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
It's the Little Things That Count
2/15/2002 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2002
By Jeff Burdett, Sports Information Student Assistant
In the game of basketball, rebounding, passing and playing defense are not always viewed as more important elements than scoring. But, to Runnin' Ute Jeff Johnsen they couldn't be more important. You see it's doing those little things that have helped earn Johnsen respect among his peers in the Mountain West Conference.
The senior wing man began doing the little things, along with scoring, during his prep career at Murray High School. The former Spartan was honored as the Deseret News' Mr. Basketball for the state of Utah two years in a row because of his success on the court. He was also named 4A MVP two years in a row by the Salt Lake Tribune and Utah Gatorade Player of the Year as he led Murray to its first state basketball title in 65 years in 1996.
Hoping to continue the success he had experienced on the court, Johnsen chose to play his college ball at the University of Utah. During his first year, Johnsen garnered a large amount of minutes for a freshman, including seven nods in the starting lineup. Overall, he played in 32 games, including all four of the Utes' NCAA tournament games. Utah reached the Elite Eight during Johnsen's debut season.
"The pressure of playing in the tournament helped me grow as a player," says Johnsen. He benefitted largely from experiencing the NCAA Tournament his first season, and knows he's lucky because most collegiate athletes never get the opportunity to be a part of March Madness. After his freshman season concluded, Johnsen pursued another dream to serve a two-year LDS Church mission. At the conclusion of his mission, Johnsen hit the gym hoping to get back in shape for a quick return to the court. "It didn't feel like my sophomore year," Johnsen says, "I felt like I was more mature." His stats proved the mission affected him in a positive way as he played in all 32 games and started five. He was the top scorer off the bench, averaging 5.9 points per game and scoring in double figures seven times. "I began to learn Coach Majerus' system as time went on," says Johnsen. More importantly, he was finding his role on the team.
Johnsen established himself as one of the premiere defenders in the conference during his junior season. "Everything seemed to get easier by the year," admits Johnsen. The forward showed continued improvement by starting nine games and playing in all 31 contests that season. Ranked 27th in the conference in scoring (8.6 ppg), 14th in steals (1.03 spg) and seventh in field goal percentage (50.0), Johnsen began proving he was a key player for Utah basketball.
His junior year also marked the first time in four years he would play on the same team as his younger brother Britton. "It's fun having Britton on the team," says Johnsen. "We help each other out." The two brothers used their familiarity with each other to develop an intimidating force. Having the Johnsen brothers on the team has become an definite advantage for the Utes.
For Jeff, his strengths seem to be working in a program that stresses defense above all else. But, always striving to get better, Johnsen feels he needs to become more consistent on the boards. "Sometimes you make mistakes or miss shots, but you can always play good defense and make up for it," says Johnsen. "On this team if you can't play defense, you won't play on the court at all."
The second oldest player on the team, Johnsen's experience has allowed him to become a leader. This season he was given the honor of becoming a co-captain. "I have a good relationship with the younger guys," states Johnsen. "Sometimes the freshmen can use a little help."
He claims being the only married player on the team has also helped him to mature and become a better leader. With his scrappy play and intelligent outlook for the game, it should be no surprise that this Ute's favorite player is former Boston Celtic star Larry Bird. "I mold so many things after him," admits Johnson.
"Jeff has worked very hard and with great zeal. He's taking his senior year very seriously,"says head coach Rick Majerus. "I think Jeff has a better understanding now of what I want and the expectations of his teammates. He's capable of being an all-league defender and a fantastic rebounder, so I'm very excited about the direction his game is going."
Johnsen's experiences and intense dedication have allowed him to develop into a solid basketball player. The small things he does on the court can change the tempo and outcome of any game. In short, he is a valuable asset to Utah basketball.
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