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SALT LAKE CITY — Canceling the Utah-BYU rivalry game was a surpise to all, even former Runnin' Utes center Dallin Bachynski.
For more than a decade, BYU and Utah were playing in the same conference. There was a home game in Provo and a home game in Salt Lake City since 2010. On June 17, 2010, the University of Utah joined the Pac-12 Conference and BYU was left behind. The rivalry game was now played as a non-conference game with each team getting a home game only once a year.
When the news broke that the University of Utah wouldn't be playing BYU in Provo next season, Bachynski too was shocked and couldn't believe that the rivalry was coming to an end.
"I was a little disappointed just because it was one of the games that I always looked forward to, and in my opinion I don't think not playing for a year or two years that there won't be a rivalry." Bachynski said.
Bachynski was known for his hard work and was an exceptional role player for the University of Utah. He hustled on the basketball court, rebounded, blocked shots, set screens and knocked down shots when needed. He was a key player in the Runnin' Utes' success last year, leading Utah to the Sweet 16 in Houston against Duke.
Even though Utah and BYU were in different conferences, it wouldn't stop the heated rivalry. In fact, nothing would stop it. This game was different than the rest, and the players knew it too. Bachynski had his own scuffle back in 2013 when BYU came to the Huntsman Center to take on the Runnin' Utes. He and freshman center Eric Mika for BYU went at it back and forth throughout the game. Bachynski slowed down Mika and got in his head. He made him earn every point that he could. On one specific instance, Mika was called for a high foul on Bachynski, sending him to the locker room with a flagrant-2 foul on Bachynski.
"During the game I could tell he was getting more and more frutstrated and part of it was because he was a freshman," Bachynski said. "It wasn't like he was trying to injure me by any means. It was more a basketball play and his hands hit my face."
Basketball is a physical sport, and Bachynski knew what happened with Mika wouldn't change his perception toward him nor BYU.
"Mika was frustrated and couldn't make a play on the ball," Bachynski said. "I talked with Mika afterwards and he's a good guy. I'm not concerned for my safety if I ever play against him again, it's basketball."
Whether who's right or who's wrong, the Utah-BYU rivalry will always be a rivalry game whether they play next year or not.
"It's always a good game," Bachynski said. "It's exciting and people want that excitement and fight. I would love to see the rivalry keep going and I don't think a two-year hiatus is going to change anything."
Only time will tell what's going to happen in the future of the Utah-BYU rivalry game. But say what you want, this game will be missed.
