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As the Utah men's basketball team opens the Pac-12 schedule Thursday night at Arizona State, the projections are rather bleak.

The Utes don't appear capable of exploiting a down cycle for the conference, with no teams ranked in the Top 25. With three freshman starters, a lack of defensive ability and a schedule that allows them to play two other struggling teams (Stanford and California) only once each, the Utes (6-6) seem to be in a rough season. Utah was picked to finish eighth in the Pac-12. That looks ambitious at the moment. The analytics of kenpom.com and ESPN's Basketball Power Index rank the Utes No. 10 in the conference, ahead of Washington State and Cal.

Some fans have suggested this basketball season is their punishment for enjoying a football season that produced a Pac-12 South championship. The football team went 6-3 in league play; the BPI projects 6.1 conference wins for the basketball team. If they Utes finish 6-12, they would be 12-18 overall going into the Pac-12 tournament.

The Utes haven't finished below .500 in conference play since 2012-13, when they went 5-13 in coach Larry Krystkowiak's second season.

The BPI gives the Utes a 41.8-percent chance of winning Thursday at ASU.

Our stories of the past week.

The buildup to the Holiday Bowl included a look at cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s athletic and academic success. (TRIB)

In the context of what happened against Northwestern, here’s some appreciation and explanation for what the Utes formerly did in bowl games. (TRIB)

And then, as we know, everything fell apart in the second half against the Wildcats. (TRIB)

Ute linebacker Cody Barton had a strong critique of his team’s collapse. Here’s columnist Gordon Monson’s analysis. (TRIB)

So what’s next for the Utes? One checkpoint is the NFL’s deadline is Jan. 14 for underclassmen to make themselves eligible. (TRIB)

Monson outlines the five areas Kyle Whittingham must address going into next season. (TRIB)

In a theme of the week, Utah’s basketball team showing against No. 6 Nevada was encouraging for a half. (TRIB)

Here’s a look at the rest of the conference, going into the Pac-12 basketball schedule. (TRIB)

Thursday’s game is a homecoming for Ute freshman Timmy Allen, who grew up quickly amid his family circumstances. (TRIB)

The Utah women’s basketball team already opened Pac-12 play with a win. This was our wrapup of the nonconference schedule. (TRIB)

The Ute women’s gymnastics season starts Saturday. Here’s a look at the team from our gymnastics expert, Lya Wodraska. (TRIB)

Other voices

Dan Sorensen of the Ute Zone projects the 2019 football depth chart. (UTE)

SI.com examines just how bad the outlook is for Pac-12 men’s basketball, and why. (SI)

And one effect of the state of the league is a lot of teams have a chance to complete. (MERC)

Around campus

• The Utah women’s basketball team continues to be a good story. Having opened conference play with a 76-61 win at Colorado, the Utes are 12-0 – the second-best start in program history. Unlike the men’s basketball landscape in the Pac-12, the conference has five women’s teams in the AP Top 25: No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Stanford, No. 11 Oregon State, No. 18 California and No. 22 Arizona State. The Utes, who are just outside the rankings at No. 28, host ASU on Friday and Arizona on Sunday.

The consolation for Utah is the scheduling rotation is helpful. The Utes play those top four teams only once each. Watch for Christopher Kamrani’s thorough look at the team, to be posted at sltrib.com.

• Utah’s lacrosse program is only four weeks away from its debut. The Utes will host Vermont on Feb. 1 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in a game televised by the Pac-12 Networks. Utah’s other home games in 2019 will be played at Judge Memorial High School’s McCarthey Stadium, while the Utes' new soccer/lacrosse venue is being built.

Other opening days for Utah's spring sports include Feb. 8 for the softball team in Arizona State's tournament and Feb. 15 for the baseball team in Texas State's tournament.

• The Ute men’s and women’s ski teams begin competition next week in the Colorado Invitational, Feb. 10-13.