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Wednesday, December 18
Las Vegas, NV
9:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Kentucky
@UtahMBB Takes Center Stage Against No. 6/6 Kentucky
12/16/2019 1:57 PM | Men's Basketball
The Utah men’s basketball team battles No. 6/6 Kentucky this Wednesday in a 9 p.m. (MT) showdown on ESPN2.
OPENING TIP
The University of Utah men's basketball team will get its first test on the national stage this Wednesday, Dec. 18, inside T-Mobile Arena as it takes on No. 6/6 Kentucky at 9 p.m. (MT) on ESPN2 as part of the Neon Hoops Showcase benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. Utah will be riding a four-game win-streak while the Kentucky enters the game with a six-game win-streak.
Dave Pasch will have the call on the nationally televised game alongside former UCLA and Celtic great Bill Walton.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats moved up two spots in the latest AP Poll thanks to losses from Maryland and Michigan this past week. UK enters the week 8-1 overall and have won six-straight games, including a 67-53 win over Georgia Tech this past Saturday.
When Utah takes on No. 6/6 Kentucky this Wednesday, it will serve as the 13th meeting between the two programs and ninth time it's being played on a neutral court. UK is 12-1 when playing as the No. 6-ranked team in the AP Poll, including an 8-0 mark against unranked teams under head coach John Calipari. With its win over Georgia Tech last week, Kentucky moved to 254-41 all-time when playing against AP unranked teams as well.
The Utes and Wildcats have quite a history when it comes to big games, but Utah is just 1-7 when playing the SEC blueblood on neutral floor. However, the lone win for Utah came in the NIT Championship game (3/24/47) – a 49-45 victory for the Utes in Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats got their revenge 51 years later when they edged the Utes 78-69 in the NCAA Championship game on March 30, 2005, in San Antonio.
Junior Nick Richards leads Kentucky on the offensive end, averaging 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds with a .699 shooting clip. Sophomore Ashton Hagans, who is on the Lute Olson Watch List, is right behind Richard averaging 13.7 points, 7.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds. His 7.0 dimes per game is ranked ninth nationally while Richards' .699 shooting clip is ranked sixth in the country.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley are both averaging 12.3 points to round out the double-digit scorers for Kentucky. Maxey, a highly touted freshman out of Garland, Texas, is tied with Quickley for the team-lead with 11 triples. EJ Montgomery is nearly averaging in double-figures for the Wildcats, scoring 9.8 points per game to go with his 5.3 rebounding average. Montgomery (.533) also one of three Kentucky players to shoot at least 50-percent from the floor, joining Richards (.699) and Hagans (.500).
UTES AGAINST THE RANKED
Heading into the Wednesday showdown with No. 6-ranked Kentucky, here is how the Utes have fared against AP Top-25 teams historically.
Utah's last win against an AP Top-25 team was on Feb. 27, 2016, when it took down No. 9 Arizona at home 70-64 – the second win over an AP Top-10 team that season. Brandon Taylor had 19 points and five steals on 7-of-9 shooting while Jakob Poeltl posted 14 points and 10 rebounds with three blocks.
The last win for Utah against an AP Top-10 team on a neutral court came inside Madison Square Garden (12/19/15) when the Runnin' Utes upset then No. 7-ranked Duke 77-75 (OT) just nine months after falling to the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight. Kyle Kuzma led Utah with 21 points and eight rebounds while Jakob Poeltl had 19 points and 14 rebounds in the win.
With San Diego State checking in at No. 20 in this week's AP Poll, the last time Utah defeated a team ranked from No. 11-20 came against No. 19 Oregon on March 9, 2013, at home 72-62.
Utah vs. AP Top-25 Teams
Overall: 66-144 (.314)
Home: 37-37 (.500)
Road: 11-57 (.162)
Neutral: 18-50 (.265)
Last win vs. AP Top-25 Team: March 21, 2018 at #25 Saint Mary's (CA) 67-58 (OT) – NIT
Last win vs. AP Top-10 Team: February 27, 2016 vs. #9 Arizona 70-64
Last win vs. AP Top-10 Team in OT: December 19, 2015 vs. #7 Duke 77-75 (OT)
vs. No. 6: 0-5 (.000)
vs. No. 20: 5-1 (.833)
SIN CITY RECORDS
Utah is 29-29 all-time when playing in Las Vegas and have gone 8-8 in the Larry Krystkowiak Era. Below is a breakdown to how the Utes have done in Sin City under Krystkowiak…
Pac-12 Tournament: 6-7
at UNLV: 1-0
MGM Resorts Main Event: 1-1
at T-Mobile Arena: 0-3
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
With two games remaining in month of December, Utah is currently 3-0 in the final month of action with some stiff competition awaiting. Here is a look at how the Utes have done in December under Larry Krystkowiak and along with years where the Utes have gone undefeated in December.
LAST TIME OUT
It was slow start to the game offensively for Utah, but the Utes were able to grind out a gritty 60-49 victory over Weber State this past Saturday in the final year of the Beehive Classic. Neither team shot well with both programs combining to shoot just 39-of-115 (.339) from the field and 9-of-43 (.209) from beyond the arc.
However, the bright spot for Utah came at the free-throw line – where it knocked down 15-of-19. Timmy Allen finished with a game-high 19 points to go with his seven rebounds and four assists while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 at the line. Riley Battin, Branden Carlson and Mikael Jantunen all nearly had double-doubles as well for the Utes. Battin nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds, Carlson had nine points and eight rebounds and Jantunen had nine points and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Utes wrap up their non-conference schedule and third neutral site game with a 4:30 p.m. (MT) game against undefeated #20 San Diego State on Saturday, Dec. 21, inside STAPLES Center as part of the 2019 Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Guy Haberman will have the call between the Utes and Aztecs while Don MacLean serves as the analyst.
LOOKING AHEAD
With the non-conference schedule all wrapped up, Utah now turns its attention towards Pac-12 play. The first week of conference play for Utah will feature some stiff competition when Oregon State, who is currently 8-1 with three games in non-conference play remaining, comes to town on Thursday, Jan. 2. The Utes then welcome No. 8-ranked Oregon for an afternoon showdown on Saturday, Dec. 4. The Ducks sit at 8-2 on the season with wins over #13 Memphis (neutral), Houston, #13 Seton Hall (neutral) and most recently #5 Michigan on the road.
The University of Utah men's basketball team will get its first test on the national stage this Wednesday, Dec. 18, inside T-Mobile Arena as it takes on No. 6/6 Kentucky at 9 p.m. (MT) on ESPN2 as part of the Neon Hoops Showcase benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. Utah will be riding a four-game win-streak while the Kentucky enters the game with a six-game win-streak.
Dave Pasch will have the call on the nationally televised game alongside former UCLA and Celtic great Bill Walton.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats moved up two spots in the latest AP Poll thanks to losses from Maryland and Michigan this past week. UK enters the week 8-1 overall and have won six-straight games, including a 67-53 win over Georgia Tech this past Saturday.
When Utah takes on No. 6/6 Kentucky this Wednesday, it will serve as the 13th meeting between the two programs and ninth time it's being played on a neutral court. UK is 12-1 when playing as the No. 6-ranked team in the AP Poll, including an 8-0 mark against unranked teams under head coach John Calipari. With its win over Georgia Tech last week, Kentucky moved to 254-41 all-time when playing against AP unranked teams as well.
The Utes and Wildcats have quite a history when it comes to big games, but Utah is just 1-7 when playing the SEC blueblood on neutral floor. However, the lone win for Utah came in the NIT Championship game (3/24/47) – a 49-45 victory for the Utes in Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats got their revenge 51 years later when they edged the Utes 78-69 in the NCAA Championship game on March 30, 2005, in San Antonio.
Junior Nick Richards leads Kentucky on the offensive end, averaging 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds with a .699 shooting clip. Sophomore Ashton Hagans, who is on the Lute Olson Watch List, is right behind Richard averaging 13.7 points, 7.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds. His 7.0 dimes per game is ranked ninth nationally while Richards' .699 shooting clip is ranked sixth in the country.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley are both averaging 12.3 points to round out the double-digit scorers for Kentucky. Maxey, a highly touted freshman out of Garland, Texas, is tied with Quickley for the team-lead with 11 triples. EJ Montgomery is nearly averaging in double-figures for the Wildcats, scoring 9.8 points per game to go with his 5.3 rebounding average. Montgomery (.533) also one of three Kentucky players to shoot at least 50-percent from the floor, joining Richards (.699) and Hagans (.500).
UTES AGAINST THE RANKED
Heading into the Wednesday showdown with No. 6-ranked Kentucky, here is how the Utes have fared against AP Top-25 teams historically.
Utah's last win against an AP Top-25 team was on Feb. 27, 2016, when it took down No. 9 Arizona at home 70-64 – the second win over an AP Top-10 team that season. Brandon Taylor had 19 points and five steals on 7-of-9 shooting while Jakob Poeltl posted 14 points and 10 rebounds with three blocks.
The last win for Utah against an AP Top-10 team on a neutral court came inside Madison Square Garden (12/19/15) when the Runnin' Utes upset then No. 7-ranked Duke 77-75 (OT) just nine months after falling to the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight. Kyle Kuzma led Utah with 21 points and eight rebounds while Jakob Poeltl had 19 points and 14 rebounds in the win.
With San Diego State checking in at No. 20 in this week's AP Poll, the last time Utah defeated a team ranked from No. 11-20 came against No. 19 Oregon on March 9, 2013, at home 72-62.
Utah vs. AP Top-25 Teams
Overall: 66-144 (.314)
Home: 37-37 (.500)
Road: 11-57 (.162)
Neutral: 18-50 (.265)
Last win vs. AP Top-25 Team: March 21, 2018 at #25 Saint Mary's (CA) 67-58 (OT) – NIT
Last win vs. AP Top-10 Team: February 27, 2016 vs. #9 Arizona 70-64
Last win vs. AP Top-10 Team in OT: December 19, 2015 vs. #7 Duke 77-75 (OT)
vs. No. 6: 0-5 (.000)
vs. No. 20: 5-1 (.833)
SIN CITY RECORDS
Utah is 29-29 all-time when playing in Las Vegas and have gone 8-8 in the Larry Krystkowiak Era. Below is a breakdown to how the Utes have done in Sin City under Krystkowiak…
Pac-12 Tournament: 6-7
at UNLV: 1-0
MGM Resorts Main Event: 1-1
at T-Mobile Arena: 0-3
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
With two games remaining in month of December, Utah is currently 3-0 in the final month of action with some stiff competition awaiting. Here is a look at how the Utes have done in December under Larry Krystkowiak and along with years where the Utes have gone undefeated in December.
| Year | Wins | Losses | Win % |
| 1909-10 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1937-38 | 9 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1939-40 | 7 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1943-44 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1994-95 | 7 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1997-98 | 6 | 0 | 1.000 |
| KRYSTKOWIAK ERA | |||
| 2011-12 | 2 | 5 | 0.286 |
| 2012-13 | 3 | 2 | 0.600 |
| 2013-14 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 |
| 2014-15 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 |
| 2015-16 | 6 | 1 | 0.857 |
| 2016-17 | 5 | 2 | 0.714 |
| 2017-18 | 5 | 2 | 0.714 |
| 2018-19 | 3 | 3 | 0.500 |
| 2019-20 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
LAST TIME OUT
It was slow start to the game offensively for Utah, but the Utes were able to grind out a gritty 60-49 victory over Weber State this past Saturday in the final year of the Beehive Classic. Neither team shot well with both programs combining to shoot just 39-of-115 (.339) from the field and 9-of-43 (.209) from beyond the arc.
However, the bright spot for Utah came at the free-throw line – where it knocked down 15-of-19. Timmy Allen finished with a game-high 19 points to go with his seven rebounds and four assists while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 at the line. Riley Battin, Branden Carlson and Mikael Jantunen all nearly had double-doubles as well for the Utes. Battin nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds, Carlson had nine points and eight rebounds and Jantunen had nine points and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Utes wrap up their non-conference schedule and third neutral site game with a 4:30 p.m. (MT) game against undefeated #20 San Diego State on Saturday, Dec. 21, inside STAPLES Center as part of the 2019 Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Guy Haberman will have the call between the Utes and Aztecs while Don MacLean serves as the analyst.
LOOKING AHEAD
With the non-conference schedule all wrapped up, Utah now turns its attention towards Pac-12 play. The first week of conference play for Utah will feature some stiff competition when Oregon State, who is currently 8-1 with three games in non-conference play remaining, comes to town on Thursday, Jan. 2. The Utes then welcome No. 8-ranked Oregon for an afternoon showdown on Saturday, Dec. 4. The Ducks sit at 8-2 on the season with wins over #13 Memphis (neutral), Houston, #13 Seton Hall (neutral) and most recently #5 Michigan on the road.
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