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SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah announced Thursday three new basketball series for the upcoming two seasons.
The Runnin’ Utes added Butler and Xavier to its upcoming schedules and have resumed a series with BYU in 2017 after taking a break in the upcoming season. Utah is scheduled to play Butler on Nov. 28, 2016, at the Huntsman Center and Xavier in Cincinnati on Dec. 10, 2016. Utah will resume its series with BYU in either November or December 2017.
“Adding both Butler and Xavier to our 2016-17 schedule gives us an opportunity to play some elite programs in nonconference play,” Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak said in a prepared statement. “Both Butler and Xavier were NCAA Tournament teams last season and they will give us a great test starting Pac-12 play a few weeks later in the season.”
Utah will host two games this season dedicated to “cancer awareness,” including its game against Butler. “We will partner with both the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Butler in support of this cause,” Krystkowiak added.
Utah athletics director Chris Hill said he has talked with BYU athletics director Tom Holmoe and that the two are “in the process of formulating plans for the future with BYU.” Hill added that Utah is also looking at a plan that includes “future matchups with other in-state schools” as well.
The series with Butler and Xavier are home-and-home exchanges, with Utah traveling to Butler and Xavier coming to the Huntsman Center in 2017. This year’s matchup against Xavier will be the first between the two schools. Utah is 1-1 against Butler, winning its last game against the Bulldogs in 1964. Utah last played Butler in 2010, losing 74-62 in the opening round of the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.
Related:
Krystkowiak, Utah stand by decision to pause 'toxic' rivalry
Utah basketball head coach Larry Krystkowiak said Monday he stands by his decision to pause the rivalry between BYU and Utah, saying the pattern of physical play and lack of safety necessitates the "cooling off period."This last season, Xavier was a No. 2 seed heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Musketeers were upset in the second round of the tournament to Wisconsin. Butler, too, was a tournament team, coming in as a No. 9 seed. The Bulldogs lost in the second round of the tournament to No. 1 Virginia.
Utah’s home nonconference schedule this upcoming season will include: Utah Valley, Corcordia, Coppin State, UC-Riverside and Montana State. Utah will play in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii during the week of Christmas. Other teams invited to the tournament include: Illinois State, San Diego State, San Francisco, Southern Miss, Stephan F. Austin, Tulsa and Hawaii.
Contributing: Rod Zundel
