Utah
UCLA loses by 46 points to Utah, loses for 8th time in past 9 games
After his team sustained a 90-44 loss at Utah on Thursday, UCLA coach Mick Cronin didn’t make excuses for the 46-point defeat, the second-largest loss in Bruins history. (Only a 48-point loss at Stanford in 1997 was worse,per ESPN Stats & Information.)
“We got our ass kicked every way we could,” Cronin said after the game. “Coaching, playing, hustling, everything.”
For the Bruins (6-10, 1-4 in Pac-12), it was their eighth loss in nine games, as a sudden slide continues for a team that had reached the Final Four three years ago.
The storied UCLA program leads all college basketball teams with 11 national titles. Cronin has led the team on a memorable run since his arrival: three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four trip in 2021 that only ended when Gonzaga nailed a last-second winner.
But this team, which boasts NBA talent, will need a sweeping turnaround to even reach the NIT. The squad’s NET ranking is 176. And the Bruins have made only 27.9% of their 3-point attempts, one of the worst marks in the NCAA.
Cronin said the only solution for the funk is better shooting and efficiency. But he also said he does not believe his team has quit on him.
“I think guys got punch-drunk,” Cronin said after the loss. “They’re good kids. We don’t have bad kids, trust me. They listen. They’re embarrassed, but that doesn’t help. I was concerned with this. They’re punch-drunk and you’ve got to fight your way out of it. I’ve been there before. It’s been a while, but I’ve been there before.”
Utah (12-4, 3-2) led UCLA by just three points with 5:04 to play in the first half — and then UCLA fell apart. With 3:03 to play in the game, Utah had a 50-point lead — 87-37 — over UCLA. The Bruins failed to finish with a double-digit scorer for the first time in nearly 30 years, per ESPN Stats & Info.
“I feel like our team’s confidence is not in the best spot,” said UCLA guard Lazar Stefanovic. “I guess that’s normal when you start losing and are on a losing streak, but we’ve got to find a way to pick it up and stick together as a team and lift each other up.”
Cronin said Adem Bona, a projected second-round pick in ESPN’s latest mock NBA draft, has to play better if the Bruins are going to have any chance to improve in the weeks ahead.
He said he told his team postgame Thursday that the tough losses won’t help them earn any sympathy.
“Nobody feels sorry for them,” Cronin said. “I tried to tell them Saturday [following a 66-57 loss to Cal]. Two straight games we’ve given up 14 offensive rebounds. Because that we can control. Well, we should be able to control. Our mind is affected by lack of scoring. [That] starts to affect your defense and your rebounding. That’s when you’re in trouble and that’s what I was grossly concerned about. Knowing how potent [Utah is]. Knowing they’ve got a bunch of guys that can shoot the ball.”
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Utah
Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
Utah
Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong
PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.
The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.
“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.
The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.
“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”
The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.
“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.
The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.
The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.
A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”
Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”
Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.
“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
Utah
Three motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah
HUNTSVILLE , Utah (KUTV) — Three motorcycles crashed on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
Officials said one motorcycle traveling northbound on SR-176 near milepost 10 failed to maintain its lane while navigating a curve.
The bike crossed into oncoming southbound traffic, where it collided with two other motorcycles. Officials said all three riders were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. All were wearing helmets and protective gear.
Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash.
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