11-of-12 shooting with 8 rebounds. Carlson, who made a spot start for the injured Branden Carlson, also posted career-highs with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Gabe Madsen added 19 points for Utah while Rollie Worster picked up his fourth-career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 11 assists.

UP NEXT
The Utes will get a week off for finals week before resuming non-conference action as it entertains another in-state team in Utah Valley on Saturday, Dec. 16. Ted Robinson and Matt Muehlebach will call the action between the Runnin' Utes and Wolverines on Pac-12 Networks at 2 p.m. (MT).

LOOKING AHEAD
Utah will close out its non-conference slate with Bellarmine on Wednesday, Dec. 20, inside the Jon M. Huntsman center before taking a short holiday break ahead of starting Pac-12 play at the end of the month to wrap up the 2023 calendar year. Tip-off between the Utes and Knights is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks with Krista Blunk and Ernie Kent calling the action.

For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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