Utah makes Big 12 debut at No. 25 Baylor

Utah will play its first-ever Big 12 Conference game when it visits No. 25 Baylor on Tuesday in Waco, Texas.

Despite that -- and the fact the Utes (8-3) and Bears (8-3) haven't met since 1960 -- there will be a bit of familiarity between the two programs. Utah relies on two ex-Baylor athletes in point guard Miro Little (7.8 points, 5.2 assists per game) and dual-sport standout Caleb Lohner (6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds).

Little saw action in 34 games with Baylor during the 2023-24 season, averaging 1.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists off the bench. And Lohner, who had four touchdown receptions for Utah's football team this fall, played 69 games for the Bears' basketball team from 2022-24. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 boards last season and set a Baylor NCAA Tournament shooting record by going 5-for-5 from the field.

Utah enters Big 12 play with four players scoring in double figures, including twin brothers Gabe Madsen (18.8) and Mason Madsen (12.5) along with Lawson Lovering (13.7) and Ezra Ausar (10.6).

The Utes, 3-0 all-time vs. Baylor, most recently lost to Iowa, 95-88 in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 21.

"I'm really excited about our team. I think we're going to have a great year," Utah coach Craig Smith said. "We've been through a lot with some injuries early, so we've had to keep redefining ourselves.

"I thought we really made some good strides (recently)," he added. "We're 8-3 and in the three losses, we were probably six possessions away from being 11-0. We've got to find a way to win those games."

Baylor had ups and downs in nonconference play. The Bears were throttled by No. 6 Gonzaga in the opener, 101-63, and suffered setbacks to No. 11 Tennessee (77-62) and No. 25 UConn (76-72). But they defeated No. 22 St. John's (99-98, 2OT) and enter Big 12 play on a three-game winning streak.

Baylor coach Scott Drew likes where his team is coming off a 107-53 rout of Arlington Baptist last Friday.

"From a coaching standpoint, I think this game accomplished everything that we wanted it to," Drew said. "(We were) able to get the rust out, able to try a bunch of different lineups, work on a couple things. And, at the same time, be able to play a lot of guys and get a chance with the long break to have a game before conference."

Miami transfer Norchad Omier tops Baylor with 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per outing. Robert Wright III (12.9), Jeremy Roach (12.2), Jayden Nunn (12.1) and VJ Edgecombe (11.7) have also been contributors to a potent Baylor offense that averages 86.9 points.

"The good thing is, our returning players have been able to share their wisdom and knowledge about Big 12 play," Drew said. "And one thing about portal players is they've played college basketball, they know how hard it is come league play."

--Field Level Media