Utah Utes
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #132
Conference Rank: #9 Pac-12
Utah has enjoyed some success recently, but this is the year Coach Larry Krystkowiak will need to rebuild. Coach Krystkowiak has been down this road before though and the Utes have not finished lower than fourth in the conference since 2014. This is a program that has a history of developing players and having some surprises sitting down the bench that take full advantage of their opportunities. With four starters gone, Utah will need some of those players to step up in a big way.
2017-18 Record: 23-12, 11-7
2017-18 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Larry Krystkowiak
Coach Record: 137-97 at Utah, 179-117 overall
Key Departed Players:
Justin Bibbins, Guard, 14.8 ppg
David Collette, Forward, 12.3 ppg
Tyler Rawson, Forward, 10.9 ppg
Gabe Bealer, Guard/Forward, 5.9 ppg
Chris Seeley, Forward, 2.7 ppg
Colby Caldwell, Guard, 2.2 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Sedrick Barefield, Senior, Guard, 12.0 ppg
Donnie Tillman, Sophomore, Forward, 7.8 ppg
Jayce Johnson, Junior, Forward/Center, 5.5 ppg
Parker Van Dyke, Senior, Guard, 4.0 ppg
Christian Popoola, Sophomore, Guard, 0.8 ppg
Key New Players:
Charles Jones, Junior, Guard, JC Transfer
Naseem Gaskin, Freshman, Guard
Both Gach, Freshman, Forward
Novak Topolavic, Senior, Forward, Grad Transfer from Idaho State
Vante Hendrix, RS Freshman, Guard
Kevin Kremer, Freshman, Guard
Timmy Allen, Freshman, Forward
Riley Battin, Freshman, Forward
Brooks King, RS Freshman, Guard
Brandon Morley, Junior, Forward/Center, JC Transfer
Lahat Thioune, Freshman, Forward
Projection:
The lone returning starter is Sedrick Barefield. The 6-2 guard will be the senior leader on this team and he will be asked to boost his 12.0 points per game scoring average. The key will be getting production from other returning players like Donnie Tillman and Jayce Johnson. Tillman, a 6-7 forward, had a fine freshman campaign, averaging 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. With that year of experience and more playing time to be had, he should turn into a very productive player. Johnson, a seven-foot junior, averaged 5.5 points and 5.4 rebounds as a sophomore and should emerge as the team’s paint presence on both ends of the floor. Senior Parker Van Dyke can handle the ball and play solid defense. There will be minutes for Van Dyke, but that is just four returning impact players and Utah will need to get production out of their huge group of newcomers. Charles Jones, Novak Topolavic and Brandon Morley all have collegiate experience, which will be extremely helpful for this young team, but the best of the newcomers could be freshman Timmy Allen. The 6-6 forward has the potential to emerge as a major scoring threat and if Utah can find an unproven player or two that is ready to contribute in a major way, this is a group that can pull off some surprises.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.5 (179th in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 68.5 (70, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.0 (106, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.9 (60, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 9.2 (48, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.0 (81, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.9 (37, 3)
Rebound Margin: -1.0 (236, 9)
Assists Per Game: 15.2 (70, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.8 (80, 3)
Madness 2018 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#96 Timmy Allen
