2000 Men's Basketball Outlook
8/15/2000 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 15, 2000
For the Record
Utah enters its 93rd season with a 1,452-755 record. The U. ranks ninth in the NCAA in all-time winning percentage with a .658 mark. Utah also ranks 13th in the NCAA in all-time wins, and is one of just 16 schools that have at least 1,400 victories.
The Utes have won three national championships, winning the 1916 AAU championship, 1944 NCAA championship and 1947 NIT title. Utah is one of only 33 schools to win the NCAA Division I men's basketball title.
Who's Back
The Utes welcome back one starter and three other letterwinners from last season, as well as two return missionaries who played on the 1998 Final Four team. Utah went 23-9 overall, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and tied for the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship with a 10-4 record in 1999-2000.
Senior center Nate Althoff (6-11, 260), a two-year starter at center, averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season. He was also Utah's leader in blocked shots (25) and field goal percentage (60.1) last season. Althoff is the Utes' leading returning scorer and rebounder. Junior Phil Cullen (6-9, 215), a versatile player who can swing between the forward and center positions, played in all 32 games and started in 14 last season. Cullen averaged 5.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last year. He also shot 36.5 percent (31-of-85) from three-point range.
Junior guard/forward Jeff Johnsen (6-4, 200) averaged 5.9 points and 3.7 rebounds while playing in 32 games and starting five in 1999-2000. A solid defender, Jeff Johnsen was third on the team with 28 steals last season, his first back with the Utes after a two-year LDS church mission. Sophomore forward Mike Puzey (6-8, 215) also returned to the Utes after an LDS church mission last season. He played in 26 games, averaging 2.5 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Back from LDS church missions this year are guard/forward Trace Caton (6-4, 215) and forward Britton Johnsen (6-9, 200). Both played as freshmen on Utah's 1997-98 team that made it to the national championship game. Caton played in all 34 games during his debut season. He averaged 4.0 points and 1.1 rebounds while shooting 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from three-point range. Johnsen, after missing the first eight games of the `97-98 season with patella tendonitis in his left knee, averaged 3.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 21 games. He increased his production to 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game during the Utes' NCAA Tournament run.
Who's New
Rick Majerus will have up to seven newcomers this year, including a Division I transfer and a redshirt freshman who sat out last season, two junior college transfers and possibly three freshmen.
Chris Burgess (C, 6-9, 245), who will be a junior, sat out last season after transferring from Duke. The Irvine, Calif., native was a McDonald's High School All-American. He played in 75 games and started 16 in two seasons at Duke, averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Nick Jacobson (F, 6-3, 185) will be a redshirt freshman after sitting out last season. Jacobson spent his senior year at Roseville (Minn.) High School after playing three seasons at Shanley High School in Fargo, N.D. Jacobson was an honorable mention All-American and a finalist for the Mr. Basketball award in Minnesota in 1998-99, averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
Junior college transfers Kevin Bradley (G, 6-0, 175) and Travis Spivey (G, 6-2, 200) joined the Utes during the late signing period. Bradley averaged 18.5 points, 4.9 assists and 3.9 boards in 28 games for Compton Community College (Calif.) last season. Bradley graduated from Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles. He redshirted at Irvine Valley College (Calif.) due to a broken foot before transferring to Compton.
Spivey played last season at Salt Lake Community College and was named a second team NJCAA All-American and the Scenic West Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 18.2 points, 9.3 assists and 8.3 rebounds, and had a 2.2 assists/turnover ratio at SLCC. The Myrtle Beach, S.C., native started as a freshman at Georgia Tech before transferring to Iowa State, where he sat out the 1998-99 season.
During the early signing period last fall, the Utes landed Jon Godfread (F, 6-11, 250) from Red River High School in Grand Forks, N.D. Godfread was the 1999-2000 Gatorade North Dakota Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection. He averaged 20.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as a senior.
Lance Allred, a 1999 graduate of Salt Lake City East High School, also signed with the Utes last fall after electing not to go on an LDS Church mission. Allred was a gray shirt and a part-time student at the U. during the 1999-2000 academic year. He will join the Utes with full eligibility in the fall. Allred was the 1998-99 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and a first team all-state selection. He averaged 17.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game as a senior.
Utah also signed Marc Jackson (G, 6-2, 180) from Olympus High School in Salt Lake City during the late signing period. Jackson may play for the the Utes this season or elect to go on an LDS Church mission. He was named the 1999-2000 Class 4A MVP by the Salt Lake Tribune and Defensive Player of the Year by the Deseret News. Jackson averaged 27.2 points to lead the state in scoring as a senior, as well as 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
Take Note of Nate
Senior 6-11 center Nate Althoff stepped up his play considerably during the 1999-2000 season. The Dealno, Minn. (Delano HS) product was fourth on the team in scoring (9.5 ppg) and and third in rebounding (4.7 rpg) last season, and is the leading returner in both categories. Althoff had two 20-point games and 13 double-figure scoring games last season.
Althoff led the Mountain West Conference in field goal percentage (60.1) in 1999-2000, also setting the Utah single-season record. He improved his shooting percentage to 64.8 during the conference season, which was also a league-best mark. Althoff ranked 22nd in the MWC in scoring (9.5 ppg), 16th in rebounds (4.7 rpg), eighth in blocked shots (0.89 bpg) and 11th in free throw percentage (71.1). With a 60.6 career field goal percentage, he is on track to break the Utah record.
Althoff was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 14 after leading the Runnin' Utes to two wins in league play over San Diego State (Feb. 10) and BYU (Feb. 12). In the two games, Althoff scored 37 points (18.5 ppg) and pulled down eight boards. He shot an astounding 80 percent from the field (12-for-15) and 86.7 percent from the free throw line (13-for-15). Althoff was the Utes' leading scorer with a career-high 22 points in the 83-65 victory over San Diego State on Feb. 10. He went 6-for-8 from the field and made a personal-best 10-of-11 free throws.
The Utes' "Big Man" followed-up his player of the week honor with 17 points (8-of-12 FG), a game-high eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 21 minutes against New Mexico on Feb. 19. He recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and a personal-best 11 rebounds against BYU in the semifinals of the MWC Tournament.
Majerus' Mark
Rick Majerus is 261-73 (.781) in 11 years at Utah and is 360-125 (.742) in 16 years as a head coach. He has averaged 24 wins per year at Utah--amazing in that he coached just six games in his first season before undergoing heart surgery (he was 4-2 in 1989-90). In 10 full seasons at Utah, he has won 20-plus games nine times, missing out only in 1993-94 (14-14).
In his last 10 years, Majerus has averaged 26 wins per year. He has won eight conference championships--including six straight (the last being the inaugural Mountain West Conference title). He has taken the Utes to eight NCAA Tournaments and has never lost a first-round game. In that time, he has led Utah to the Sweet 16 four times, the Elite Eight twice and one Final Four. He also took Ball State to the NCAA Tourney back in 1989.
Majerus is the fifth-winningest active coach with a .742 winning percentage. Only Jerry Tarkanian (Fresno State), John Kreese (College of Charleston), Roy Williams (Kansas) and Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) have better winning percentages. He is also in the top 20 in all-time winning percentage, currently ranking 15th (.742).
By notching his 350th career victory with a 56-49 win at Brigham Young on Jan. 15, 2000, Majerus become one of just nine coaches all-time to reach the 350 wins plateau in 16 seasons or less. Only four coaches in the history of college basketball have won 350 games in fewer seasons than Majerus. Nolan Richardson (Tulsa/Arkansas), Denny Crum (Louisville), Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) and John Thompson (Georgetown) reached the 350 career wins plateau in 15 seasons. Jerry Tarkanian (Long Beach State/UNLV), Billy Tubbs (Southwest Texas State/Lamar/Oklahoma), Bob Huggins (Walsh/Akron/Cincinnati) and Everett Case (North Carolina State) also posted their 350th career win during their 16th season.
Majerus became just the third coach at the U. to win 250 games with Utah's 70-55 win at San Diego State on Jan. 10. Vadal Peterson went 385-230 from 1927-53 and Jack Gardner, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame who passed away last spring, went 339-154 from 1953-71.
Majerus has earned National Coach of the Year honors in three of his 11 seasons at Utah. He is also a seven-time District Coach of the Year and a five-time WAC Coach of the Year.
Three Utes with National Championship Game Experience
Utah will have three players on its 1999-2000 roster that have played in a national championship game. Two of them played for Utah in the 1998 national championship game, which resulted in a 78-69 loss to Kentucky. Britton Johnsen and Trace Caton, who are returning from two-year LDS church missions and will be sophomores this season, played as freshmen in that game. Johnsen had seven points (3-for-4 FG, 1-for-2 3FG) and four rebounds in 16 minutes, while Caton missed his only field goal attempt in five minutes. Senior center Nate Althoff was a freshman on that `97-98 Utah team, but did not play in the national championship game.
Chris Burgess, while still at Duke, played in the 1999 national championship game. Burgess was scoreless and did not attempt a shot while the Blue Devils lost to Connecticut, 77-74.
Did Somebody Say McDonald's?
For the first time in school history this season, Utah will have two players on its roster who were McDonald's High School All-Americans. Sophomore 6-9, 200-pound forward Britton Johnsen, coming off of a two-year LDS church mission, averaged 22.0 points and 11.0 rebounds as a senior at Murray High School (Utah). Junior 6-9, 245-pound center/forward Chris Burgess, in his first season back on the court after transferring from Duke, averaged 23.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocked shots and 4.0 assists in his final season at Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif.
Burgess and Johnsen are two of three McDonald's All-Americans all-time at Utah. Danny Vranes, who played at Utah 1977-81, also played in the game in 1977.
All in the Family
Utah will have one of 11 brother combinations in NCAA Division I this season in Jeff and Britton Johnsen. The Johnsens, who hail from Murray, Utah, haven't played together for four years. Jeff (G/F, 6-4, 200), who will be a junior this season, began his career at Utah in 1996-97 before going on a two-year LDS church mission to Fresno, Calif. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32 games last season with five starts. Britton (F, 6-9, 200), who will resume his Utah career as a sophomore this season, played for the Utes in 1997-98 before going on his LDS church mission to Houston, Texas. He averaged 3.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in 21 games as a freshman. The last season the Johnsens played together, they led Murray High School to the Utah 4A state title in 1996.
Rick Majerus has literally made his program a family affair at Utah. The Johnsens are the fifth set of brothers to play for Majerus spanning his 11-year career at the U. However, they are the first to play together.
Nine Utah Games Scheduled for National and Regional TV
The Utes are scheduled to make two appearances on ABC, three on ESPN, one on ESPN2, three on ESPN Regional Television and 10 on KJZZ-TV in 2000-01. Their nine network television appearances is the most among Mountain West Conference teams. ABC will broadcast Utah's home game with UNLV on Jan. 13 to a regional audience at 1:30 p.m. (MST). The Utes and Rebels tied for the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship last season, both advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Utah's interleague battle with Louisville of Conference USA on Feb. 17 at the Huntsman Center is tentatively set to be televised nationally by ABC at 11:00 a.m. (MST).
Utah will make the first of four appearances on ESPN's "Big Monday" against Wyoming in the conference opener on Jan. 8 at 10:00 p.m. (MST) in Salt Lake City. The Utes will also play Brigham Young in Provo on Jan. 29 and Colorado State in Salt Lake City on Feb. 19 on ESPN. Utah's fourth appearance on "Big Monday," televised by ESPN2, will come against UNLV on Feb. 12 in Las Vegas.
ESPN Regional Television, which syndicates games over-the-air under the moniker of ESPN+Plus, will show three Utah games on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. (MST) as part of the Mountain West Conference "Game of the Week" package. The Utes' games at Wyoming on Jan. 20, against Brigham Young in Salt Lake City on Feb. 24 and at New Mexico on March 3 will be televised by ESPN Regional and shown in the Salt Lake market on KJZZ-TV. Eleven additional Ute games, including six conference contests, will also be shown on KJZZ-TV, which has the rights to Utah's local television package for the sixth consecutive season. The tentative KJZZ-TV schedule features the John Wooden Classic against USC (Dec. 2), road games against Pepperdine (Dec. 19), Texas (Dec. 30), Colorado State (Jan. 22), San Diego State (Feb. 10) and Air Force (Mar. 1), and home games against Weber State (Dec. 9), Washington State (Dec. 16), San Diego State (Jan. 15), Air Force (Feb. 3) and New Mexico (Feb. 5). In all, 20 Ute games will be televised this season, including all 14 Mountain West Conference games.
Seven Postseason Participants on Utah's Nonconference Schedule
The Utes' pre-league schedule features games against six NCAA Tournament teams, one NIT participant and five regular season conference champions from a year ago. The Utes' November schedule is highlighted by the Puerto Rico Shootout over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 23-25). In addition to the Utes, the tournament field includes defending Pac-10 Conference champion Stanford, Georgia, Miami of Ohio, defending Missouri Valley Conference title winner Indiana State, Memphis, Old Dominion and American University of Puerto Rico.
Utah's December schedule includes a match-up with Southern California in the Wooden Classic on Dec. 2 in Anaheim, Calif. The Trojans, with all five starters returning, have been ranked in the Top 25 preseason. It will be the Utes' second appearance in the Wooden Classic in five years. Utah met Arizona in the event in 1996, losing to the eventual national champions 69-61.
Two tough games against in-state opposition also await the Utes before finals week. Utah State, which won the Big West Conference championship and advanced the NCAA Tournament in 2000, hosts the Utes in Logan on Dec. 6. Weber State, which went 18-9 and broke a five-game losing streak to the Utes last year, visits the Huntsman Center on Dec. 9.
Utah is scheduled to host Washington State of the Pac-10 on Dec. 16 before returning to California to face Pepperdine on Dec. 19. The Waves went 22-7 last season and won the West Coast Conference title before defeating Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Utes conclude their pre-Christmas schedule at home on Dec. 22 against Southern Utah, which tied for second place in the Mid-Continent Conference last season.
Utah and Texas plan to continue their recent series on Dec. 30 in Austin, meeting for the seventh time since 1992. The Longhorns went 22-7 last season, placed second in the Big 12 Conference and lost to LSU in the second round of the NCAAs.
After the New Year, the Utes host Long Beach State and Louisville in Salt Lake City. Long Beach State is coming off of a 23-4 campaign in which it won the West Division of the Big West Conference and was invited to play in the NIT. Louisville went 19-10 and earned an NCAA Tournament bid in 1999-2000. Utah plays Long Beach State on Jan. 3 and Louisville on Feb. 17 in the middle of its conference schedule.
In the Final National Rankings
- After being ranked in at least one of the major Top 25 polls for 23 consecutive weeks, Utah fell out of both the week of Feb. 27. Utah had been ranked 23 straight weeks by the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll and 19 of 23 weeks by A.P. dating back to the 1998-99 season.
- The Utes' highest ranking in 1999-2000 was 15th in both polls entering the season. Utah finished tied for 33rd in the final A.P. poll and tied for 38th in the USA Today/ESPN poll.
- Before falling out of the national polls in December of 1998, Utah had been ranked every week since early in the 1994-95 season.
- Utah finished among the top 10 teams in the nation for three consecutive seasons (1997-99) and has the seventh-most top 10 finishes in the coaches' poll since 1990 with five
Another Championship Season
Utah has won eight league titles during Rick Majerus' 11-year tenure. The Utes won the WAC regular-season championship outright in 1991 and shared it in 1993 before winning five straight outright titles from 1995-99 (the last three being divisional titles). Utah shared the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship with UNLV last year to capture its sixth consecutive regular season league title.
20/20 Vision
For the 28th time in its history, Utah won 20 games in 1999-2000. Under current coach Rick Majerus, Utah has hit for 20 wins in nine of 11 seasons, including the last six in a row. Majerus' 20-win seasons at Utah: 1990-91 (30-4), 1991-92 (24-11), 1992-93 (24-7), 1994-95 (28-6), 1995-96 (27-7), 1996-97 (29-4), 1997-98 (30-4), 1998-99 (28-5), 1999-2000 (23-9).
The Nation's Most Dominant Team in League Play the Last Six Years
As the Utes head into their second season in the Mountain West Conference, three impressive records remain intact. Utah's conference record over the past six years en route to a 10-4 record last season and its sixth straight regular-season title is 81-13 (.862), which is the best mark over that period of time in NCAA Division I. Utah is also the nation's most dominant team in conference games at home the past six years with a 46-1 (.978) record.
After closing out its 1999-2000 home schedule with an 86-63 win over Air Force on March 4, the Utes have won 37 consecutive league games at home, which is the nation's longest current streak. This season, the Utes have a chance to tie Kansas' string of 44 consecutive conference home wins, which was snapped by Nebraska on Feb. 10, 1999. Utah's last home conference loss was to Fresno State (65-64) on Jan. 8, 1996.
Before its 72-66 loss to UNLV on Feb. 5, 2000, Utah had won 25 consecutive regular-season conference games dating back to a 62-56 loss at Wyoming on Feb. 12, 1998. The Utes had also won 23 consecutive conference games overall following a 54-51 loss to UNLV on March 5, 1998 in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament.
Utes Finish Home Schedule with the Nation's Best 52-Game Winning Streak
Utah enters the 2000-01 season with the longest active homecourt winning streak in NCAA Division I. After closing out its home schedule with an 86-63 win over Air Force on March 4, the Utes have won 52 straight in the Jon M. Huntsman Center dating back to a Dec. 31, 1996 loss to Wake Forest. Utah's current streak began with an 84-63 win over Colorado State on Jan. 4, 1997. It is the longest homecourt winning streak in school history.
Michigan State has the second-longest active streak with 28 consecutive home wins while Alcorn State is third with 25.
The Utes were 17-0 at home in 1999-2000 to record the seventh undefeated home season in the 31-year history of the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Six of those undefeated home seasons have come under Rick Majerus: 1990-91 (16-0), 1992-93 (15-0), 1994-95 (15-0), 1997-98 (13-0), 1998-99 (14-0), 1999-2000 (17-0). The Utes are 146-10 (.936) in the Huntsman Center under Majerus and have never lost back-to-back home games.
The Utes also won 27 consecutive home games from Jan. 29, 1994 through Jan 2, 1996. The streak ended with a 65-64 loss to Fresno State on Jan. 8, 1996. Combining the two lengthy streaks and 13 consecutive wins sandwiched in between the two losses, Utah has won 92 of its last 94 games played in the Huntsman Center.
1999-2000 Postseason Honors
- Departing Utes Alex Jensen and Hanno M?tt?l? were named two of the top players in the Mountain West Conference in 1999-2000. Jensen was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and was joined on the all-league first team by Hanno M?tt?l?, as selected by the eight head coaches.
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal announced its first "Best of the Mountain West" survey in the March 8 edition. The Review-Journal polled 20 journalists who cover the eight conference schools on a regular basis. Alex Jensen was named the best small forward and player of the year over UNLV's Mark Dickel and Kaspars Kambala. Utah forward/center Phil Cullen, who will be a junior this season, was named the league's sixth man.
- Alex Jensen and Hanno M?tt?l? were named to the All-District 13 team as selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. They were also voted on to the All-District 8 team, voted on by the Unites States Basketball Writers Association.
Mountain West Conference Tournament Rewind
Utah bowed out of the inaugural MWC Tournament in the semifinals with a 58-54 loss to Brigham Young on March 10 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Hanno M?tt?l? had 17 points, six rebounds and three assists to lead the Utes. Nate Althoff got his first career double-double with 13 points and a personal-best 11 rebounds. He also added three blocked shots in 32 minutes. Utah went into halftime leading 30-26. That lead didn't last long, however, as BYU opened the second half with a 12-3 run to take a lead the Cougars would not relinquish. Utah made just eight of 32 second half field goals. Utah was outshot 40.4-30.9 percent from the field for the game but had a 45-37 advantage on the boards.
Utah used an excellent shooting performance to sneak by Air Force 74-65 in the quarterfinals. Tony Harvey equalled a career high with 19 points. Hanno M?tt?l? had 17 points and Nate Althoff added 13. Alex Jensen had a game-high eight rebounds.
NCAA Tournament Rewind
Utah received an at-large bid the NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region. The Utes played their first and second round games at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Utah came back from a 22-19 halftime deficit to defeat No. 9 seed Saint Louis, 48-45, in the first round on March 16. It was the first meeting between the two schools. Phil Cullen led the Utes in scoring for the first time on the season with 12 points, making 3-of-3 three-pointers. Hanno M?tt?l? had 11 points and six boards. Utah outshot the Billikens 38.5-38.1 percent and made 9-of-21 three-pointers.
Utah met No. 1 seeded Michigan State in the second round on March 18. The Utes held a 35-32 lead over the Spartans at the half, but fell 73-61. Michigan State, which went on to win the national championship, hit 8-of-15 three-pointers and outshot the Utes 55.3-52.2 percent for the game. M?tt?l? led the Utes with 16 points and five rebounds. Tony Harvey had 15 points and six assists. Mateen Cleaves made 4-of-7 threes to lead MSU with 21 points.
Inside the Numbers in 1999-2000
- Utah shot 52 percent or better from the field in 15 games overall and six conference games last season. The Utes shot a season-high 63.6 percent (21-of-33) against Air Force on March 9 in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament. Utah had its best second-half shooting percentage of the season at 68.4 percent against Air Force. The Utes were 16-2 when they shot better than 50 percent this season.
- Utah's 27-point loss at Wyoming was its worst since suffering a 101-70 loss to Kentucky in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament on Mar. 21, 1996. Utah has lost just four games by 20 points or more during Rick Majerus' 11-year tenure.
- The 27-point loss at Wyoming was Utah's worst in conference play under Rick Majerus. The Utes' previous worst conference loss under Majerus was 19 points (67-48) against Colorado State on Jan. 18, 1992 in Salt Lake City.
- Prior to dropping successive games to Colorado State (Feb. 26) and Wyoming (Feb. 28), the last time Utah had lost back-to-back games was during the 1994-95 season when the Utes fell to Maryland (90-78) on Nov. 22 and to Michigan (73-69) on Nov. 23 in the Maui Classic. The last time Utah lost successive games in league play was in 1993-94 when the Utes lost Feb. 17 at Fresno State (95-86), Feb. 19 at Air Force (91-89 in OT) and Feb. 26 at BYU (73-70).
- Utah finished the regular season with a 4-7 road record overall and a 3-4 mark away from home in MWC play. The last time Utah had a losing record on the road overall and in conference play was 1993-94.
- The Utes scored a season-best 96 points and posted its most decisive win of the season (44 points) over UNLV on Feb. 21. It was Utah's most decisive win since defeating San Diego State by 48 points (86-38) on Feb. 11, 1999.
- Also against UNLV, Utah set season-high marks for field goals made (33), free throw percentage (95.7) and rebounds (50). The Utes hadn't pulled down 50 rebounds in a game since getting 56 against Azusa Pacific on Dec. 12, 1997. Utah also limited UNLV to 30.6 percent shooting from the field, the lowest mark by a Ute opponent last season. It was the Utes' best defensive effort since also holding New Mexico to 30.6 percent field goal shooting on March 6, 1999.
- Utah shot 50 percent or better from three-point range in seven games during the 1999-2000 season: Stony Brook (50.0), Utah State (66.7), Washington State (50.0), Chicago State (52.4), Oregon State (60.0), Colorado State on Jan. 24 (52.9) and Air Force (60.0) on March 9.
- As head coach Rick Majerus worked around numerous injuries, 11 players started for the Utes in 10 different lineups.
- The Utes scored above 80 points six times in 1999-2000: Chicago State on Dec. 18 (W, 84-58), Oregon State on Dec. 28 (W, 87-77), New Mexico on Jan. 31 (W, 82-70), San Diego State on Feb. 10 (W, 83-65), UNLV on Feb. 21 (W, 96-52), Air Force on March 4 (W, 86-63). All six games were played at home.
- Utah held four opponents below 50 points and 13 opponents below 60 points last season. The Utes were 20-2 in 1999-2000 when they hold the opposition to under 70 points.
NCAA Tournament Notes
- Utah made its 32nd overall appearance in postseason play and its 22nd trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1999-2000. The Utes earned a No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region and played their first and second round games at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center, March 16-18. Utah defeated ninth-seeded Saint Louis, 48-45, in the first round before losing to eventual champion Michigan State, 73-61, in the second round. It was the eighth time the Utes lost to the eventual national champion in tournament play. (See chart on page 7.)
- Utah has made eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament--including six straight--in 11 seasons under Rick Majerus (1991, `93, `95, `96, `97, `98, `99, `00). Majerus has led Utah to a 16-8 record and a .667 winning percentage in the NCAA Tournament.
- During the Rick Majerus era, the Utes have the 10th-most wins (16) and the 12th-best winning percentage (.667) in NCAA Tournament play.
- In the past five years, Utah moves up to third place in NCAA Tournament wins (12) and ninth place in winning percentage (.706). Utah's three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances during that time ranks second only to Kentucky's four appearances.
- Under Majerus, Utah has won all of its first round games and is one of just six programs that have advanced to at least the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the past six seasons. Joining the Utes are Cincinnati, Kansas, Kentucky, Purdue and Stanford. Utah has made it to the Sweet 16 four times (1991, `96, `97, `98), the Elite Eight twice (1997, `98) and the Final Four once (1998).
- All-time, only 13 schools have appeared in the NCAA Tournament more times than Utah. The Utes have played in the NCAAs 22 times and have a 32-25 record (.561).
- Utah has made four trips to the NCAA Final Four: 1944 (NCAA Champions), 1961 (4th), 1966 (4th) and 1998 (NCAA Runner-up). Only 12 teams have more Final Four appearances than Utah. Only 11 schools have been in more championship games than the Utes.
One of the Nation's Elite Programs in Recent Years
- Under the guidance of head coach Rick Majerus, Utah won the eighth-most games in NCAA Division I during the 1990s. The Utes had a 250-76 record from 1989-99, placing them behind Kansas (286-60), Kentucky (282-63), Duke (271-78), North Carolina (270-78), Arkansas (260-83), Connecticut (259-75) and Arizona (256-67).
- Utah also ranked eighth in the nation in winning percentage (.767) in the `90s. Kansas had the best winning percentage at .827, followed by Kentucky (.817), Arizona (.793), College of Charleston (.784), Duke (.777), North Carolina (.776) and Connecticut (.775).
- In the last five seasons, the Utes have the fourth-most wins in NCAA Division I with a 137-29 record. Utah's .825 winning percentage over the last five years also ranks fourth in the nation, falling behind the College of Charleston (.855), Kentucky (.846) and Kansas (.831). The Utes are tied with Cincinnati (.825) and rank ahead of such programs as Duke (.809), Connecticut (.806), Stanford (.797), Arizona (.788) and Princeton (.786).
Defense, Defense, Defense
- One of the trademarks of a Rick Majerus coached team is a stifling half-court defense. In 11 seasons under Majerus, Utah has ranked in the top 30 in the nation eight times in field goal percentage defense, eight times in the top 25 in scoring defense, seven times in the top 25 in scoring margin and eight times in the top 30 in rebound margin.
- Utah ranked 20th in the NCAA in scoring defense last season, giving up 61.8 points per game. The Utes are one of just eight teams to appear in the top 10 in the NCAA in scoring defense at least four times in the last 11 years, ranking fourth in 1998-99 (55.4 ppg), fourth in `97-98 (57.6 ppg), eighth in `91-92 (61.6 ppg) and 10th in 1990-91 (64.2 ppg). Utah is also one of just four teams to rank in the top 25 in the nation in scoring defense at least nine times in the last 11 years. Princeton and Wisconsin-Green Bay have been ranked in the top 25 every year, while Temple joins the Utes with nine appearances.
- The Utes ranked 26th in the nation in rebound margin (4.8 rpg) last season and have been ranked been ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation in rebound margin in each of the last six years. Utah ranked ninth in the nation in rebound margin in 1998-99 (8.2), first in `97-98 (10.0 rpg), 15th in `96-97 (6.5 rpg), third in `95-96 (9.6 rpg) and fourth in `94-95 (9.8 rpg). Utah is one of just seven schools to rank in the top 10 at least three times in the last five years. Only Navy's four appearances rank ahead of Utah.
- Utah has not been outrebounded in 47 consecutive conference regular-season games. The last time the Utes came out on the short end of a rebound battle in league play was 32-27 in a WAC contest at Tulsa on Feb. 22, 1997. Utah led the Mountain West Conference in defensive rebounds (28.9 rpg) and rebound margin (4.8 rpg) in 1999-2000.
- Utah is one of just eight schools to rank in the top 30 in the nation in field goal percentage defense four of the last five years. Utah has also been in the top 10 in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense four times during the Rick Majerus era, ranking sixth in 1997-98 (38.6 ppg), seventh in `96-97 (38.2 ppg), fourth in `92-93 (40.3 ppg) and sixth in `91-92 (39.8 ppg).
- Thanks to their stifling defense, the U. has also ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation in scoring margin four times in the last five years and seven times in the last 11 years. The Utes ranked fifth in the nation in scoring margin in 1998-99, outscoring the opposition by an average of 15.9 points per game. Utah also cracked the top 10 two other times, ranking seventh in `96-97 (12.8 ppg) and eighth in `95-96 (12.9 ppg). In the last five years, the Utes are one of just eight teams with four appearances in the top 25, bettered only by Cincinnati's streak of five consecutive years. Utah is also one of just six teams to rank in the top 10 at least three times in the last five years.
An Efficient Attack With Long-Strike Capability Last Season
- Utah ranked 19th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (38.7) and 12th in overall field goal percentage (48.2) in 1999-2000. Ranking among the top three-point shooting ball clubs in the nation is a rare occurrence for a Rick Majerus-coached Ute team. The best three-point shooting team during Majerus' 11-year tenure at Utah was in 1993, when the Utes finished 10th (41.0%) in the NCAA rankings. Utah's only other finish in the top 25 was in 1994, when it ranked 13th (39.6%).
- However, running an efficient offense was nothing new at the U. Traditionally propelled by a strong inside game, the Utes have finished the season ranked in the top 25 in the nation in field goal percentage the last six consecutive years and seven times overall during the Majerus era. Utah ranked 13th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (47.4) in 1998-99 and was fifth in 1996-97 (49.6).
- Last season, the "Gunnin' Utes" shot 50 percent or better from three-point range in six games. Utah tied a school record with 14 three-pointers against both Utah State (Dec. 7) and Washington State (Dec. 11). Against Utah State, Utah shot 73 percent (11-of-15) from three-point range in the first half, breaking the school record of 10 three-pointers in a half set in 1993 and 1995, both times against Fresno State. The Utes continued their hot shooting by going 12-of-20 (60.0%) from downtown against Oregon State on Dec. 28. Utah also made 50.0 percent (9-of-18) of its three-point tries against Stony Brook on Nov. 29, 52.9 percent (9-of-17) against Colorado State on Jan. 24 and 60.0 percent (6-of-10) against Air Force on March 9.
- Three Utes shot roughly half of their field goals from three-point range. Jeremy Killion took 125 of his 213 attempts, Tony Harvey shot 114 of 232 and Phil Cullen attempted 85 of 150 field goals from beyond the arc. Alex Jensen took over one-third of his field goal attempts from three-point range (113 of 260).
Utah Among the Nation's Leaders in Attendance in 1999-2000
Utah ranked 22nd in the nation and second in the Mountain West Conference in attendance in 1999-2000, averaging 13,248 fans for 17 home games. Among other M-West teams, New Mexico ranked eighth (16,445), UNLV was 26th (11,829) and Brigham Young was 33rd (10,794). The Mountain West Conference ranked fourth among all NCAA Division I leagues, averaging 9,212 fans per game. The M-West was ahead of the Big East (9,052), Conference USA (9,032), Big 12 (8,997) and Pacific-10 (8,388). The Big Ten (13,428) ranked first, followed by the ACC (11,618) and SEC (11,142). The Mountain West Conference also averaged 10,008 fans per session during the league tournament, which was seventh-best in NCAA Division I.M?tt?l? Fourth Ute in Four Years Taken in NBA Draft
Former Ute forward Hanno M?tt?l? was taken in the second round as the 40th pick overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the June 28th NBA Draft. M?tt?l?, who hopes to become the first Finnish player to play in the NBA, was one of 14 players born outside the United States chosen in the draft.Under the coaching of Rick Majerus, Utah produced three NBA Draft lottery picks (top 13) the previous three years. Keith Van Horn, who plays for the New Jersey Nets, was taken as the No. 2 pick in 1997. He is the highest NBA Draft pick in the modern era at Utah. Michael Doleac was taken 12th overall by the Orlando Magic in 1998. Andre Miller went eighth to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year. Only Duke produced as many NBA Draft lottery picks during that time span.
Utes Lose Two Outstanding Players in Jensen and M?tt?l?
Utah will be without two of the top 28 scorers in the history of the program this season with the loss of Alex Jensen and Hanno M?tt?l?. They were a part of conference championship and NCAA Tournament teams during each of their four years with the Utes.Jensen (F, 6-7, 225) was named the 2000 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and the USBWA District 8 Player of the Year. He was also named first team all-MWC, first team All-District 13 by the NABC and first team All-District 8 by the USBWA.
The Centerville, Utah, native ranked 15th in the nation and fourth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (46.0) in 1999-2000, setting the Utah single-season record. He also ranked 12th in the Mountain West Conference in scoring (13.1) and fourth in rebounds (7.5). He had five double-doubles as a senior and 23 in his career.
Jensen started all 99 games since the start of the 1997-98 season after returning from a two-year LDS church mission. Jensen is one of nine Utes all-time and the fourth under Rick Majerus to record 1,000 points and 800 rebounds during his career. He finished his career 19th in career scoring (1,279), sixth in total rebounds (896), second in offensive rebounds (329), fourth in defensive rebounds (567), fifth in three-pointers made (102), sixth in three-pointers attempted (247), fourth in three-point percentage (41.3), 10th in assists (348), 10th in steals (111), third in games played (133) and fifth in NCAA Tournament games played (12) at the U.
M?tt?l? (F, 6-9, 250) was a first team all-conference selection for the second consecutive season in 1999-2000 despite missing 11 games with knee, elbow and thumb injuries. He was also named first team All-District 13 by the NABC and All-District 8 by the USBWA. Before the rash of injuries, M?tt?l? earned preseason All-America honors from Playboy and was named a candidate for the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year awards.
The Helsinki, Finland, native was Utah's leader in scoring average (17.0) and led the Utes in points in 14 of the 21 games he played. He would have ranked fourth in the conference in overall scoring if he had played enough games to qualify. He also averaged 4.8 rebounds on the season. During the league season, M?tt?l? ranked 13th in the M-West in scoring (13.6 ppg) and first in free throw percentage (84.5). He had six 20-point games, 18 double-figure scoring games and two double-doubles. M?tt?l? left the U. ranking 14th in scoring (1,492 points), seventh in defensive rebounds (379), eighth in offensive rebounds (171), 10th in three-point field goals attempted (213), 10th in blocked shots (50) and fourth in NCAA Tournament games played (14). He had seven career double-doubles.
Other Letterwinners Lost from 1999-2000
In addition to Jensen and M?tt?l?, Utah also lost four other scholarship letterwinners from last year's team.Tony Harvey (G/F, 6-5, 200) played two seasons for the U. after transferring from Cerritos Junior College (Calif.). He started the last 11 games and 16 in all last season. Harvey was the the team's third-leading scorer (9.6 ppg), reaching double figures in nine of the 14 Mountain West Conference games. He also averaged 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season.
Jeremy Killion (G, 5-11, 190), after transferring from Palomar Junior College (Calif.), started 62 games in two seasons for the Utes at off-guard. He had Utah's fifth-highest scoring average (9.1 ppg) last season and shot 38.4 percent from three-point range.
Adam Sharp (G, 6-2, 180), who averaged 1.3 points and 9.8 minutes in 28 games last season, will take a medical hardship and end his career at Utah after two seasons. Sharp fractured his ankle last summer and never made a full recovery. He is a pre-med student who plans to attend medical school in two years.
Gary Colbert (G, 6-1, 175), who will transfer, started 16 games and played in 31 at point guard last season as a sophomore. He was second on the team in assists, averaging 2.9 per game. Colbert also averaged 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 1999-2000.
M?tt?l? Utes' Fourth Academic All-American in Three Years
Hanno M?tt?l? was named to the 1999-2000 GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America third team. M?tt?l? carried a 3.38 GPA in economics. It was the fourth time in the last three seasons that Utah was represented on the Academic All-America team. No other program in the nation has had more Academic All-Americans during that period of time.M?tt?l? was a second team selection in 1998-99 as a junior. Michael Doleac and Drew Hansen were both named to the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America team as seniors in 1997-98. Doleac, a biology major, was a first team selection with 3.41 GPA. Hansen, holder of a near-perfect 3.99 GPA in political science/economics, made the third team. Because of them, Utah became the first NCAA Final Four team to have two Academic All-Americans in its starting line-up.
More Success in the Classroom
The Utah basketball team had another successful year in the classroom as well as on the court in 1999-2000. Seven Utes earned spots on the spring semester honor roll, while five made the Dean's List. Named to the spring semester honor roll with at least a 3.00 grade point average were starters Nate Althoff and Hanno M?tt?l?, reserves Mike Puzey and Adam Sharp, redshirts Chris Burgess and Nick Jacobson, and walk-on Seth Black. Althoff, Black, M?tt?l?, Puzey and Sharp were additionally distinguished by making the Dean's List with a 3.50 GPA or better. Burgess, Jeff Johnsen, M?tt?l?, Puzey, Sharp and Brandon Sluga made the 1999 fall semester academic honor roll. Twenty-one players have made the honor roll a combined 121 times during Rick Majerus' 11-year tenure at Utah.In addition Jeremy Killion, M?tt?l?, Puzey and Sharp earned Academic All-Mountain West Conference recognition. Puzey and Sharp were also named Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athletes in 1999-2000.
