Wrapping up the past week in Utah sports, from Dec. 1 to Dec. 7.
FOOTBALL (No. 23) • For the fourth time in 15 years, Utah will head from Salt Lake City to Sin City to finish its season, having earned an invitation to play 10-2 Colorado State on Dec. 20. Utah coaches spent the past week recruiting while their players healed up — sophomore defensive end Hunter Dimick is expected to play in the bowl — and the Utes will practice four times this week. The early bowl date means Utah will not get as many bowl practices as most other bowl-bound teams, but it's still time the Utes have, that they haven't had in recent years, to learn about the guys who aren't on the two-deep.
Our coverage (or that which is not now totally outdated):
• Colorado State wants to show Utah they're something to be reckoned with
• Utah is a perfect fit for the Vegas Bowl, which has just a 13-day turnaround
• Notes: Kyle Whittingham and Kalani Sitake were tied to coaching vacancies
• A record five Utes get first-team All-Pac-12 honors, tied for conference lead
• With 23, Utah had more All-Pac-12 academic honors than any other school
• Kurt Kragthorpe writes that Mormons are not compelled to cheer for BYU
• Kragthorpe finds reason to be excited about bowl games, including Utah's
ON DECK • vs. Colorado State, 1:30 p.m. MT Saturday, Dec. 20, at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas
MEN'S BASKETBALL (No. 13) • There was some thought that Utah's non-conference schedule — in a complete 180 from last year — might be too tough. Utah eased those fears Wednesday night, dealing Wichita State its first loss in 36 regular-season games. A good thing, too, because they have their work cut out for them this week in visiting 7-2 BYU and No. 10 Kansas.
Our coverage (or that which is not now totally outdated):
• How Austrian Jakob Poeltl wound up in Utah, and maybe the 2015 NBA Draft
• Game story, with photos: Utah stuns Shockers, 69-68, in overtime thriller
• Larry Krystkowiak saw signs that belief in his program was not misplaced
• Kurt Kragthorpe writes that Utah's upset of Wichita State will help in March
• A handful of Utes came up big in Utah's streak-shattering Wednesday victory
• Jordan Loveridge had knee surgery and is expected back for conference play
• Some Utah basketball links following a game that garnered national attention
ON DECK • at BYU, 7 p.m. Wednesday in Provo; at No. 10 Kansas, 1:15 p.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL (No. 20) • Utah's magical run came to an end in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, losing to No. 11 Nebraska on the Huskers' home court before more than 8,000 local fans in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Still, the Utes can treasure wins in seven of their last eight conference matches and a dominating sweep of Kansas State in the first round of the tournament. Beth Launiere's squad loses a wealth of senior leadership but returns some now-seasoned freshmen with the potential to replicate Utah's late-season success in years to come.
ON DECK • Season over.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • Utah halted a four-game skid with a 63-57 win against Utah State on Wednesday and then made it a winning streak with a 62-49 victory against UNLV on Saturday. That's the good news. The bad news? The Utes have already lost three starters due to injury and had just 10 active players Saturday.
ON DECK • vs. Idaho State, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Huntsman Center; vs. BYU, noon Saturday at the Huntsman Center
SWIMMING AND DIVING • Junior Bence Kiraly set a new school record in the 1.650 free for first at the Texas Invitational on Saturday. Other highlights from the meet include a second-place finish from the men's 800 relay team, a second-place finish from senior Alex Fernandes in the 100 fly, and a fourth-place result for senior Maddie Jamora in the 50 free.
ON DECK • at Arizona State, Jan. 9 in Tempe, Ariz.
GYMNASTICS • Utah did not compete this week.
ON DECK • Red Rocks Preview, Dec. 12 at the Huntsman Center
— Matthew Piper
mpiper@sltrib.com
Twitter: @matthew_piper
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah fans stand up and cheer as the Utes take an 11-point lead over the Wichita State Shockers, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes guard Brandon Taylor (11), Jakob Poeltl and Delon Wright celebrate as the University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014. At right is Utah Utes guard Delon Wright (55).
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune The Wichita State bench tenses up late in the game as the University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune The Wichita State bench reacts late in the game as the University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes guard Brandon Taylor (11) leaps into Jakob Poeltl's arms to celebrate as the University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014. At right is Utah Utes guard Delon Wright (55).
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes guard Brandon Taylor (11), Jakob Poeltl and Delon Wright celebrate as the University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014. At right is Utah Utes guard Delon Wright (55).
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah fans cheer as the University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah players celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014. At center is Utah Utes guard Kenneth Ogbe (25).
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes forward Jakob Poeltl (42) high-fives fans afterthe University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes guard Brandon Taylor (11) high-fives fans afterthe University of Utah Utes defeats the Wichita State Shockers in overtime, 69-68, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday December 3, 2014.
Utah's Bailey Bateman (3) and Adora Anae (14) go for a block for against Kansas State during the third set of the NCAA college volleyball championships sub-regional match in Lincoln Neb., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Mark Davis) MAGAZINES OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TELEVISION OUT
Utah's Makenzie Moae'i (9) gets a kill over Kansas State's Kylee Sumach (7) in the third set of the NCAA college volleyball championships sub-regional match in Lincoln Neb., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Mark Davis) MAGAZINES OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TELEVISION OUT
Utah's Chelsey Schofield-Olsen and Bailey Bateman (3) celebrate a kill over Kansas State's Kersten Kober (1) for match point at the NCAA college volleyball championships sub-regional match in Lincoln Neb., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Mark Davis) MAGAZINES OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TELEVISION OUT
Nebraska middle blocker Cecilia Hall (9) blocks a shot by Utah middle blocker Carly Trueman (1) in the second-set of the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/The Journal-Star, Kaylee Everly) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; KOLN-TV OUT; KGIN-TV OUT; KLKN-TV OUT
Nebraska outside hitter Kadie Rolfzen (6) and middle blocker Meghan Haggerty (20) try to stop a shot by Utah middle blocker Bailey Bateman (3) in the second set of the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/The Journal-Star, Kaylee Everly) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; KOLN-TV OUT; KGIN-TV OUT; KLKN-TV OUT
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