OPENING TIP
The University of Utah men's basketball team returns home to the friendly confines of the Jon M. Huntsman Center this week and looks to bounce back this Thursday, Jan. 23, when it plays host to the Washington Huskies for a 6 p.m. (MT) tip-off.
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Guy Haberman will have the call on the Pac-12 Network while Bill Walton serves as the analyst as the Runnin' Utes and Huskies square off for the 27th time in program history and 15th time in conference play.
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COACHES VS. CANCER
The Utah men's basketball staff will join others around the country for
#SuitsAndSneakers Week (Jan. 20-26) to help bring awareness and support for
@CoachcesvsCancer. To learn more and join the fight against cancer, visit
suitsandsneakers.org.
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#FIGHT4LITERACY
In addition to #SuitsAndSneakers week, the Utah men's basketball has teamed up with Coaching for Literacy in the #Fight4Literacy at its game on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Utes coaching staff will wear CFL's #Green4Literacy green lapel pins.
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To learn more about why literacy matters and explore how you can make a difference for literacy efforts in your community, visit
coachingforliteracy.org.
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PROMOS
Heading into this week's home series, here are some of the promotions for the Washington and Washington State games…
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vs. Washington (90s night & E-Sports Night)
- First 150 students get a throwback hat voucher to redeem 15 minutes prior to tip-off
- First 300 students will also receive a throwback 11x17 poster
vs. Washington State
- Military/First Responders Appreciation Game (Tickets)
- Ford Teddy Bear Toss (Halftime)
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SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Washington enters this week's game 12-7 overall and 2-4 in Pac-12 play after falling to then No. 8/8 Oregon 64-61 on a late 3-pointer in overtime, its second overtime loss in two-straight weeks. The 2-4 start in league play is due in part to the absence of key guard Quade Green, who was ruled ineligible a week into conference action after averaging 11.6 points, 5.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
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UW as a team has held teams to just 62.5 points per game, which is third amongst Pac-12 teams, while 37.1 defensive field-goal percentage is ninth in the NCAA. The Huskies are also ranked fourth nationally with 6.7 blocks per game and second in total blocks with 127.
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Freshman standout Isaiah Stewart is pacing Washington with 18.3 points per game to go with his 9.0 rebounding average and 42 total blocks. The four-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week has cooled off a little bit, averaging 14.8 points and 8.0 rebounds with 12 blocks in conference play. Jaden McDaniels is second on the squad, averaging 13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Nahziah Carter, who is one of two Huskies (Stewart) to start all 19 games, is third in the scoring column with 12.6 points per game to go with a 5.5 rebounding average. The 6-6 guard is also second on the team with 26 steals behind turned starter Jamal Bey (28).
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Washington started the year with a bang, beating out then-No. 16 Baylor in the Armed Forces Classic 67-64 and had near losses to then No. 9 Gonzaga and Houston on neutral floors. Oddly enough, UW didn't play its first true road game until losing to Stanford and Cal on the road in the second week of league action.
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LAST TIME OUT
Despite a slow shooting night to open the first half, Utah trailed Arizona State just 29-23 at the half on a late 3-pointer by ASU. However, the second half saw the Sun Devils come out of the break on-point and extend its lead to double-digits before Utah began its charge late on the heels of treys from
Jaxon Brenchley and
Riley Battin. However, that run was short-lived as ASU answered with and 8-0 run of its own and never looked back after the 5:47 timeout.
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Timmy Allen finished with a team-high 18 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season while
Mikael Jantunen added 10 points and five rebounds on 4-of-4 shooting with two assists off the bench with Plummer posting nine points of his own.
UP NEXT
Utah wraps up the short home series with Washington State on Saturday, Jan. 25, on the Pac-12 Network. Guy Haberman will once again have the call and is joined by Don MacLean when the Utes and Cougars battle it out on Saturday.
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LOOKING AHEAD
The Utes wrap up their short time at home with a 5 p.m. (MT) game on Saturday, Jan. 25, against Washington State on Pac-12 Network with Guy Haberman and Don MacLean on the call before heading to Los Angeles for a pair of games against USC (Jan. 28) and UCLA (Feb. 2) on FS1.
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