Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus No. 9-Seed Cincinnati (1st Round) on March 10, 2026 , Loss , 66, to, 73
Final Score
Men's Basketball
66
vs No. 9-Seed Cincinnati (1st Round)
73
The University of Utah Athletics
2000-01 Season Outlook
9/28/2000 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Fans attending Utah basketball games this season are going to need a program. With just one starter and three other letterwinners returning from last season, the 2000-01 Ute roster features an abundance of new names and numbers.
While it is for certain that Utah will have a new look this season, opinions differ on the outlook. Despite all of the newcomers, prognosticators haven't refrained from placing the Utes in their preseason Top 25 polls and giving them the nod as the team to beat once again in the Mountain West Conference. Head coach Rick Majerus, however, isn't ready to anoint his team as one of the nation's elite and the favorite to win its seventh consecutive league title.
"This is going to be a team that has to find an identity," explains Majerus. "It's really a team that's in a rebuilding year no matter how you look at it after losing four starters. Hopefully they can assimilate a lot of information and overcome their inexperience with enthusiasm. It's going to be a team that, going into the season, doesn't have any structure or direction, as well it shouldn't. With so many returning missionaries, transfers, redshirts and high school players coming in, the players aren't going to have any familiarity with each other."
However, don't mistake this as a team without potential. Sophomore forward Britton Johnsen, who is returning from a two-year LDS church mission, and junior frontline player Chris Burgess, who sat out last season after playing two years at Duke, were consensus top 50 recruits coming out of high school. Also joining the team is point guard Travis Spivey, a second team NJCAA All-American at Salt Lake Community College last season and a starter at Georgia Tech in 1997-98.
Other additions with previous collegiate playing experience are Trace Caton, who, like Johnsen, played on Utah's 1998 national runner-up team before going on his mission, and Kevin Bradley, an athletic combo guard from Compton Community College. The Utes also gained a seven-footer in junior Cameron Koford, who played one season at Weber State before serving an LDS church mission.
Certainly, all of the aforementioned, as well as the four freshmen on the roster, are players with potential. Whether or not that potential becomes realized, and how quickly, is where Majerus' concerns lie.
"The excitement surrounding Britton Johnsen's return from his mission needs to be tempered," cautions Majerus. "He averaged only three-and-half points per game as a freshman, and was surrounded by a plethora of terrific talent. Now he will have to stand more on his own merits. Chris Burgess is seeking a redemption of sorts and a discovery of self as a player after averaging only 14 minutes a game at Duke. Although Cameron Koford's big, that doesn't necessarily correlate into point production. He averaged only a little over a point and just under two rebounds a game for Weber State.
"Therefore, we have a lot of players who have to look at this as a year of maturing," Majerus concludes. "I think our team will start out rather slowly. They'll have to sort of find their own way as players and as a team. I characterize this as a rebuilding year. Our fans may not want to confront that, but the reality of the situation is that we are very young and have only one senior. It is what it is, this is a year where we have to regroup and move forward."
Back from last year's squad that won a piece of the Mountain West championship and went 23-9 while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament is senior Nate Althoff, a two-year starter at center who averaged nearly 10 points and five rebounds a game last season. Junior Phil Cullen, who started 14 games in the frontcourt last season, and his classmate Jeff Johnsen, who started five games at the wing positions in 1999-2000, also return with sophomore forward Mike Puzey. If Utah is to overcome its losses, those four veterans will need to step up their play, in addition to helping orientate the newcomers to Majerus' system.
"I don't know if anyone in the league will be as inexperienced, but there shouldn't be anyone more excited because a lot of these guys are getting their first chance, and some of these guys are getting their second chance," says Majerus. "All of them were recruited by me because I thought that they had a passion for the game to match my own."
Building On Success
What Majerus has achieved during his 11-year tenure at Utah is nothing short of remarkable. Although not in the volume he is facing this season, Majerus has been forced to overcome the loss of key players before. In the last four years, Utah has sent four players on to the NBA, including three consecutive lottery picks in Keith Van Horn in 1997, Michael Doleac in 1998 and Andre Miller in 1999. This past June, Hanno M?tt?l? was taken in the second round of the NBA Draft. He, along with Alex Jensen, the 1999-2000 Mountain West Player of the Year, are the two biggest losses to overcome heading into this season.
Despite the exodus of talent over the years, Utah keeps on winning. Over the last five seasons, the Utes have gone 137-29 (.825) to record the fourth-most wins and the fourth-best winning percentage among all NCAA Division I programs. In the process, Majerus has become the fifth winningest active college coach with a 360-125 (.742) career mark. His track record of developing players and molding teams is the chief reason why outsiders expect Utah to mature into a Top 25 team and contend for the Mountain West title.
The Frontcourt
Utah will put one of its tallest teams ever on the court this season with eight players measuring 6-9 or taller. Althoff, at 6-11 and 265 pounds, is the biggest of the group. The Delano, Minn., native has started 55 games the past two seasons and ranks sixth at Utah with 76 career blocked shots. He also knows what to do with the ball when he gets it down on the block, shooting 60.6 percent from the field over the course of his career to set the all-time best mark in school history. Despite playing through an assortment of back and ankle injuries, he nearly doubled his scoring average to 9.5 points per game last season.
"Nate is enigmatic because he could be a much better player than he's shown," says Majerus. "He has a lot of great physical attributes. He is a good runner of the floor, and I'm looking for him to score more. But more than anything, Nate must rebound this year."
Burgess (6-10, 245) is itching to get back into the games after a year of just practicing. The Irvine, Calif., native started 13 games for the Blue Devils in 1998-99, averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He also had 35 blocked shots and 23 steals. Burgess, who can play both the power forward and center positions, experienced some disk problems in his back the second half of last season, but made a full recovery during the off-season.
"I like the commitment that he had made to working on his game, his body and his skills (the past year)," says Majerus. "He should be an excellent rebounder and a good runner of the floor."
Cullen (6-9, 215), a versatile player who can swing between the forward and center positions, played in all 32 games last season. The Chelan, Wash., native averaged 5.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game a year ago. He also shot 36.5 percent (31-of-85) from three-point range. Majerus likes Cullen's shooting prowess, but is looking for him to become more of a force on the boards and generate more for his teammates this season.
Puzey (6-8, 230) played in 26 games as a freshman, averaging 2.5 points and 2.6 rebounds. The native of Roy, Utah, came on to play some big minutes for the Utes midway through the conference season, and will be counted on to give the team solid play off the bench once again this season. "Mike will give you everything he's got," points out Majerus. "He's an energizing player who's smart and tough."
After missing the first eight games of the '97-98 season with patella tendinitis in his left knee, Britton Johnsen averaged 3.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 21 games as a rookie. As the health of his knee improved late in the season, he increased his production to 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game during the Utes' NCAA Tournament run. Johnsen had knee surgery before leaving on his mission, and after experiencing some complications his condition improved significantly over the summer. If he remains healthy, Johnsen will contribute at both forward positions.
"He can score in variety of ways, both in the post and off the dribble. But he is going to have to make a commitment to becoming a really good shooter," evaluates Majerus.
Koford (7-0, 215) played sparingly as a sophomore Weber State, averaging 1.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.3 minutes per game. He was forced to sit out his first season as a partial qualifier academically, but could gain a season back by graduating in four years. The Plain City, Utah, native runs the floor well and has long, rangy arms. Majerus points out that Koford needs to work on his strength, but could be valuable to the team's defense with his shot blocking abilities and length.
Lance Allred (6-10, 240) graduated from Salt Lake City East High School in 1999, but sat out last year after electing late to not go on an LDS church mission. He joins the Utes on the court this season. The post player 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. "I like his aggressiveness, and he definitely has a strong physical presence," says Majerus.
The Utes have another rookie big man in Jon Godfread (6-10, 240) from Red River High School in Grand Forks, N.D. Godfread was the Gatorade North Dakota Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection as a senior, averaging 20.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. "Jon is very young and someone who has to undergo a body make-over," states Majerus. "He's a very good outside shooter who has to develop a post game and get down and dirty inside."
The Backcourt
Utah will have to replace its entire starting backcourt from last season after the graduation of seniors Tony Harvey and Jeremy Killion. The one returnee off the bench is junior swingman Jeff Johnsen (6-4, 200), who averaged 5.9 points and 3.7 rebounds while playing in 32 games and five starts. A solid defender, Johnsen was third on the team with 28 steals last season, his first back with the Utes after a two-year LDS church mission.
"I expect him to have a good year on the glass and become a stellar defender both on and off the ball," says Majerus. "He now has to become more of a cerebral player and more efficient, and yet much more passionate."
Caton played in all 34 games during his debut season, averaging 4.0 points and 1.1 rebounds while shooting 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from three-point range. He also proved himself to be a solid defender. Very mature and smart, Caton and understands the team's system very well. "Trace is a good shooter who will never beat himself." adds Majerus.
Redshirt freshman Nick Jacobson (6-4, 200) should vie for playing time on the wing after siting out last year. As a senior at Roseville High School, Jacobson was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Basketball award, averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
"Nick is a very good shooter and I think he'll be a fine post feeder," says Majerus. "Nick's playing time is going to be determined by his commitment on the defensive end of the floor."
Majerus will also use junior college transfers Kevin Bradley (6-0, 170) and Travis Spivey (6-1, 205) to help fill the holes in his backcourt, particularly at the point. Bradley averaged 18.5 points, 4.9 assists and 3.9 boards in 28 games for Compton Community College (Calif.) last season. He is a graduate of Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles, where he earned league player of the year honors.
"Kevin's very athletic and a good shooter," evaluates Majerus. "Like most junior college transfers, he has to learn to place a premium on his defensive effort."
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. As the team's starting point guard, he averaged 18.2 points, 9.3 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game, and had a 2.2 assists/turnover ratio. Prior to transferring to SLCC, the Myrtle Beach, S.C., native averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 assists pre game as a freshman at Georgia Tech.
"I like his ability to handle the ball," says Majerus. "He is a committed player who should evolve into a good leader."
Utah also signed one of the top prep players in the state of Utah last season in Marc Jackson (6-0, 170). The Olympus High School product was named the 1999-2000 Class 4A MVP by the Salt Lake Tribune and first team all-state. Jackson averaged 27.2 points to lead the state in scoring as a senior, as well as seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Jackson, who can play both guard positions, is expected to go on an LDS church mission after this season.
"I think Marc has as good of a body as you could possibly have coming in," says Majerus. "If he can become the type of defender that his body dictates, he might be able to help us this year."
Commitment in the Classroom
One thing that Majerus expects to carry over from past seasons is his team's commitment to academics. Utah leads all NCAA Division I programs with four Academic All-Americans in the past three years.
"My expectation, again, is that we not only have success on the court, but that we continue our tradition-and most important tradition-of academic excellence and graduation. I hope that we can produce our fifth academic All-American, and several of the boys have the academic ability to vie for this award. My most important job will be to ensure that any success on the court is secondary to that in the classroom. I represent our administration, faculty and staff by saying that, without question, our most important charge and commitment is to the student-athlete."
The Conference Race
In the days of the pioneers, the terrain of the mountain west was the invariably the toughest to navigate. This season on the hardwood, the Mountain West Conference should live up to the legacy of its name.
"Top to bottom, this should be the most balanced the league has been in my time at Utah," says Majerus. "There's no question that our role will be one of the underdog. If our players relish a challenge, it's there, given the great returning power of the other teams in the league.
The eight-team conference established itself as a major player on the national scene in its inaugural season with half of its teams advancing to the postseason. Co-champions Utah and UNLV were invited to the NCAA Tournament, while Brigham Young and New Mexico played in the NIT. Brigham Young returns five starters, while UNLV and Wyoming both welcome back four. New Mexico and San Diego State add seven newcomers under second-year head coaches in Fran Fraschilla and Steve Fisher, respectively. Colorado State, with four starters returning, and Air Force are both under new head coaches looking to build on successful seasons.
"I think the odds on favorite to win has to be a coin toss between BYU and Wyoming," says Majerus. "Any time you return five starters, plus what many local writers regard as the top prep player in Utah history in Gardner Meads, that team (BYU) has to picked as a favorite. Wyoming, having kicked our butt late in the year, returns the premier player in the league from two years ago, Ugo Udezue, who was injured last year, along with an all-league player in Josh Davis. They also have brought in a tremendous recruiting class, not to mention some very good young talent that was on the cusp. I'm hoping that we can come on late in the season, jell as a team and get into the mix."
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