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Utah Hosts Memphis In First-Rround NIT Matchup
3/13/2001 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2001
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah isn't used to this, but it will take it. After all, the Utes are still playing basketball.
For the first time since the 1993-94 season, the Utes (19-11) didn't qualify for the NCAA tournament. Instead, they will settle for the National Invitational Tournament, where they host Memphis (17-14) on Tuesday.
Utah's six-season NCAA tournament streak included three trips to the round of 16, two round of eight qualifications and 1998's run to the NCAA Championship game, where it lost to Kentucky.
The 1998 season seems like eons ago for the Utes, who struggled through an up-and-down season without head coach Rick Majerus. Majerus missed all but one of Utah's games this season due to personal and family health problems.
Acting coach Dick Hunsaker was named the MWC coach of the year after guiding Utah to 10-4 in the Mountain West Conference and a share of the regular season title.
The Utes weren't the dominating force they have been in recent years.
Utah won seven straight conference games in February, but a late-season loss to Air Force and early ouster from the MWC tournament left the Utes out of the NCAA's postseason party.
Regardless of the team's disappointing finish, Hunsaker and the Utes have plenty to be thankful for and plenty to prove.
"It's a great compliment and a wonderful opportunity for our program," Hunsaker said. "We get a home game on national TV against a terrific opponent. I expect us to be very excited."
Utah beat Memphis 71-68 in the consolation game of the Puerto Rico Shootout on Nov. 25.
Memphis is in its first year under coach John Calipari, who guided the Massachusetts to five consecutive NCAA appearances, including one trip to the Final Four.
The Tigers finished 10-6 in Conference USA and were beaten by Cincinnati in the semifinals of the conference tournament. They're led by junior forward Kelly Wise, who averages 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Utah has six players averaging more than seven points, led by Phil Cullen and Britton Johnson, who each averaged nine.
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