Runnin' Utes Picked to Finish Seventh by Media in Preseason Poll

Runnin' Utes Picked to Finish Seventh by Media in Preseason Poll

10/11/2023 8:00 AM | Men's Basketball

The Runnin’ Utes were picked to finish seventh by the media for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Utah men's basketball team was picked to finish seventh by the league's media the Pac-12 Conference announced ahead of the start of media day on Wednesday morning in Las Vegas.

The Runnin' Utes finished Pac-12 play last season 10-10 – which was good for seventh in the league and the highest finish in the Craig Smith Era. The only other time Utah was picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll came in 2017-18 after the Utes went 20-12 overall and 11-7 (fourth) in Pac-12 play the previous season. The Utes finished 2017-18 in a three-way tie for third with UCLA and Stanford at 11-7 in Pac-12 action.

Utah returns 64.7-percent of its offense from last season anchored by 2023-24 Pac-12 Preseason Men's Basketball All-Conference First-Team honoree Branden Carlson. He's joined by Gabe Madsen (11.6 ppg), Rollie Worster (8.6 ppg, 5.0 apg), Ben Carlson (4.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Wilguens Jr. Exacte (3.6 ppg) and Keba Keita (3.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg).

The Utes also bolstered their depth with eight newcomers on the squad that include veteran transfers: Hunter Erickson (BYU/SLCC), Cole Bajema (Michigan/Washington), Deivon Smith (Mississippi State/Georgia Tech) and Lawson Lovering (Colorado). Utah also added a quartet of freshmen in Jayden Teat, Jake Wahlin, Ayomide Bamisile and Jerry Huang.

Arizona, who repeated as the Pac-12 Tournament Champions last year, was picked to win the league with 18 first-place votes for a total of 303 points while USC (264) and UCLA (240) each garnered four first-place votes to check in at second and third, respectively. Oregon was pick to finish fourth (228) with Colorado (210) and Arizona State (148) rounding out the top six.

Utah checked in with 139 points for seventh followed by Stanford (131) and Washington (108) while Washington State (94), California (67) and Oregon State (42) rounded things out.

2023-24 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)

Arizona (18) – 303 points
USC (4) – 264
UCLA (4) – 249
Oregon – 228
Colorado – 210
Arizona State – 148
Utah – 139
Stanford – 131
Washington – 108
Washington State – 94
California – 67
Oregon State – 42

For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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