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.

Kansas head coach Bill Self said on Monday that KU itself is his sleeper team heading into the Big 12 tournament. “This year’s been — and last year too — probably been more inconsistent going into the tournament than maybe we have in past years,