It’s now been about 10 days since the Utah Jazz were at a big crossroads of the season. Having won 3 of their last 6, Utah has done a great job putting them back into the best position possible to get some top-tier talent. It’s an impressive move of a cohesive plan that puts the Jazz on a track to have a chance at a title. That move will have incredible benefits in the long term. With so many long-term goals happening, it’s easy to forget the short-term moves in a losing season like this one. One of those moves the Jazz deserve credit for is signing Drew Eubanks this offseason.

There are two plays that have proven that Eubanks has been an incredible leader and teammate on the floor. The first was this play a few weeks ago against the Charlotte Hornets. Cody Williams, who has struggled this season, had a nice drive, completing an and-1. Williams, who appears very understated in general, didn’t react much. But who grabs him and makes a big deal of it? Drew Eubanks. It’s big brother energy, and I love it.

The next play was last night against the Memphis Grizzlies. In this game, Keyonte George was likely frustrated because it was the first time coming off the bench this season. On top of that, he did not shoot the ball well, and tension had to be mounting. In this play, George travels and turns over the ball. Ja Morant, who weirdly doesn’t make eye contact the whole time, tries to punk Keyonte George, even shoving him. You can see Eubanks watching the whole thing, then runs up to support Keyonte George, and shoving the eye contact, avoiding Morant out of the way. (One important thing from this video, they don’t include an important aspect of the altercation later between Drew Eubanks and Zach Edey. But I have that full altercation in the next video.)

That altercation leads to technicals, and play continues. I’d also like to add that Tom Segura Taylor Jenkins seems incapable of understanding when his own team starts an altercation.

The next play is the one that drew all the interest online. In the video below, you can see Zach Edey try a pathetic little elbow to … get back at Eubanks? Then Eubanks comes up the floor and shows him how you actually lay a shoulder into someone. Edey staggers back like Herman Munster tripping over his own giant, Frankenstein-sized shoes and then tries to walk up on Eubanks. Of course, he doesn’t do a thing, and the officials end up ejecting Drew Eubanks.

The NBA season moves quickly, and this will soon be forgotten. There is one group that won’t forget it, though: those in the Jazz locker room. But that matters the most for two reasons. Eubanks showed that he will have his teammates back when they need it and it also showed the young players how to handle a situation like that. Instead of the Grizzlies being able to try and punk Keyonte George all game, they had to deal with the tough-nosed Drew Eubanks.

Something tells me this is the face of someone who’s more than happy to get into it with anyone on the floor.

Like I said before, this offseason move might have been one of the best ones. The Jazz needed a player to teach toughness to this young team. It’s clear the Jazz knew that Eubanks could do it, and he has.

With the new administration officially taking the reins, the future of immigrants in the United States is precarious. Immigration was a significant factor for about 6 in 10 voters in the presidential election, and they will be looking to newly minted leaders — who ran on a platform promising to address it — for action. But as we begin to explore the immigration issue in Utah and across the country, we need to remember the benefits that immigrants bring to our country and work together to develop comprehensive, bipartisan solutions.

Immigrants’ contributions to our country’s economic growth cannot be understated. As of last year, there were 31 million immigrants working in the United States — or 18.6% of the total labor force. In Utah, almost 10% of our population is foreign-born. These immigrants are essential workers, accounting for 14.7% of entrepreneurs, 10.6% of STEM workers and 20.5% of the construction workforce in the state. To sustain this growth and allow our economy to thrive, our legislators must simplify and create more legal pathways for immigrants to come to the United States. But our communities need immigrants for more than the economic benefits. These individuals and families contribute to our society as neighbors, friends, students and much more.

Communities are stronger when they consist of people with diverse ideas, backgrounds and perspectives. Our businesses, schools, churches and communities are made better by acceptance and openness. To be sure, there are steps that we must take to strengthen immigration policy, but as our elected leaders take these steps, they must endeavor to better understand these issues and develop more comprehensive solutions that foster creativity, innovation and better decision-making in our workplaces, schools and neighborhoods.

Having lived overseas for several years because of my husband’s work, I can sympathize with the immigrant experience. It is difficult to be a foreigner in an unfamiliar land. You’re functioning in an entirely new language. You lack the cultural cues and shared experiences that are crucial for navigating the school system, health care and everyday life. Still, I was fortunate to have the support of my husband and family, which not everyone does. This experience made clear to me just how much courage it takes to move to another country permanently. I admire immigrants — in the United States and beyond.

For instance, while living in the Middle East, I met families who fled their native countries for their safety and religious freedom. Many individuals fled their countries due to political instability or because they were driven by their most deeply held beliefs. They faced incredible danger to reach safety. Hearing their touching stories about escaping their countries was humbling and inspiring.

They were allowed temporary refugee status in neighboring countries, but many were applying for asylum in the United States, Canada or other countries that offered more stability and opportunity. This process was long, expensive and filled with uncertainty. Some waited years — and others are still waiting. According to the International Rescue Committee, there are currently “more than two million pending asylum cases in the U.S. The backlog of asylum cases has led to unprecedented waiting times, forcing asylum seekers to endure waits of up to seven years.”

These families live in limbo: They can’t return to their home countries due to the danger they face, and they can’t stay permanently in their current country. The long, arduous pathway to citizenship in the U.S. often puts people in difficult positions, even if they are trying to do things legally.

When I moved back to Utah, I was welcomed by my neighbors, my church and my community at large. Every immigrant who is here to contribute should be met with the same receptivity. Our laws and communities must be more open to people from other countries. Change and growth are difficult, but integration makes us stronger — and immigrants aren’t the only ones who benefit. Regular interactions with people from different cultures promote tolerance and challenge stereotypes, helping us see each other as individuals, neighbors, co-workers and friends. Accepting others into our communities doesn’t mean betraying our beliefs or traditions; it means recognizing that, as humans, we share more in common than we differ.

We need immigrants as workers — but moreover, for their ideas and friendship. Legislators must create more legal pathways for immigrants — and as citizens, we must welcome them when they arrive.

Utah ended its week with an 0-2 record against two of the most athletic teams it will face in the Big 12, as visiting Baylor came into the Huntsman Center and handed the Runnin’ Utes a 76-61 loss Saturday afternoon.

While Utah started the game strong and put forth a competitive effort through good portions of the contest, a particularly long drought in the first half was too much to overcome.

3 takeaways

Utah went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal. The Utes went as cold as they have all season — yes, worse than Wednesday’s loss to Houston — during a first-half stretch that saw them go from up seven to down by as many as 16 in the opening 20 minutes.

After the Utes led 11-4 on a Lawson Lovering layup with 16:35 in the first half, the Bears outscored Utah 30-7 over the next 11 minutes.

There was also a nearly 10-minute stretch wherein the Utes missed 13 straight field goals. Zach Keller’s made 3 with 13:10 in the half marked Utah’s last made field goal before 13 straight misses that was mercifully ended by a Miro Little 3 with 3:27 until halftime.

Utah ended up shooting 35.7% in the first half and 40% for the game

While the Utes were able to get nice games from Ezra Ausar (19 points, seven rebounds) and Little (12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists), they couldn’t come back from that early deficit.

VJ Edgecombe shows why he’s a projected lottery pick. True freshman wing VJ Edgecombe gave the visiting Bears a spark, particularly during that decisive first half.

He scored 14 points during the opening 20 minutes while shooting 5 of 10 from the field, and that helped Baylor take a 38-31 edge into halftime.

Utah struggled to contain Edgecombe, as he ended the game with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Big man Norchad Omier was also a matchup nightmare for Utah — he had a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

As a team, Baylor outshot the Utes, hitting 43.9% from the floor.

Baylor’s second-chance points and offensive rebounds were key. The Bears helped keep the Utah offense out of rhythm by extending possessions.

While the numbers don’t paint a sizable edge for Baylor in both offensive rebounds and second-chance points, the Bears benefitted from some timely contributions in both that kept them from letting Utah seriously challenge.

Baylor ended up with 15 offensive rebounds to 14 for Utah, and the Bears turned that into an 18-12 advantage in second-chance points.

What’s next

Utah (11-8, 3-5 Big 12) will stay at home for a matchup next Tuesday against Cincinnati. The game will tip at 8 p.m. MST and be televised on CBS Sports Network.

The Bearcats (12-6, 2-5 Big 12) play at BYU later Saturday.