Head coach Craig Smith was ultimately fired as the Runnin' Utes head coach that morning, leaving Madsen, the rest of the players and coaching staff to pick up the pieces. “It was the last thing I expected,” Madsen said. “I just felt a lot of emotions this week, and just obviously very sad the first day it happened, seeing Coach Smith.

Eilert, who joined Smith’s staff last offseason after serving as interim head coach at West Virginia for the entire 2023-24 campaign, shared his appreciation for the professionalism he’s seen out of both players and staff members during these first few days of the transition.

The Utes were one week removed from beating Kansas and Kansas State. They were a tick under .500 in Big 12 play, and they had a manageable stretch upcoming — so manageable that it was easy to envision the Utes, who were picked dead last in the Big 12’s preseason media poll, finishing as high as sixth or seventh place.

The University of Utah reportedly owes former men's basketball head coach Craig Smith approximately $5 million after firing him, as his contract was fully guaranteed. Smith signed a six-year, $12.6 million deal in 2021,

WATCH: Tommy Lloyd gets emotional when talking about Brady and Landon Smith, sons of former Utah Head Coach Craig Smith. Smith was fired Monday. Landon (Director of Operations) and Brady (Walk-on) were with the team in McKale tonight. pic.twitter.com/SEoiUIiwKH

Craig Smith's days as the head coach of the Utah men's basketball team have come to an end, according to multiple reports.

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd took a moment after defeating Utah to acknowledge the resilience and commitment of Landon and Brady Smith, the sons of former head coach Craig Smith, following their father’s dismissal.