Utah
What stands out about Utah basketball’s nonconference schedule this season
Utah men’s basketball knows what its schedule will look like during its first season in the Big 12 Conference.
The Runnin’ Utes announced their nonconference portion of the 2024-25 schedule on Monday, giving a glimpse at who Utah will face before the grind of league play begins in arguably the nation’s top men’s basketball conference.
Utah basketball’s nonconference schedule, 2024-25 season
Nov. 4 — Alcorn State
Nov. 7 — Central Arkansas
Nov. 12 — Queens
Nov. 17 — vs. Mississippi State*
Nov. 22 — Utah Tech
Nov. 26 — Mississippi Valley State&
Nov. 30 — Eastern Washington&
Dec. 7 — Saint Mary’s
Dec. 14 — Radford
Dec. 17 — Florida A&M
Dec. 21 — vs. Iowa^
* at Landers Center (Southaven, Mississippi)
& Mountain to Sea Showcase (at Huntsman Center)
^ at Sanford Pentagon (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
3 things that stand out about Utah’s nonconference schedule
Utah has a home schedule tailor made for wins, not as much for a resume builder
The Utes should be heavy favorites in all but one of their home games during the nonconference portion of the schedule — the lone exception is the matchup with Saint Mary’s.
The other eight schools Utah will face in the Huntsman Center before mid-December are all ranked No. 281 or worse in Bart Torvik’s preseason rankings for the 2024-25 college basketball season.
The Gaels, meanwhile, will provide a stiff challenge — they are ranked No. 38 and are coming off three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Last year, Utah went to Moraga, California, and beat Saint Mary’s on its home court, but wasn’t able to build off that impressive win the rest of the year.
This time, the Utes will have the chance to beat the Gaels again, this time at home — and again, that game looks like it will be an important one for the resume.
The two trips out of state will challenge the Utes
While it’s been eight years and counting since Utah last made the NCAA Tournament, their two neutral-site opponents have NCAA experience much more recently.
A win over one — or both — would bolster the Utes’ NCAA resume ahead of Big 12 play.
First, the Utes will face Mississippi State on No. 17 at Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi.
Then, Utah will wrap up its nonleague slate with a matchup against Iowa at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Dec. 21.
Mississippi State is No. 22 in Torvik’s preseason rankings, while Iowa is No. 45.
Mississippi State has made it to the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, where it has lost in its opening game each time — in the First Four two years ago, then in the first round last year.
There is some recent experience between the Utes and Bulldogs: two years ago, Mississippi State edged Utah 52-49 in the Ft. Myers Tip-Off championship game.
This is the first of a two-game agreement between Utah and Mississippi State — the Bulldogs will face the Utes at the Delta Center on Dec. 13, 2025.
Iowa, meanwhile, has played in the NCAA Tournament four of the past five seasons.
The Utes and Hawkeyes met in the NIT second round last year, with Utah beating Iowa 91-82 at the Huntsman Center.
The nonconference schedule gives Utah a chance to mesh at home
Nine of Utah’s 11 out-of-conference games will be played at home in the Huntsman Center.
Last season, the Utes went 6-0 at the Huntsman Center in nonconference play, and that set the tone as the Utes ended up going 17-2 on their home court during the season.
With the amount of roster turnover the Utes are experiencing this year, not to mention the coaching staff changes, the heavy dose of home games will hopefully help Utah find ways to mesh together before the meat of the schedule, Big 12 play, hits.
The Utes only return four scholarship players — a fifth if you count former walk-on Jayden Teat — and brought in seven Division I transfers. A home-heavy schedule to start the year should help as the team tries to build chemistry early in the year.
What does Utah’s Big 12 conference schedule look like?
Exact dates have not been set for the 20-game Utes’ Big 12 schedule.
The league, though, has announced the scheduling matrix for each team.
The highlight for Utah will be hosting blue blood program Kansas at the Huntsman Center.
Here’s a look at the Utes’ Big 12 opponent matrix for the upcoming season:
- Home-and-away: Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
- Home-only: Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech
- Away-only: Arizona, UCF, Houston, Iowa State, TCU
Utah
Utah man dies of injuries sustained in avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A man died after he was caught in an avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend.
A spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that Kevin Williams, 57, had died.
He, along with one other person, was hospitalized in critical condition after Saturday’s avalanche in the backcountry.
MORE | Big Cottonwood Canyon Avalanche
In an interview with 2News earlier this week, one of Williams’ close friends, Nate Burbidge, described him as a loving family man.
“Kevin’s an amazing guy. He’s always serving, looking for ways that he can connect with others,” Burbidge said.
A GoFundMe was set up to help support Williams’ family.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
_____
Utah
911 recordings detail hours leading up to discovery of Utah girl, mother dead in Las Vegas
CONTENT WARNING: This report discusses suicide and includes descriptions of audio from 911 calls that some viewers may find disturbing.
LAS VEGAS — Exclusively obtained 911 recordings detail the hours leading up to the discovery of an 11-year-old Utah girl and her mother dead inside a Las Vegas hotel room in an apparent murder-suicide.
Addi Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, lived in West Jordan and had traveled to Nevada for the JAMZ cheerleading competition.
The calls show a growing sense of urgency from family members and coaches, and several hours passing before relatives learned what happened.
MORE | Murder-Suicide
Below is a timeline of the key moments, according to dispatch records. All times are Pacific Time.
10:33 a.m. — Call 1
After Addi and her mother failed to appear at the cheerleading competition, Addi’s father and stepmother called dispatch for a welfare check.
Addi and her mother were staying at the Rio hotel. The father told dispatch that hotel security had already attempted contact.
“Security went up and knocked on the door. There’s no answer or response it doesn’t look like they checked out or anything…”
11:18 a.m. and 11:27 a.m. — Calls 2 and 3
As concern grew, Addi’s coach contacted the police two times within minutes.
“We think the child possibly is in imminent danger…”
11:26 a.m. — Call 4
Addi’s stepmother placed another call to dispatch, expressing escalating concern.
“We are extremely concerned we believe that something might have seriously happened.”
She said that Tawnia’s car was still at the hotel.
Police indicated officers were on the way.
2:26 p.m. — Call 5
Nearly three hours after the initial welfare check request, fire personnel were en route to the scene. It appeared they had been in contact with hotel security.
Fire told police that they were responding to a possible suicide.
“They found a note on the door.”
2:35 p.m. — Call 6
Emergency medical personnel at the scene told police they had located two victims.
“It’s going to be gunshot wound to the head for both patients with notes”
A dispatcher responded:
“Oh my goodness that’s not okay.”
2:36 p.m. — Call 7
Moments later, fire personnel relayed their assessment to law enforcement:
“It’s going to be a murder suicide, a juvenile and a mother.”
2:39 p.m. — Call 8
Unaware of what had been discovered, Addi’s father called dispatch again.
“I’m trying to file a missing persons report for my daughter.”
He repeats the details he knows for the second time.
3:13 p.m. — Call 9
Father and stepmother call again seeking information and continue to press for answers.
“We just need some information. There was a room check done around 3:00 we really don’t know where to start with all of this Can we have them call us back immediately?”
Dispatch responded:
“As soon as there’s a free officer, we’ll have them reach out to you.”
4:05 p.m. — Call 10
More than an hour later, Addi’s father was put in contact with the police on the scene. He pleaded for immediate action.
“I need someone there I need someone there looking in that room”
The officer confirmed that they had officers currently in the room.
Addi’s father asks again what they found, if Addi and her mother are there, and if their things were missing.
The officer, who was not on scene, said he had received limited information.
5:23 p.m. — Call 11
Nearly seven hours after the first welfare check request, Addi’s grandmother contacted police, describing conflicting information circulating within the family.
“Some people are telling us that they were able to get in, and they were not in the hotel room, and other people saying they were not able to get in the hotel room, and we need to know”
She repeated the details of the case. Dispatch said officers will call her back once they have more information.
Around 8:00 p.m. — Press Conference
Later that evening, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police held a news conference confirming that Addi and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, were found dead inside the hotel room.
The investigation remains ongoing.
______
Utah
Ban on AI glasses in Utah classrooms inches closer to passing
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — AI glasses could allow you to get answers, snap photos, access audio and take phone calls—and now a proposal moving through the legislature would ban the glasses from Utah school classrooms.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Kizzy Guyton Murphy, a mother who accompanied her child’s class on a field trip to the state Capitol on Wednesday. “You can’t see inside what the student is looking at, and it’s just grounds for cheating.”
Mom Tristan Davies Seamons also sees trouble with AI glasses.
“I don’t think they should have any more technology in schools than they currently have,” she said.
Her twin daughters, fourth graders Finley and Grayson, don’t have cell phones yet.
“Not until we’re like 14,” said Grayson, adding they do have Chromebooks in school.
2News sent questions to the Utah State Board of Education:
- Does it have reports of students using AI glasses?
- Does it see cheating and privacy as major concerns?
- Does it support a ban from classrooms?
Matt Winters, USBE AI specialist, said the board has not received reports from school districts of students with AI glasses.
“Local Education Agencies (school districts) have local control over these decisions based on current law and code,” said Winters. “The Board has not taken a position on AI glasses.
MORE | Utah State Legislature:
Some districts across the country have reportedly put restrictions on the glasses in schools.
“I think it should be up to the teachers,” said Briauna Later, another mother who is all for preventing cheating, but senses a ban could leave administrators with tired eyes.
“It’s one more thing for the administration to have to keep track of,” said Later.
The proposal, HB 42, passed the House and cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
___
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making