This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
What's with the increasing prevalence of breakfast potatoes over shredded hash browns?
Does anybody prefer breakfast potatoes? Are they easier to make? Were shredded hash browns imported from some recently embargoed nation?
No.
Shredded hash browns are better than breakfast potatoes in every way, and so I'm forced to blame Pac-12 referees.
Now onto the week in Utah sports:
FOOTBALL • Utah played nobody and, following a couple more topsy-turvy results, actually moved up in the national rankings to No. 20 in the AP poll and No. 23 in the coaches poll. This week, it won't be so easy. At 4-1, Oregon State hasn't looked its usual self on offense, but the Beavers are coming off a hard-fought road victory in Boulder, and quarterback Sean Mannion torched the Utes for 443 yards and five touchdowns in a 51-48 overtime win.
Our coverage from the bye week:
• Utah's special teams are as "good as they've ever been" in their first year directly under head coach Kyle Whittingham.
• The latest depth chart, released Thursday, reveals changes at wideout and on the defensive line — but not the O-line.
• Notes: Redshirt freshman right guard Salesi Uhatafe was "a big-time plus" in his first career start, against UCLA.
• Utah received commitments from 2016 LB/QB Kahi Neves, 2015 JUCO WR/CB Kyle Fulks, and 2015 FS T.J. Kautai.
ON DECK • at Oregon State, 8 p.m. Thursday in Corvallis, Ore.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL • Utah's tough stretch continues, losing at No. 17 UCLA and at No. 20 USC to move to 11-6 after starting the season 10-0. Utah dropped just three sets in its first 10 wins, and has gone to five sets three times in losses — most recently in Malibu against the Bruins. Led by 18 kills apiece from senior Shelby Dalton and freshman Adora Anae, Utah fell 15-13 in the decisive set. No rest for the weary: This weekend, the No. 1-ranked Cardinal come to town.
ON DECK • vs. Cal, 5 p.m. Friday at Crimson Court; vs. No. 1 Stanford, 2 p.m. Sunday at Crimson Court
WOMEN'S SOCCER • Utah stands 8-3-3 but just 1-3-1 in conference after first falling 1-0 to the Ducks in Eugene and then beating the Beavers 2-0 in Corvallis. This weekend's game against Cal concludes a five-game road swing, however, and they'll return to the friendlier confines of Ute Field (where they are 4-0-2) for four of their final five games. Also this week, we spotlighted the strong tie between East High and Utah's back line.
ON DECK • at Cal, 3 p.m. Friday in Berkely, Calif.
MEN'S BASKETBALL • With an influx of talent that Larry Krystkowiak describes as "ahead of schedule" and a host of seasoned returnees, it's easy for us media types to get ahead of ourselves. Krystkowiak said at Monday's media day that Utah's not worried about where people think they might end up. Also this week: Utah fans can thank the example set by Delon Wright's mom for the return of their star point guard, the Runnin' Utes secured a commitment from 2015 junior college wing Gabe Bealer, and some more notes from media day.
ON DECK • vs. Pacific, Nov. 6 at the Huntsman Center (exhibition)
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • Taryn Wicijowski is back. Emily Potter is out. Michelle Plouffe has graduated. Five newcomers are expected to make a strong impression. It's hard to know what to expect from Anthony Levrets' squad this year, but the Utes feel like they have some cause for optimism.
ON DECK • vs. Alaska-Anchorage, Nov. 5 at the Huntsman Center
SWIMMING AND DIVING • Boise State defeated the visiting Utah women 156.5-143.5 in a dual meet Wednesday. Individual winners for Utah included sophomore Stina Colleau (100 and 200 breast), freshman Maddie Meisel (500, 1000 free), senior Jasmine Matkovic (1-meter dive) and sophomore Amanda Casillas (3-meter dive). The schedule now calls for a three-week break for both men and women's teams.
ON DECK • at Arizona/UNLV, Nov. 1 in Las Vegas
MEN'S GOLF • Utah head coach Randall McCracken said in a news release that the Utes' fifth-place finish at their home event, the Ogio Invitational, was "really disappointing. You can't play that poorly at your home event, at your home golf course." At Park City's Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country Club, junior Brandon Kida finished first among Utes and 11th overall with a three-day 215.
ON DECK • Price's "Give 'Em Five" Invitational, Oct. 24 in El Paso, Texas
MEN'S TENNIS • Senior Cedric Willems lost in the Flight A final to BYU's Shane Monroe at the Utah Intercollegiate on Saturday, with junior Matt Cowley earning third place. In Flight B, freshman Louis-Phillippe Gascon took third, and in doubles, Willems and junior Jamey Swiggart fell in the final to BYU's Francis Sargent and David Ball. Cowley and Sierra took third.
ON DECK • ITA Regionals, Wednesday through Sunday in Las Vegas
WOMEN'S TENNIS • Utah did not compete this week.
ON DECK • ITA Regionals, Wednesday through Sunday in Albuquerque, N.M.
WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY • Utah did not compete this week.
ON DECK • Indiana State Pre Nationals Invitational, Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind.
SOFTBALL • Utah did not release results of a scrimmage against Colorado State on Saturday in Fort Collins.
ON DECK • Red vs. White scrimmages, Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Utah Softball Stadium
BASEBALL • The Utes played intrasquad scrimmages on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
ON DECK • at UNLV, Saturday at 11 a.m. in Las Vegas
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper