Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025
![Nevada [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2FNevadaAthletics_Navy.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Men's Basketball
vs Nevada [Exh]
![Oregon [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2Foregon.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Utes Host Louisville Saturday On ABC
2/15/2001 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2001
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Utah Utes (15-9, 7-3 MWC) vs.
Louisville Cardinals (10-15, 6-6 C-USA)
Feb. 17 - 11:06 a.m. (MST)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (15,000) - Salt Lake City
A Quick Look At Utah
The Utes are 15-9 overall and in second place in Mountain West Conference with a 7-3 record. Utah got its first two conference road wins of the season last weekend, winning at San Diego State (76-63) on Saturday and at UNLV (85-77) on Monday. Utah has won four in a row, which ties its best winning streak of the season.
Utah has five players averaging eight points per game or better, with one in double figures. Junior guard Kevin Bradley, coming off the bench the past 12 games, leads the team in scoring (11.2 ppg), shooting 42.6 percent from three-point range. He is also third on the team in assists (2.2 apg). Junior forward Phil Cullen is second in scoring (9.5 ppg), shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range, and third in rebounding (4.8 rpg). Senior center Nate Althoff is third in scoring (8.8 ppg). Junior guard/forward Jeff Johnsen is tied for fourth in scoring (8.6 ppg), hitting 37.8 percent from behind the arc and 78.0 percent from the line, and second in assists (2.5 apg). Sophomore forward Britton Johnsen is also tied for fourth in scoring (8.6 ppg), shooting a team-best 46.2 percent from three-point range, and is second in rebounding (5.0 rpg). Junior Travis Spivey, who has started the last 12 games at point guard, is averaging a team-best 3.1 assists per game. Junior center/forward Chris Burgess, who returned to action against New Mexico on Feb. 5 after fracturing his left ankle against San Diego State on Jan. 15, leads the team in rebounding average (5.6 rpg) and blocked shots (22).
Utah returned just 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.
Utes Have Strongest Schedule and Best RPI in the Mountain West
According to the RPI ratings as of Tuesday, Utah's strength of schedule ranked 22nd out of 319 NCAA Division I schools. Utah was the only Mountain West Conference team in the top 50 in strength of schedule. The next three closest were UNLV (63rd), New Mexico (70th) and Brigham Young (91st). The Mountain West Conference has a 62-38 record in NCAA Division I nonconference games.
Utah's RPI was 48th, the highest in the Mountain West Conference. Other league schools ranked in the top 60 were Wyoming (49th) and Brigham young (54th). Three of Utah's nine losses have come to teams ranked in the top 25 in the RPI ratings through Tuesday. Georgia is 12th with a 13-11 record, followed by No. 19 Texas (18-7) and No. 21 Southern California (15-6).
Hunsaker Directing the Utes
Dick Hunsaker, in his third year at Utah, is serving as the acting head coach in the absence of Rick Majerus. His record as Utah's acting head coach is 14-9, directing the team since the second game of the season.
Hunsaker was the associate head coach under Majerus at Ball State from 1987-89. Hunsaker followed Majerus as the head coach at Ball State from 1989-93. He compiled a 97-33 record with the Cardinals, giving him the seventh-best four-year coaching record in NCAA history. During his stay in Muncie, Ind., Ball State made two trips to the NIT and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He led the Cardinals to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1990. Hunsaker posted four 20-win seasons at BSU. His teams also captured two Mid-American Conference championships and placed second twice. Hunsaker has a 162-69 record in eight seasons as a college head coach or acting head coach.
Hunsaker came to Utah from Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., where he had been the head coach since 1995. During his three years at Manchester, he posted a 51-27 record and led the Spartans to three of the 10 winningest seasons in the college's 85-year history. He played college basketball one season for Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins at UTEP (1972-73) and finished his career at Weber State (1974-77).
Utah vs. Louisville Notes
Scouting the Cardinals
Louisville is 10-15 overall and in fouth place in the American Division of Conference USA with a 6-6 record. The Cardinals are coming off a 71-62 win at DePaul on Wednesday night. Before then, the Cardinals played three in a row at home, losing to Saint Louis (72-51) on Feb. 3 and Charlotte (106-72) on Feb. 11, and defeating Marquette (75-65) on Feb. 8. The Cardinals are 4-5 on the road this season.
Three players are averaging double figures in scoring. Senior 6-3 guard Marques Maybin leads the team in scoring (18.2 ppg), shooting 40.2 percent (53-of-132) from three-point range and 79.7 percent (114-of-143) at the free throw line. Sophomore 6-6 guard Reece Gaines is second in scoring (14.1 ppg), hitting 45.8 percent of his three-point attempts, and first in assists (3.4 apg). Erik Brown is third in scoring (10.1 ppg). Freshman 6-8 forward Ellis Myles leads the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg).
The Cardinals returned just two starters and two other lettermen from last year's team that went 19-12 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Louisville has been outscored 76.0 to 70.4 points per game and outrebounded 37.3 to 34.0 boards per contest.
Head Coach Denny Crum
Denny Crum is in his 30th season at Louisville. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 and has led the Cardinals to four NCAA Final Fours (1980, `82, `83, `86) and national titles in 1980 and `86. Entering the season, he ranked 14th among active NCAA Division coaches in winning percentage (.708).
Series Notes
Utah and Louisville meet for the fifth time on Saturday. After losing the first game of the series, 84-67, on Dec. 23, 1972 in Salt Lake City, the Utes won the next two meetings. Utah posted a 71-69 victory on Dec. 22, 1979 in Salt Lake City and won 78-59 on Dec. 20, 1980 in Louisville, Ky. Last season, the Cardinals defeated the Utes 75-55 on Jan. 6 at Freedom Hall.
Last Meeting
Louisville defeated No. 18 Utah, 75-55, on Jan. 6, 2000 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky., snapping the Utes' nine-game winning streak. Louisville was led by 19 points from Nate Johnson and 12 points from Tony Williams, who have since graduated. Former Ute Hanno M?tt?l? scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half.
Utah committed 17 turnovers and was outrebounded by the much smaller Cardinals 37-22. Louisville scored 20 points off turnovers and had 19 second-chance points to the Utes' three. The Cardinals led by as many as 30 points several times late in the second half. Trailing 72-42 with 5:13 remaining, a 13-3 run by Utah cut the margin to 20 by game's end.
Former Cardinal backup center Tobiah Hopper added 10 points. Johnson, Williams and Dion Edward each grabbed eight rebounds. Utah got seven points each from Alex Jensen and Nate Althoff. Jeff Johnsen contributed five points.
Louisville's frenetic pressure confused Utah from the game's opening moments. The Utes scored the first two points then committed four straight turnovers as the Cardinals went ahead 12-4. Leading 30-18 with 3:23 remaining, Louisville scored the final 10 points of the half to take a 22-point halftime lead. The Cardinals outshot the Utes 52.7 to 41.9 percent and made 7-of-13 three-pointers (.538).
Utah vs. Colorado State Preview
Scouting the Rams
Colorado State is 13-8 overall and in fifth place in the Mountain West Conference with a 4-4 record. After getting back-to-back wins at home over UNLV (80-55) on Feb. 3 and San Diego State (77-56) on Feb. 5, the Rams lost at Wyoming on (72-70) Saturday. Colorado State, which is 0-5 on the road this season, plays at Brigham Young on Saturday before facing the Utes.
Three Rams are averaging double figures in scoring. Senior 6-3 guard John Sivesind ranks eighth in the conference in scoring (13.3 ppg) and fourth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.486). He is also a 90.2 percent free throw shooter to rank first in the conference. Senior 6-10 forward David Fisher is 12th in the MWC in scoring (12.4 ppg) and second in field goal percentage (.620), while senior 6-3 guard Ron Grady is 14th (11.8 ppg). Senior 6-7 forward Garrett Patik is eighth in the league in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and sophomore 6-8 forward Brain Green is ninth (6.0 rpg). Senior 5-10 guard Aki Palmer is fifth in assists (3.39 apg).
Colorado State ranks third in the nation in three-point percentage (.427). The Rams rank fourth in the MWC in scoring (73.0 ppg), third in scoring defense (63.0 ppg) and third in rebound margin (+6.0) with a 36.3 to 30.3 advantage per game.
Head Coach Dale Layer
Dale Layer is in his first season as head coach at Colorado State after serving as an assistant the past two seasons under Ritchie McKay. Before moving to Fort Collins, Colo., Layer was the head coach at Queens College in Charlotte, N.C., for nine seasons. He built the Division II program from the ground up and went 168-87 (.659), twice earning NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors. Layer took Queens College to the national tournament twice and produced eight consecutive winning seasons.
Series Notes
The Utes lead the overall series record with the Rams 85-38 and have a 48-14 edge in games played in Salt lake City. The Rams have won two in a row over the Utes after a 73-65 win on Jan. 22 in Fort Collins, Colo. Last season, Utah fell to CSU, 60-49, on Feb. 26 in Fort Collins to end a 10-game winning streak in the series. The Utes took the first game against the Rams last season, 76-70, on Jan. 24 in Salt Lake City. Utah has won the last five over the Rams in Salt Lake City. Colorado State's last win in the Huntsman Center was 71-70 Jan. 27, 1994.
Team Notes
Game #24 Rewind
Kevin Bradley scored eight of his 14 points in the final 3:51 as the Utes held on to beat UNLV 85-77 in Mountain West Conference action Monday night in Las Vegas. Phil Cullen led the Utes with 19 points, 14 in the first half. Chris Burgess added 15 for Utah (15-9, 7-3 MWC). Kaspars Kambala had a game-high 22 points for UNLV (14-10, 5-4 MWC). Dalron Johnson and Trevor Diggs each added 12.
The Utes led 64-51 with 11:57 remaining but the Rebels rallied behind Kambala, who had only four points in the first half after sitting out the last 14:38 with foul trouble. Kambala scored 13 of his team's next 21 points as the Rebels cut the lead to 77-71 with 3:45 left. Bradley then hit a free throw and a three-pointer to put the Utes back up by 10.
The game was close in the first half until the Utes scored 12 straight points to take a 40-30 lead with 1:59 remaining. Cullen hit two straight three-pointers in the run. The Rebels scored four points to cut the lead to 40-34, but Britton Johnson converted two free throws with 38 seconds remaining and the Utes went into the intermission with a 42-34 lead.
Utah outshot UNLV 60.0 to 42.6 percent from the field and 73.7 to 65.5 percent at the free throw line. The Utes got 22 assists on 33 baskets and had a 36 to 33 advantage on the boards.
Maturing Down the Stretch
In its last three wins--two of which have been on the road--Utah has withstood runs and made the plays down the stretch to close out games.
- New Mexico (Feb. 5 in Salt Lake City): Leading the Lobos 64-63, the Utes outscored UNM 16-6 to end the game and held New Mexico to just one field goal in the last 5:17.
- San Diego State (Feb. 10 in San Diego): The Aztecs were within 60-52 with 4:15 to play before Kevin Bradley and friends took over. In a little over a minute span, Bradley sank a three-pointer, got a steal and made a layup in transition, and Britton Johnsen got a jump shot on an assist from Bradley to increase Utah's lead to 15 points (67-52) with 2:42 left.
- UNLV (Feb. 12 in Las Vegas): The Utes led 64-51 with 11:57 remaining but the Rebels rallied behind Kaspars Kambala, who scored 13 of his team's next 21 points as the Rebels cut the lead to 77-71 with 3:45 left. Kevin Bradley then hit a free throw and a three-pointer to put the Utes back up by nine (81-72) with 1:52 remaining. After a three-pointer by UNLV, Bradley got a layup and Jeff Johnsen sank two free throws to make it a 10-point bulge (85-75) with 44 seconds left.
Lighting It Up from the Field
Utah has shot over 50 percent from the field in its last three games, hitting a combined 56.5 percent (87-of-154). The Utes shot 54.3 percent against New Mexico on Feb. 5, 54.7 percent against San Diego State on Feb. 10 and 60.0 percent against UNLV on Feb. 12. The Utes have shot better than 50 percent 11 times this season, going 8-3 in those games.
Utah's 60.0 field goal percentage against UNLV on Feb. 12 was its best effort on the road this season against a Division I team. Utah shot an overall season-best percentage of 64.0 at American-Puerto Rico on Nov. 23.
Getting Defensive
For 10 consecutive games--all in Mountain West Conference play--Utah has held its opponents under 50 percent shooting from the field. Utah's opponents have mustered just 42.3 percent shooting in the last 10 contests.
Only two teams have shot better than 50 percent from the field against the Utes the entire season. Southern Utah connected on 53.3 percent of its shots (60.9 percent in the second half) and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from three-point range, while Long Beach State shot 51.9 percent from the field. Utah's opponents have shot just 40.8 percent this season overall.
Chairmen of the Boards
The Utes have been outrebounded just four times this season: 33-24 to Georgia, 33-27 to Memphis, 46-35 to Wyoming on Jan. 8 and 58-49 to Wyoming on Jan. 20. The Cowboys have the two highest rebound totals among Ute opponents this season.
Utah has been outrebounded just twice in its last 56 regular-season conference games. Both of which came at the hands of Wyoming this season.
Inside the Numbers
- The Utes have utilized their depth this season. Utah's bench has been productive, outscoring its opponents bench by an average of 13.6 points per game. Nine players are averaging at least 10 minutes a game, while just one (Phil Cullen at 23.9) averaging more than 23 minutes per contest this season.
- The Utes have used nine different starting line-ups this season with eight different players starting at least one game. Against UNLV on Monday, Utah went with the quintet of Britton Johnsen (SF), Phil Cullen (PF), Chris Burgess (C), Travis Spivey (PG) and Nick Jacobson (SG) for the first time since Jan. 15 when Chris Burgess was injured and missed five starts. Utah has gone 5-1 with that starting five. Before Spivey took over at the point the last 12 games, Kevin Bradley had started the first 12 games.
- With 340 assists and 352 turnovers on the season, Utah has a 0.97 assists-turnover ratio and has averaged 14.67 turnovers a game. Utah has improved that number greatly with a positive assists-turnover ratio in the last four games, getting 69 assists to 42 turnovers (1.6:1 ratio). A team from the Rick Majerus era has never finished the season with less than a 1.0 assists-turnover ratio. Since the turnover stat was recorded beginning in 1975-76, the only Utah team to finish with less than a 1.0 assists-turnover ratio was the 1981-82 squad that had 404 assists to 419 turnovers (0.96).
- The Utes have had success when they take care of the ball, going 11-1 when they commit fewer turnovers then their opponent this season.
- Utah has held eight of its opponents to less than 60 points. American-Puerto Rico (37 points) and San Diego State on Jan. 15 (39 points) have been held below 40 points. Only seven teams have reached the 70-point barrier: Weber State (79), Southern Utah (77), Texas (70), Wyoming (71) on Jan. 8, UNLV (70) on Jan. 13, Wyoming (78 in overtime) on Jan. 20 and Colorado State (73) on Jan. 22.
- Utah is 8-0 when it scores 80 points or more.
- Eight games into the season, Utah was shooting just 67.2 percent from the free throw line. Since then, the Utes have shot 70.7 percent (169-of-239) from the line. The Utes have helped their cause at the stripe by shooting above 80 percent in five of the last 15 games, going 39-for-48 (.813) against Washington State, 21-for-26 (.808) against Pepperdine, a season-best 87.5 percent (14-for-16) against both Long Beach State and UNLV (Jan. 13), and 7-of-8 (.875) against Colorado State (Jan. 22). Utah is now shooting 70.3 percent from the line on the season.
- On Jan. 20 in an overtime showdown in Laramie, Wyo., Wyoming attempted 48 free throws, the most by a Utah opponent this season, while the U. connected on just 22-of-35 free throws (.629). The Utes committed a school record 38 fouls in the game.
- With defeats to then-No. 15 Southern California on Dec. 2, Utah State on Dec. 6, and Weber State on Dec. 9, Utah lost three consecutive nonconference games for the first time during the Rick Majerus era. The skid ended with an 87-63 win over Washington State on Dec. 16. Utah's most recent nonconference losing streak of three games or more came in 1988-89, the final season under Lynn Archibald, when Utah dropped four consecutive games to Florida on Nov. 27 (77-68), Cal State-Fullerton on Dec. 1 (59-57), Santa Clara on Dec. 3 (66-60) and Colorado on Dec. 6 (68-65).
Burgess Is Back
Junior 6-10 center/forward Chris Burgess, who had been out of action since suffering an avulsion fracture in his right ankle on Jan. 15, returned to the court on Feb. 5 against New Mexico. He has been back in the starting lineup for the last two games. Burgess, who was originally expected to be out six to eight weeks, was cleared to practice for the first time the day of the New Mexico game and participated in the team's shootaround. In a limited role, the Irvine, Calif., native played 16 minutes off the bench against New Mexico getting four points, five rebounds and two blocked shots. Against San Diego State Feb. 10, he had two points and four rebounds in 21 minutes.
Burgess had one of his better all-around games of the season against UNLV on Feb. 12. He tied Utah career highs with 15 points (7-of-13 FG) and three assists. Burgess also had nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals in 32 minutes. Burgess leads the team in rebounding average (5.6 rpg) and blocked shots (22). Before the injury, he had started 12 games in a row at center and power forward.
The Nation's Most Dominant Team in League Play at Home
Following their 80-69 win over New Mexico on Feb. 5, the Utes have won 42 consecutive league games at home, which is the nation's longest current streak. Utah's last home conference loss was to Fresno State (65-64) on Jan. 8, 1996. Utah is the nation's most dominant team in conference home games the past seven years with a 51-1 record (.981).
Against the seven other teams that now form the Mountain West Conference, Utah has won 38 in a row at home dating back to a 71-70 loss to Colorado State on Jan. 27, 1994.
Getting to the Point
Junior point guard Travis Spivey, a transfer from Salt Lake Community College, has started the last 12 games with fellow junior college transfer Kevin Bradley, the staring point guard for the first 12 games, coming off the bench at both guard positions. Freshman point guard Marc Jackson has also seen significant playing time as of late, averaging 9.7 minutes per game in conference play. The shake up in the lineup has resulted in improved productivity at point guard for the Utes.
- Utah hasn't had more than 12 turnovers in any of its last four games.
- The Utes had 22 assists against UNLV on Feb. 12, its second-highest total of the season and best in Mountain West Conference play. Utah had assists on all but 11 of 33 field goals made.
- Utah turned the ball over a season-low eight times while getting 15 assists against San Diego State on Jan. 15.
- In the last 11 games, Spivey has had 45 assists to 25 turnovers (1.8:1 ratio). In Mountain West Conference play, he ranks third in assists per game (4.10).
- Highlighting four of his better performances in conference play, Spivey had 10 points, making 4-of-6 shots from the field, four rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes on Feb. 10 against San Diego State. Spivey had 12 points, hitting 2-of-4 three-pointers, five rebounds and three steals in 31 minutes against New Mexico on Feb. 5. He had five assists with no turnovers, eight points and three rebounds in 28 minutes against Air Force on Feb. 3. Against UNLV on Jan. 13, Spivey had six assists, three turnovers, 10 points and two steals in 25 minutes.
- Against Wyoming on Jan. 20, Utah's trio of ball-handlers combined for nine assists, three steals and four turnovers, as well as 16 rebounds. Spivey had a season-high seven assists and just two turnovers in 37 minutes.
- Jackson had two of his better games of the season against Wyoming on Jan. 8 and San Diego State on Jan. 15. Jackson made 7-of-8 free throws with three rebounds, two assists and no turnovers in 12 minutes against the Cowboys. He had two points, three rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in 16 minutes against the Aztecs.
- Utah's generals had their best floor games of the season against Long Beach State on Jan. 3, combining for seven assists and no turnovers. It was the first time this season both Spivey and Bradley went turnover free. Their effort helped Utah commit nine turnovers, the second-lowest total this season. Entering the Long Beach State game, Utah was averaging 16.5 turnovers per game.
Boasting of Bradley
Junior 6-0 guard Kevin Bradley, a relatively unheralded transfer from Compton Community College, has raised some eyebrows with his solid play. Bradley started the first 12 games of the season and has continued to get significant playing time off the bench since then, averaging 22.6 minutes per game. He leads the team in scoring (11.2 ppg), shooting 42.6 percent from three-point range (second-best on the team) and 73.5 percent from the free throw line. Bradley is also averaging 2.2 assists per game (third-best on the team). He has led Utah in scoring nine times and assists eight times.
When Bradley scores in double figures, Utah is 10-3. He has scored in double figures in each of the last four games, averaging 16.5 points per game. He has also shot 61.2 percent from the field (19-of-31) and 62.5 percent from three-point range (10-of-16) in those games. Against UNLV on Feb. 12, he had 14 points to score in double figures for the 13th time. At San Diego State on Feb. 10, he had 18 points and tied a career high with six assists. He also had three boards and two steals in 26 minutes. Against New Mexico on Feb. 5, Bradley had 19 points, making 4-of-5 three-pointers, and got six rebounds in 30 minutes. On Feb. 3 against Air Force, Bradley got 15 points, making all of his shots from the field (four field goals and two three-pointers) and 5-of-7 free throws in 19 minutes.
In other recent games, he had 19 points at Wyoming on Jan. 20, making a three-pointer to send the game into overtime and hitting 3-of-7 treys in the contest. Bradley also came up with a career-high nine rebounds. He had a team-high 13 points against UNLV on Jan. 13. His career-high game was 20 points against Cardinal Stritch on Nov. 28.
A native of Los Angeles, Bradley was named the conference player of the year as a senior at Crenshaw High School.
Cullen Coming On
Junior 6-9 forward Phil Cullen has scored in double figures in 11 games this season, including the last two. After getting 13 points and six boards at San Diego State on Feb. 10, he busted loose for 19 points, hitting 7-of-9 shots from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range, against UNLV on Feb. 12. Cullen has led the Utes in scoring eight times. He is second on the team in scoring (9.5 ppg) and third in rebounds (4.8 rpg), starting 19 of 24 games this season.
In a six-game stretch from Dec. 2-22, Cullen averaged 13.5 points, shooting 47.1 percent (25-of-53) from the field, 48.5 percent (17-of-35) from three-point range and 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from the free throw line.
All in the Family
Utah has one of 11 brother combinations in NCAA Division I this season in Jeff and Britton Johnsen. Both of the Johnsens rank among the top five Utes statistically.
Jeff (G/F, 6-4, 200), a junior, is tied for fourth on the team in scoring (8.6 ppg), shooting a 37.8 percent from three-point range (fourth-best on the team) and 78.0 percent from the free throw line (second-best on the team). He is also averaging 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists (second-best on the team), and has led the team in scoring three times and assists 10 times. He returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 9 against New Mexico on Feb. 5. Jeff responded with 15 points, making 6-of-8 field goals, to score in double figures for the fourth consecutive game. He also had a season-high nine rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes.
Britton (F, 6-9, 205), a sophomore, is tied for fourth on the team in scoring (8.7 ppg), shooting a team-best 46.2 percent from behind the arc (18-of-39), and is second in rebounds (5.0 rpg). He has also scored in double figures in 10 of the last 18 games. Britton got a career-high 23 points, making 8-of-14 field goals and 4-of-6 three-pointers, with eight rebounds and three blocked shots in 27 minutes against Long Beach State on Jan. 3. He had 20 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes against Colorado State on Jan. 22.
Jeff 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 who resumes his Utah career 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 Johnsens, who hail from Murray, Utah, hadn't played together for four years. 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 12-year career at the U. However, they are the first to play together.
Close Calls In Defeat
A few bounces of the ball here or there, and Utah could have had a record far better than its 15-9 mark. Utah's nine losses have came by a combined 48 points for an average of 5.3 points per game.
- Utah suffered a pair of one-point losses at Utah State (58-57) on Dec. 6 and at Wyoming (78-77 in overtime) on Jan. 20 and a two-point loss at home (79-77) to Weber State on Dec. 9. The Utes also experienced two five-point setbacks to Georgia (Nov. 24) and USC (Dec. 2) by identical 65-60 scores on neutral courts. Utah's worst loss of the season was by an 11-point margin (70-59) at 25th-ranked Texas on Dec. 30.
- In five of its nine losses, Utah had significant leads in the second half. The Utes led Georgia 55-36 with 12:13 to play, had a 52-48 lead over Utah State with 10:27 to go, a 56-50 cushion over Southern Utah with 10:46 remaining, a 53-50 advantage over Texas with 6:18 left and a 54-41 lead over Wyoming with 13:23 showing. Utah is 12-4 when it leads at the half and 15-3 when it leads with 5:00 remaining this season.
- Utah's six losses in nonconference play is the most that it has had in the past 12 years. The last time the Utes went into league play with more than five losses was in 1988-89, the last season of Lynn Archibald's tenure, when Utah went 9-6 through its pre-conference schedule. During the Majerus era, Utah had a high mark of four losses before the start of conference play just twice, going 7-4 in 1989-90 (Majerus' first season) and 10-4 in 1998-99.
Streaky Start To Conference Play
After winning its first three Mountain West Conference games at home, Utah dropped its next three games on the road. It was the second time this season the Utes dropped three consecutive games. Utah's 3-3 Mountain West record through six games marked its worst conference start since the 1993-94 season when the Utes started 3-3 in the Western Athletic Conference. After its 3-3 start that season, Utah went on to lose its next two to fall to 3-5 before finishing 8-10.
The 1993-94 season is also the last time the Utes dropped three consecutive games in league play, when it happened twice. The Utes fell at Hawaii on Jan. 20 (72-56), at San Diego State on Jan. 22 (76-73) and to Colorado State at home on Jan. 27 (71-70). The second time around, Utah fell at Fresno State on Feb. 17 (95-86), at Air Force on Feb. 19 (91-89 in OT) and at Brigham Young on Feb. 26 (73-70).
Utah had a four-game losing streak during the 1989-90 conference season from Jan. 13 through Jan. 25. That losing streak took place during Majerus' first lengthy absence from the Utah bench. Joe Cravens served as the acting head coach for 24 games that year while Majerus recovered from heart surgery.
Defense, Defense, Defense
- One of the trademarks of a Utah team during the Rick Majerus era is a stifling half-court defense. In the past 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.
- This season, the Utes are giving up 63.0 points per game. 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. 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.
- Utah has a 6.9 rebounds per game advantage over the opposition this season and ranked 13th in the NCAA as of Feb. 12. 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 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.
- Opponents have shot 40.8 percent from the field on the Utes this season. 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.
- 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. Utah has outscored its opponents by an average of 10.0 points per game this season. 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.
Majerus Takes Medical Leave for Rest of the Season
Rick Majerus announced on Jan. 9 he was leaving the team for the rest of the season to be with his cancer-stricken mother and recover from his own health problems.
Majerus underwent a coronary angiography and stenting of two coronary artery branches on Jan. 2. He had a follow-up procedure performed on Jan. 3. Doctors reported that both procedures went very well. Prior to that, Majerus had been away from the team for seven weeks while undergoing rehabilitation from late-September arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He had anticipated to rejoin the team on Jan. 1 before admitting himself to the hospital with chest pains. Majerus is planning to return to coaching for the 2001-02 season.
Utes Dealing with Rare Occurrence of No Returning All-Conference Selections
For just the second time since Rick Majerus took over the Ute basketball program, Utah doesn't feature a single returning all-conference selection on the roster.
Discounting Majerus' first season (1989-90), the only time the Utes haven't returned a first or second team all-conference selection was in 1993-94. That season resulted in the only non-winning season of the Majerus era with Utah going 14-14 overall and 8-10 in the Western Athletic Conference.
In 1991-92, Josh Grant was back for his fourth season with the Utes as the reigning WAC Player of the Year and the only returning all-conference honoree on the roster. However, he took a medical redshirt after helping the Utes win the first three games of the season. Without their leader, Utah finished 24-11 overall and 9-7 in conference play.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballMeet the Runnin’ Utes Staff: Erick Schork
Thursday, August 28
Utah Basketball | Team Together - Episode 2
Thursday, August 21
Fan Fest 2025 Coaches and Players Interviews: Men's Basketball
Sunday, August 17
Meet the Runnin’ Utes Staff: Victoria Sun
Wednesday, July 23