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.

The odds were stacked against Utah going into its final game of the regular season on the road against No. 23 BYU.

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.

BYU basketball coach Kevin Young said his team is 'ready to take the world on' in the Big 12 tournament after concluding the regular season with eight straight wins