Each is where the other was.
Only two years ago, coach Ray Giacoletti's nationally ranked Utah team took a 12-game winning streak into the Marriott Center against BYU. Over the next two months, Utah would lose only to New Mexico before bowing out of the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16.
After resigning Friday, Giacoletti will coach the Utes for the last time, during the regular season, in BYU's home arena this afternoon.
When Giacoletti took his first team into the Marriott Center, the Cougars were 7-13. Today they will try to capture the Mountain West championship.
While Dave Rose declined comment Friday on Utah's situation, it's clear the second-year coach has BYU rolling. Since succeeding Steve Cleveland, Rose is 42-16. At 22-7, BYU is all but guaranteed to receive its first NCAA Tournament invitation in three years.
The thinking is they'll cash in on the recent success.
"The recruiting should improve and we should have more interest from more players as far as coming to BYU," said Rose. "People want to be around successful programs. The fact that you can have back-to-back [successful] years can, I think, help you in your recruiting efforts and as far as support in the administration [and] support in the community."
As they comb the country, and even beyond oversees, BYU's coaches basically recruit LDS high school players and non-LDS junior college transfers. The LDS players who strayed from BYU in the last 10 years, including several vital contributors to Utah's great run, probably will strongly consider playing for their church-sponsored school as long as the basketball success continues.
"I just hope it allows us to just expand our recruiting base," Rose said. "You get a team that wins the conference championship, gets into the Top 25 and naturally it should bring a little bit more attention to your program, and hopefully that allows you to expand your recruiting base."
The dividends already may show next season. Two non-LDS junior college transfers - point guard Lamont Morgan and forward Jean Carlos Otero - have signed.
Two high school seniors - guard Jimmer Fredette and forward Chris Collinsworth - also signed in the fall. BYU is expected to sign one or two JC players in the spring, most likely an inside scorer and another guard.
"We're probably looking for an experienced player that can step in and maybe fill a specific need," Rose said.
Five seniors - including point guard Austin Ainge and forward Keena Young, who is BYU's leading scorer - will make their final Marriott Center appearance today.
Besides the emotional nature of the seniors' last home game, at stake is the program's first outright conference championship since 1988. The Cougars already have clinched the Mountain West's No. 1 seed and will play at 1 p.m. (MST) Thursday against the winner of Texas Christian and New Mexico.
"A lot of emotion," Young said, "but I can't let that get in front of executing our game plan and going out and playing hard."
BYU, which leads the nation with 30 consecutive home wins, is coming off an emotional game against Air Force. The Cougars, who snapped the Falcons' 30-game homecourt winning streak, expended a lot of energy during and after the game.
Utah's situation won't distract them.
pjk@sltrib.com
