Utah Men's Basketball Preview - Game #2 - University of Utah Athletics

Nov. 16, 2006

UTAH RUNNIN' UTES VS. SANTA CLARA BRONCOS
Saturday, November 18, 2006 ? 7:05 p.m. (PST)
Leavey Center (4,500) ? Santa Clara, Calif.

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

UTAH (0-1)Head Coach: Ray GaicolettiAlma Mater: Minot State, 1993At Utah: 43-22 (3rd Season)Career: 160-105 (10th Season)
SANTA CLARA (1-0)Head Coach: Dick DaveyAlma Mater: Pacific, 1964At SCU: 231-180 (15th Season)Career: 231-180 (15th Season)
MEDIA COVERAGETelevision: NoneRadio: Sports Radio 1280 The ZoneMike Lageschulte (play-by-play),Joe Cravens (analyst), Chris Tunis (host)Internet Audio/Live Stats: www.UtahUtes.com Get Utah All-Access HereInternet Video: www.SantaClaraBroncos.com Click Here
THE SERIESOverall: Utah leads 5-4Utah Home/Away/Neutral: 4-1/0-2/1-1Current Streak: Santa Clara has won 1Last Meeting: Santa Clara won 66-60 onDec. 3, 1988 in Santa Clara, Calif.

QUICKLY ON UTAH
The Runnin' Utes (0-1) play their first road game of the season against Santa Clara (1-0) on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. (PST) at the Leavy Center in Santa Clara, Calif. The game broadcast will be moved to Sports Radio 1280 The Zone in Salt Lake City since the Utah vs. Air Force football game will be carried on 700 The Zone at the same time.

Utah opened its season last Friday night with a 76-73 loss to Southern Utah in the Huntsman Center. The Utes return four starters and two other lettermen from last season. The Utes bring back three of the top four scorers, two of three best rebounders and the leading assists producer from last season. Utah went 14-15 overall in 2005-06 and placed sixth in the Mountain West with a 6-10 record.

Junior guard Johnnie Bryant (6-0, 180) earned all-Mountain West Conference honorable mention in his first season with the Utes in 2005-06. Bryant led the Utes in scoring (13.1 ppg) and assists (2.4 apg) while averaging 32.7 minutes per game. The Oakland, Calif., native also shot 45.9 percent (68-for-148) from three-point range and 83.3 percent from the free throw line, leading the Utes in both categories.

Sophomore center Luke Nevill (7-1, 265) also earned all-MWC honorable mention in 2005-06. Earning a starting role in 12 games late in the season, Nevill was third on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg) and led the Utes in rebounds (6.6 rpg) and blocked shots (27). The Perth, Australia, native also averaged 23.5 minutes per game and shot 53.2 percent from the field.

Sophomore forward Shaun Green (6-8, 208) made 24 starts and averaged 26.3 minutes per game as a true freshman. A solid all-around contributor, Green ranked fourth on the team in scoring (6.4 ppg), third in rebounding (3.8 rpg), third in assists (2.1 apg), second in steals (31) and second in blocked shots (11). Green, a native of Salt Lake City, shot 38.1 percent (43-for-113) from three-point range.

Four Utes scored in double figures against Southern Utah, led by 19 points from Nevill. Both Bryant and freshman forward Stephen Weigh (6-6, 220) had 13 points. Green contributed 11 points and game-highs of six rebounds and five assists.

Utah won both of its exhibition games, defeating Brock University 92-53 on Nov. 3 and Montana Tech 76-50 on Nov. 6.

SCOUTING SANTA CLARA
The Broncos (1-0) opened their regular season with an 83-51 win over Holy Names University on Tuesday night at home. Santa Clara won its only exhibition game over Notre Dame de Namur, 90-60, on Sunday.

Santa Clara returns four starters and nine lettermen from last year's team that went 13-16 overall and tied for sixth place in the West Coast Conference with a 5-9 record. Junior guard Brody Angley (5-11, 195) is the Broncos' top returning scorer (10.1 ppg) and led the team in assists (4.9 apg) last season. Junior forward Mitch Henke (6-7, 200) is the team's second-best returning scorer (9.4 ppg) and senior forward Sean Denison (6-11, 245) is the top returning rebounder (6.1 rpg).

Henke scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Santa Clara against Holy Names. Denison added 12 points and 7-foot center Josh Higgins, a junior transfer from Western Kentucky, had 10 points and seven rebounds. The Broncos made a 23-2 run and shot 58 percent from the field in the first half to take control of the game.

HEAD COACH DICK DAVEY
Dick Davey is in his 15th season as Santa Clara's head coach with a 231-180 record. During his tenure, Davey has led Santa Clara to three NCAA Tournament appearances, three West Coast Conference regular season championships and one WCC Tournament title. He has been named the West Coast Conference coach of the Year three times.

Davey's association with Santa Clara University spans more than 28 years. After spending 15 years as an assistant coach under Bronco legend Carroll Williams, Davey took over the head coaching duties in the fall of 1992 when Williams was named the school's director of athletics. He originally joined the Santa Clara coaching staff in 1977.

UTAH VS. SANTA CLARA SERIES NOTES
? Utah leads the all-time series with Santa Clara 5-4, but the Broncos have taken three of the last five games.

? The Utes are 0-2 against the Broncos in Santa Clara, Calif.

? The teams last met on Dec. 3, 1988 in Santa Clara, Calif., with the Broncos winning 66-60.

? Utah is 53-17 (.757) all-time against the West Coast Conference and 8-3 in road games.

AFTER THIS
Utah opens a four-game home stand against Colorado on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 8:07 p.m. (MST) in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Runnin' Utes then host Rice on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6:07 p.m. (MST).

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Utah Men's Basketball Preview - Game #2

Players Mentioned

Johnnie Bryant

Shaun Green

Luke Nevill

Stephen Weigh

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Oregon [Exh] on October 24, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus San José State on November 3, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Weber State on November 8, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Holy Cross on November 10, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Sam Houston State on November 15, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Purdue Fort Wayne on November 18, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Cal Poly on November 20, 2025

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Grand Canyon on November 25, 2025 at 10 PM

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Butler on March 31, 2025 , Loss , 84, to, 86

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus No. 14-Seed UCF on March 11, 2025 , Loss , 72, to, 87

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at #23/22 BYU on March 8, 2025 , Loss , 74, to, 85

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus West Virginia on March 4, 2025 , Loss , 69, to, 71

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Arizona State on March 1, 2025 , Win , 99, to, 73

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at #22/21 Arizona on February 26, 2025 , Loss , 66, to, 83

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UCF on February 23, 2025 , Loss , 72, to, 76

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Kansas State on February 17, 2025 , Win , 74, to, 69

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus #17/20 Kansas on February 15, 2025 , Win , 74, to, 67