We owe them one,” Ausar said first when the pair was asked about Utah’s Big 12 tournament first-round opponent, UCF. “Yeah, we owe them one, so get the win. Simple,” Little quickly quipped. That moment of decisiveness from the two Runnin’ Utes is a microcosm of the togetherness this current group of players and coaches is trying to finish the season with.

The Runnin' Utes would have to pull off a miracle run in the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City to make the NCAA Tournament. No. 14-seeded UCF is up next for Utah in the conference tournament. The Utes lost to the Knights in Orlando less than two weeks ago.

Utah men's basketball coach Craig Smith was fired Monday with four games remaining in his fourth season at the school

The University of Utah reportedly owes former men's basketball head coach Craig Smith approximately $5 million after firing him, as his contract was fully guaranteed. Smith signed a six-year, $12.6 million deal in 2021,

The Utes were one week removed from beating Kansas and Kansas State. They were a tick under .500 in Big 12 play, and they had a manageable stretch upcoming — so manageable that it was easy to envision the Utes, who were picked dead last in the Big 12’s preseason media poll, finishing as high as sixth or seventh place.

Eilert, who joined Smith’s staff last offseason after serving as interim head coach at West Virginia for the entire 2023-24 campaign, shared his appreciation for the professionalism he’s seen out of both players and staff members during these first few days of the transition.

Craig Smith's days as the head coach of the Utah men's basketball team have come to an end, according to multiple reports.

WATCH: Tommy Lloyd gets emotional when talking about Brady and Landon Smith, sons of former Utah Head Coach Craig Smith. Smith was fired Monday. Landon (Director of Operations) and Brady (Walk-on) were with the team in McKale tonight. pic.twitter.com/SEoiUIiwKH