College Basketball World Reacts To Utah’s Back-To-Back Wins
Feb 18, 2025, 1:52 AM | Updated: 12:39 pm
SALT LAKE CITY —Utah back-to-back over the Sunflower State this weekend. After surprising the country with a 74-67 win over the Kansas Jayhawks, the Utes doubled up on the surprise with a 74-69 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats.
It was a sluggish back-and-forth for most of the game, but Utah dug deep and found a way to win. The win gets Utah to 15-11 overall and 7-8 in league play.
Forward Ezra Ausar led the way for Utah with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and an impressive 7-of-7 shooting from the free throw line. Big man Lawson Lovering finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, converting 7-of-12 from the line.
This was a big pair of victories for the Utes, and the college basketball world took notice.
College Basketball World Reacts To Utah’s Back-To-Back Wins
What a couple of days for Craig Smith and Utah. Back-to-back wins in SLC over Kansas and Kansas State. The Utes are battling in the Big 12.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 18, 2025
Utah will beat Kansas and Kansas State in a three-day span. Wasatch whammy in effect.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) February 18, 2025
Utah knocks off Kansas and Kansas State back to back at home. Signs of life!
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 18, 2025
The great home stand continues for the Utes!
Great bubble battle sees Utah outlast Kansas State. Utes remain in the broader bubble conversation.
Probably need a 4-1 finish to get in. K State likely needs to win out. Both beyond first 6 out
— T3 Bracketology™️🏀 (@T3Bracketology) February 18, 2025
UTAH!!
Back to back wins over Kansas and Kansas State keep the Utes Tournament chances alive! Utah likely needs to go 4-1 to have a shot at an at-large bid. 3-2 might be enough if it includes a win @ Arizona.
For Kansas State, much has been made about the JBR elimination call… pic.twitter.com/csNiskYm8M
— JBR Bracketology (@JBRBracketology) February 18, 2025
Utah held off Kansas State tonight, 74-69. Ezra Ausar provided security for the home Utes, going perfectly from the line and scoring 21 points.
Utes shot just 3-for-19 from downtown but had such a huge rebounding edge (51-28) to help offset it.#Big12
— Rocco Miller (@RoccoMiller8) February 18, 2025
Kansas State’s time on the bubble lasts all of six days.
Wildcats back to 13-13 and 7-8 in the league after losing at Utah. Best path now is the autobid in the Big 12 tournament.
Utah wins on back of 21 offensive rebounds. Nice few days for the Utes.
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) February 18, 2025
Utah’s rewarding back-to-back wins over the Sunflower State
In today’s college athletics, NIL is almost everything to a program’s success. In the Big 12 Conference, basketball has been elite for quite some time. Multiple national champions over the last 10 years reside in the Big 12, and accordingly, the price to compete in this league is sky-high.
Kansas and Kansas State have recruited at an elite level for years. But they are programs with a very large pool of resources—in fact, two of the largest in the league. It’s believed that these two rosters combined have somewhere north of $15 million invested in them.
To knock off both programs with a fraction of the budget adds to the magnitude of these two wins for Smith and the Runnin’ Utes.
UP NEXT – Utah vs UCF
Utah will now get to enjoy some time off. They will head to Orlando this weekend for a Sunday afternoon tilt. The Runnin’ Utes will try to get a road win inside Addition Financial Arena. Drew Fellios will have the action alongside former UCF Knight BJ Taylor on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. (MST).
