Men's and Women's Basketball Teams Set for Night with the Utes

Tuesday, October 17

Salt Lake City, Utah

7:00 PM

University of Utah

Night with the Utes (Exhibition)

Men's and Women's Basketball Teams Set for Night with the Utes

10/16/2017 4:59 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball

Fans to get first glimpse of both teams

NIGHT WITH THE UTES
DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 17 | 7 p.m. MT
TV: Pac-12 Networks (Roxy Bernstein, Don MacLean)

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's and women's basketball teams will host Night with the Utes this Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The event is set to begin at 7 p.m. MT

At 6:45 p.m. the teams will be set for introductions and then following introductions, the men's team will host a dunk contest consisting of five members from the current Utah roster. The Runnin' Utes will follow with its annual preseason scrimmage.

At halftime, the women's basketball program will enter the court to showcase a variety of on-court skills and techniques followed by a three-point contest between the men's and women's teams. The men's team will then conclude its Red/White scrimmage in the second half.

For the second consecutive season, the event will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks (National and Mountain). Roxy Bernstein will call the action, while Don MacLean offers color commentary.

RUNNIN' UTE NOTES
BACK IN ACTION
The Runnin' Utes are coming off a 20-12 campaign from 2016-17, which included an 11-7 record and fourth-place finish in Pac-12 Conference play.

RETURNING PLAYERS
Utah returns a total of 10 letterwinners from last season's squad, which includes senior forward David Collette, who started 22 of 32 games while averaging 13.6 points and 5.1 rebounds, and tallied a team-best .596 shooting percentage from the field. Other starters returning to the team include junior guard Sedrick Barefield (three starts, 9.0 ppg), senior forward Tyler Rawson (eight starts, 6.0), junior guard Parker Van Dyke (11 starts, 4.6), sophomore forward Jayce Johnson (six starts, 4.0), and senior guard/forward Gabe Bealer (six starts, 3.6).

NEW PLAYERS
Utah welcomes seven newcomers to the 2017-18 squad, which includes Justin Bibbins, who transferred in from Long Beach State, along with true freshmen Donnie Tillman (Detroit, Mich., Findlay Prep), Christian Popolla (Las Vegas, Nev., Bishop Gorman HS), Brooks King (Boise, Idaho, Centenial HS), and Devante Doutrive (Woodland Hills, Calif., Birmingham HS). The incoming class also welcomes junior college transfers Kolbe Caldwell (Shawnee CC) and Nate Duda (North Platte CC).

KYRSTKOWIAK ENTERS SEVENTH SEASON AT UTAH
Larry Krystkowiak begins his seventh season at the helm of the Runnin' Utes Basketball program in 2017-18. Kyrstkowiak, who led the Utes to a 20-12 overall record, a 11-7 record and fourth-place finish in the Pac-12 Conference, along with a NIT appearance last season, is now 115-85 overall in his six seasons at Utah. He is 157-105 overall in eight seasons at the collegiate level, which includes two seasons at Montana (2004-06, 42-20).

UTES PICKED SEVENTH IN PAC-12 PRESEASON POLL
The Utah men's basketball team has been picked seventh in the 2017-18 Pac-12 men's basketball preseason poll, the league office announced last week at Pac-12 Men's Basketball Media Day. Voted on by various different media members and outlets that cover the league, Utah garnered 129 of a possible 1,794 points in the poll.

The Utes, who are coming off a 20-12 overall campaign in 2016-17, also went 11-7 in conference play and finished in sole possession of fourth place in the league standings after being picked to finish eighth in last season's preseason media poll.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
Back at it: Utah is coming off a 16-15 season and a trip to the WNIT for the second consecutive year. Despite being picked ninth in the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll at Media Day last week, the Utes return four seniors to the court and loads of experience.

At the Helm: Lynne Roberts returns as the head coach of the Utes for her third season, holding an overall record of 34-30 in her first two years.

Returning Starters: Utah returns seniors Emily Potter and Tanaeya BoClair to the starting lineup this season along with point guard Erika Bean who started 29 games last season. BoClair and Potter have started in every game they have participated in at Utah, 93 and 95 respectively.

On the Block: Senior Emily Potter enters the season with 215 career blocks, just 10 shy of tying the school record in career swats. She ranks seventh in the Pac-12 in career blocks after breaking the Utah record for single-season blocks in back-to-back seasons (89 in 2016-17, 83 in 2015-16).

Newcomer Numbers: Utah welcomed six newcomers to the squad this preseason in Jordan Cruz (G, 5-11, Sacramento, Calif.), Tori Williams (G, 5-9, Boise, Idaho), Elli Koskinen (F, 6-5, Salo, Finland), Dru Gylten (G, 5-11, Rapid City, S.D.), Arianna LaLonde (F, 6-4, Phoenix, Ariz.) and Maurane Corbin (F, 6-5, Saint-Bruno, Quebec).

Italian Tour: The Utes took its talents overseas this preseason for a tour around Italy, playing three games and gaining instant team chemistry. The Utes outscored their opponents 222-106.

Making her Return: Redshirt junior Megan Huff will look to make her return to the court after sitting out during the 2016-17 season. The Federal Way, Wash. native hasn't seen action in an NCAA game since March 19, 2016 when her former team Hawai'i played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Huff was the Big West Sixth Player of the Year two seasons in a row for the Rainbow Wahine.

Added Height: With the addition of Arianna LaLonde, Elli Koskinen and Maurane Corbin, the Utah freshmen class averages a height of 6-1, one of the tallest classes in the Pac-12 this season.