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The Utah men's basketball team's typical social media silence snapped this week, albeit briefly.

Assistant coach Tommy Connor, who hadn't sent an original tweet since Thanksgiving, called Utah's 90-82 win a "gutty effort" as the team overcame illness. Senior guard Brandon Taylor, who hadn't posted in the 90 days since the season started, posted an Instagram picture with a quote attributed to his coach, Larry Krystkowiak: "Have them look at you and say, 'Damn, even that couldn't break him!' "

If there was any question to how much the Utes needed a win over Washington, they revealed it afterwards.

Shooting 67.3 percent, the team's best mark since 2007, made a statement, too. And after the 0-2 trip to Oregon, there's more work for the Utes to do, but they appeared unbroken by the losses — as well as the storm of criticism that came with it.

Given the dramatic swings of Utah's season, the fanbase is restless. Hoping to make the most of a future NBA Draft lottery pick and an upperclassmen-heavy group, many hope for another Sweet 16 run, and some dream even bigger.

These expectations colored Utah's losses last week, when they dropped games due to their own mistakes: turnovers, blown assignments, bad shots and, most notoriously, Taylor's last-second foul that lost a game at Oregon State that the Utes had felt they had in the can.

The Utes are mostly silent on social media, but fans were not: There were loud calls for lineup changes and benchings, with much of the vitriol directed at Taylor. How could a senior make such a bone-headed decision, they wondered.

Between Taylor and Lorenzo Bonam, Krystkowiak didn't offer much quarter for either of his starting guards. On Wednesday night, he said it was "no secret" that they didn't play well in the Oregon games, while Jakob Poeltl, Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Loveridge each had decent scoring efforts in both contests. Taylor and Bonam combined for 8 points on 3-for-11 shooting against the Beavers, and 0-for-6 shooting against the Ducks.

Taylor felt the heat after the Oregon State game. Bonam said Wednesday that it became more real to him this week, when assistant coach DeMarlo Slocum called a few people — Bonam declined to name them — and asked them what they thought of Bonam's play while acting as if the junior guard was not listening in.

Bonam didn't repeat the critiques, but they were apparently searing enough to give him motivation against the Huskies.

"They were telling me how I played," he said. "They would act like I wasn't there, and that made me change my mindset."

While Poeltl and Kuzma are reliable cogs in Utah's offense, Wednesday's game served as a reminder that the Utes are best when their guards can find their groove. Bonam's speed was a weapon, as the guard took drives to the rack before the Huskies' bigs could challenge him. Taylor hit his groove from deep, his four 3-pointers only one less than Loveridge.

One of the most important functions the guards played that Krystkowiak cited was getting the ball motion going. The duo accounted for 10 of Utah's 25 assists, and they both had twice as many assists as turnovers. Poeltl went 11 for 12 around the rim partially because of good passes.

Krystkowiak said his coaches have been waiting for the switch to flip on Bonam, who hasn't always been consistent in his effort. Of Taylor, a four-year starter, Krystkowiak said he simply tried to be patient.

"You can't win too many games without your backcourt getting dialed in," he said. "I am pretty familiar with Brandon's character and I was almost certain he was going to bounce back."

Krystkowiak said he ordered the team to not set foot in the gym Thursday. A day of rest is needed.

It's unclear whether the team will stay off social media, too. But perhaps they've said all they needed to say.

Twitter: @kylegoon —

Utah's tournament résumé

A win against Washington is adding juice to Utah's postseason picture. Some key numbers in the equation:

• 18-7 record, 7-5 in league play

• No. 16 in RPI

• 5-6 vs. RPI top 50

• 12-7 vs. RPI top 100

• No. 45 in Ken Pomeroy rankings

• No. 45 in ESPN's BPI rankings —

Utah vs. Washington State

P At the Huntsman Center

Sunday, 3 p.m.

TV • Pac-12 Network