We are in the process of formulating plans for the future with BYU. We are also looking at future matchups with other in-state schools. – Utah athletic director Chris Hill

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah and BYU will play ball after all. However, the next men’s basketball meeting between the Utes and Cougars won’t be played until November or December of 2017.

Utah athletics director Chris Hill made the announcement Thursday afternoon, noting an agreement with BYU athletics director Tom Holmoe for a game the season after next in the Marriott Center.

In January, Utah announced it was canceling a scheduled visit to BYU in 2016-17, and head coach Larry Krystkowiak vowed to personally pay the $80,000 penalty for breaking the contract.

It came in the wake of an incident late in the Utes’ 83-75 win over the Cougars a month earlier in the Huntsman Center. BYU’s Nick Emery threw a punch from behind at Utah’s Brandon Taylor.

Krystkowiak explained his decision, at the time, to put the long-running series on hold.

“I am concerned about the potential for serious injury in the current atmosphere of this rivalry. I am not implying that any individual is guilty as I understand fully that situations fueled with this much emotion can create opportunity for people to do things they regret,” he said. “Compounding the problem for me is what I consider to be a lack of remorse after the behavior, both in things said and left unsaid, and I have no reason to believe this pattern of behavior will change on its own.”

The coach also noted that a lot of things have been going on the last 100 years that aren’t right in the rivalry.

“I can give you a long list,” he said. “If this needs to be put on me, as I’m the coach who blew it up, as I’m the coach who couldn’t handle it, so be it.”

Before concluding his January press conference, Krystkowiak mentioned that he was under no illusions that a hiatus would solve the problems.

“I’m not saying a year off is going to change it,” he said. “I just know what I can control is that we’re not going to play. I’m hopeful that it can.”

An uproar followed and led to statements by officials from both schools.

"I am disappointed in the University of Utah's decision to cancel the 2016 basketball game with BYU. As a former player, coach and now administrator, I believe BYU-Utah is one of the great college rivalries in the country. It is bigger than any of the individual participants and should be played every year,” Holmoe said in response. “We value the longstanding relationship with Utah and are hopeful the basketball series, which has been played for more than a century, will continue on a yearly basis in the very near future. I believe the game is important to the players, coaches, alumni and fans."

University of Utah president David Pershing also weighed in on the situation at the time.

“I have had the opportunity to speak to BYU President Kevin Worthen about this issue. We are committed to working together to make this historic rivalry a healthier one,” he said.

Hill followed Krystkowiak’s meeting with the media by expressing optimism about the future of the rivalry.

“Let’s get this right so it can continue for a long time,” he said.

On Thursday, Hill had more to say about it.

“We are in the process of formulating plans for the future with BYU,” Hill stated. “We are also looking at future matchups with other in-state schools.”

Utah’s 2016-17 schedule includes a game with Utah Valley University in the Huntsman Center. It was overshadowed, though, by the announcement that the Utes will face national powers Butler and Xavier next season. They’ll host the Bulldogs on Nov. 28 and meet the Musketeers Dec. 10 in Cincinnati. Return games are set for 2017-18.

“Adding both Butler and Xavier to our 2016-17 schedule gives us an opportunity to play some elite programs in non-conference play,” Krystkowiak said in the announcement. “Both Butler and Xavier were NCAA Tournament teams last season and they will give us a great test before starting Pac-12 play a few weeks later in the season.”

Krystkowiak added that the home game against Butler will also be one of two “cancer awareness” contests the Utes will play next season.

“We will partner with both the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Butler in support of this cause.”

Besides Xavier, Utah’s non-conference road slate also includes the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii over Christmas.

Email: dirk@desnews.com

Twitter: @DirkFacer