This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Wrapping up the past week in Utah sports, from Dec. 15 to Dec. 21.

FOOTBALL (No. 23) • Raise your hand if you thought Utah would win nine games this season. Outside of the team itself, few did. But Utah finished with a winning record in the Pac-12 and then demonstrated in the Las Vegas Bowl just how far it has come against one of the Mountain West Conference's best teams. The ship appears to be steering toward shore. Now it becomes a question of who will remain aboard. Utah might lose coaches, juniors eligible for the draft and quarterbacks looking to play sooner. The offseason will be a triumph for Utah fans if those folks all return to take a crack at the Rose Bowl and beyond.

Our coverage (or that which is not now totally outdated):

• Kyle Whittingham savors his favorite season since the 2008 Sugar Bowl

• Game story, with photos: Utah beats Colorado State 45-10 in Las Vegas

• Colorado State's No. 12-ranked offense was no match for Utah's defense

• Travis Wilson ended his roller coaster season back at the top in the bowl

• Gordon Monson writes that Utah finished strong with an atypical blowout

• Utah fans come out in droves for afternoon Vegas Bowl, late-night hoops

• Game notes: Utah compliance office earns assist with Jason Thompson

• A week on The Strip offered bowl participants a chance to test their luck

• Bowl notes: For TE Westlee Tonga, Vegas doubled as a free honeymoon

• More All-America honors for Tom Hackett, Nate Orchard and Kaelin Clay

• CSU interim head coach Dave Baldwin was in a tough spot during bowl

ON DECK • Season over

MEN'S BASKETBALL (No. 14) • After an influx of new contributors, Utah is starting to settle into a regular rotation, and an identity. The Utes haven't allowed an opponent to score 70 since the opener, against Ball State, and rank No. 23 in scoring defense at 56.8. In Las Vegas on Saturday, before a crowd that was roughly half locals and half Utah fans who'd traveled to take in the football/basketball doubleheader, the Utes were impenetrable. The Runnin' Rebels shot under 33 percent and managed just 23 points in each half, and guards Brandon Taylor and Delon Wright made The Strip live up to its name, combining for 10 steals. The worst of the nonconference schedule is now behind them — although Tuesday's opponent is 9-3 and most recently beat Utah State in Logan on Saturday.

Our coverage (or that which is not now totally outdated):

• Game story: Utah's defense gives it the edge against the Runnin' Rebels

• The Utes showed they're of tough mind and strong chin at MGM Grand

• Notes: Despite hints, coaches made few changes to the rotation in Vegas

• True freshman forward Brekkott Chapman embraced his supporting role

ON DECK • vs. South Dakota State, 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Huntsman Center

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • True freshman Joeseta Fatuesi had her best performance to date, with 16 points and nine boards, as the Utes beat Louisiana Tech 67-52 at the Huntsman Center. Utah is 5-1 — with all five wins coming at home — despite a spate of early season injuries that have cut the rotation by a third.

ON DECK • vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m. Monday at the Huntsman Center

GYMNASTICS (No. 6) • The Red Rocks were picked to repeat as Pac-12 champions, edging UCLA.

ON DECK • at BYU, Jan. 9 in Provo

SWIMMING AND DIVING (Men: No. 24) • Utah did not compete this week.

ON DECK • at Arizona State, Jan. 9 in Tempe, Ariz.

— Matthew Piper

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper