2019–20 Utah Utes men's basketball team

The 2019–20 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by ninth-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 16–15, 7–11 in Pac-12 play to finish in a three-way tie for eighth place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament to Oregon State.

2019–20 Utah Utes men's basketball
ConferencePac-12 Conference
Record16–15 (7–11 Pac–12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Tommy Connor
  • Andy Hill
  • Henry Martinez
Home arenaJon M. Huntsman Center
Seasons
2019–20 Pac-12 Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 13 Oregon 13 5   .722 24 7   .774
UCLA 12 6   .667 19 12   .613
USC 11 7   .611 22 9   .710
Arizona State 11 7   .611 20 11   .645
Arizona 10 8   .556 21 11   .656
Colorado 10 8   .556 21 11   .656
Stanford 9 9   .500 20 12   .625
Oregon State 7 11   .389 18 13   .581
Utah 7 11   .389 16 15   .516
California 7 11   .389 14 18   .438
Washington State 6 12   .333 16 16   .500
Washington 5 13   .278 15 17   .469
Note: The 2020 Pac-12 Tournament was canceled prior to the quarterfinals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

edit

The Utes finished the 2018–19 season finished the season 17–14, 11–7 in Pac-12 play to finish in third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament to Oregon.[1]

Off-season

edit

On August 6, 2019, the NCAA placed the Utes on two years probation due to impermissible recruiting activities in April 2018.[2]

Departures

edit
Name Num Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for Departure
Naseem Gaskin 0 G 6'3" 175 Freshman Oakland, CA Transferred to Montana
Charles Jones Jr. 1 G 6'2" 200 Junior Portland, OR Transferred to Portland State[3]
Sedrick Barefield 2 G 6'2" 190 Senior Corona, CA Graduated
Donnie Tillman 3 F 6'7" 225 Sophomore Detroit, MI Transferred to UNLV
Parker Van Dyke 5 G 6'3' 185 RS Senior Salt Lake City, UT Graduated
Christian Popoola 10 G 6'4" 190 Sophomore Las Vegas, NV Transferred to Salt Lake CC
Novak Topalovic 13 F 7'0" 230 RS Senior Niš, Serbia Graduated
Vante Hendrix 14 G 6'5" 190 RS Freshman Woodland Hills, CA Mid season transferred to New Mexico
Kevin Kremer 15 G 6'4" 190 Freshman Chico, CA Walk-on; transferred to Chaminade
Beau Rydalch 25 G 6'6" 205 Junior Oakley, UT Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Brandon Morley 31 F/C 7'0" 235 Junior South Jordan, UT Walk-on; graduate transferred to Utah Valley
Jayce Johnson 34 F/C 7'0" 235 RS Junior Mission Viejo, CA Graduate transferred to Marquette

Incoming transfers

edit
Name Num Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Alfonso Plummer 25 G 6'1" 175 Junior Fajardo, PR Arizona Western College

2019 recruiting class

edit
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Rylan Jones
PG
Logan, UT Logan High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Aug 8, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 83
Matt Van Komen
C
Lehi, UT Pleasant Grove High School 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Jul 30, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 82
Mikael Jantunen
PF
Helsinki, Finland Helsinki Basketball Academy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Oct 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: NR
Brendan Wenzel
SG
Helotes, TX O'Connor High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Apr 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2019 Utah Basketball Commitment List". Rivals.com.
  • "Utah Utes 2019 Player Commits". ESPN.com.
  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2020 recruiting class

edit
US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Ian Martinez
SG
San Juan Capistrano, CA J. Serra Catholic High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) May 29, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: 0
Mason Falslev
SG
Smithfield, UT Sky View High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jul 28, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: 0
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Regular season

edit

On November 8, the Utes defeated Mississippi Valley State 143–49 to set an NCAA record for largest margin of victory (94 points) over a Division I opponent.[4]

Roster

edit
2019–20 Utah Utes men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Luc Krystkowiak (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Bingham HS Salt Lake City, Utah
F 1 Timmy Allen 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Red Mountain HS Mesa, Arizona
C 2 Matt Van Komen 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Pleasant Grove HS Pleasant Grove, Utah
G 5 Jaxon Brenchley 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Ridgeline HS Providence, Utah
G 10 Brandon Haddock (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Carroll HS Southlake, Texas
G 11 Both Gach 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So AZ Compass Prep School Austin, Minnesota
G 13 Elias Ballstaedt (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Wasatch HS Heber City, Utah
G 14 Brooks King (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS So Centennial HS Boise, Idaho
G 15 Rylan Jones 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Olympus HS Salt Lake City, Utah
F 20 Mikael Jantunen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Helsinki Basketball Academy Helsinki, Finland
F 21 Riley Battin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Oak Park HS Oak Park, California
G 25 Alfonso Plummer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Arizona Western College Fajardo, Puerto Rico
G 30 Brendan Wenzel 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr O'Connor HS San Antonio, Texas
F 32 Lahat Thioune 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Fr Florida Prep Dakar, Senegal
F 35 Branden Carlson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Bingham HS South Jordan, Utah
F 40 Marc Reininger (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Regis Jesuit HS Monument, Colorado
G 45 Ben Bittner (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Copper Hills HS West Jordan, Utah
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

edit
Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 30, 2019*
6:30 pm, P12N
UT Tyler W 88–47 
Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,994)
Salt Lake City, UT
Non-conference regular season
November 5, 2019*
8:30 pm, CBSSN
at Nevada W 79–74  1–0
Lawlor Events Center (8,324)
Reno, NV
November 8, 2019*
7:00 pm, P12N
Mississippi Valley State W 143–49  2–0
Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,926)
Salt Lake City, UT
November 15, 2019*
7:00 pm, P12N
Minnesota W 73–69  3–0
Jon M. Huntsman Center (12,760)
Salt Lake City, UT
November 21, 2019*
5:00 pm, ESPNews
at Coastal Carolina
Myrtle Beach Invitational quarterfinals
L 57–79  3–1
HTC Center (2,269)
Conway, SC
November 22, 2019*
5:30 pm, ESPNews
vs. Ohio
Myrtle Beach Invitational 2nd round consolation
W 80–66  4–1
HTC Center (1,921)
Conway, SC
November 24, 2019*
8:30 am, ESPNU
vs. Tulane
Myrtle Beach Invitational 5th place game
L 61–65  4–2
HTC Center (3,212)
Conway, SC
November 29, 2019*
7:00 pm, P12N
UC Davis W 77–73  5–2
Jon M. Huntsman Center (10,546)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 4, 2019*
6:00 pm, P12N
BYU
Rivalry/Old Oquirrh Bucket
W 102–95 OT 6–2
Jon M. Huntsman Center (11,565)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 7, 2019*
3:00 pm, P12N
Central Arkansas W 98–67  7–2
Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,888)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 14, 2019*
2:00 pm, P12N
vs. Weber State
Old Oquirrh Bucket/Beehive Classic
W 60–49  8–2
Vivint Smart Home Arena 
Salt Lake City, UT
December 18, 2019*
9:00 pm, ESPN2
vs. No. 6 Kentucky
Neon Hoops Showcase
W 69–66  9–2
T-Mobile Arena (5,507)
Paradise, NV
December 21, 2019*
4:30 pm, P12N
vs. No. 20 San Diego State
Basketball Hall of Fame Classic
L 52–80  9–3
Staples Center (8,296)
Los Angeles, CA
Pac-12 regular season
January 2, 2020
6:30 pm, P12N
Oregon State W 81–69  10–3
(1–0)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,579)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 4, 2020
3:00 pm, P12N
No. 4 Oregon L 64–69  10–4
(1–1)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (13,104)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 12, 2020
4:00 pm, ESPNU
at No. 25 Colorado L 52–91  10–5
(1–2)
CU Events Center (8,017)
Boulder, CO
January 16, 2020
6:30 pm, P12N
at Arizona L 77–93  10–6
(1–3)
McKale Center (13,549)
Tucson, AZ
January 18, 2020
7:00 pm, P12N
at Arizona State L 64–83  10–7
(1–4)
Desert Financial Arena (9,608)
Tempe, AZ
January 23, 2020
6:00 pm, P12N
Washington W 67–66  11–7
(2–4)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,396)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 25, 2020
5:00 pm, P12N
Washington State W 76–64  12–7
(3–4)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,807)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 30, 2020
7:30 pm, FS1
at USC L 52–56  12–8
(3–5)
Galen Center (4,478)
Los Angeles, CA
February 2, 2020
1:00 pm, FS1
at UCLA L 57–73  12–9
(3–6)
Pauley Pavilion (4,497)
Los Angeles, CA
February 6, 2020
8:00 pm, P12N
Stanford W 64–56  13–9
(4–6)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (10,049)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 8, 2020
6:00 pm, P12N
California W 60–45  14–9
(5–6)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (10,766)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 13, 2020
7:00 pm, P12N
at Oregon State L 51–70  14–10
(5–7)
Gill Coliseum (4,118)
Corvallis, OR
February 16, 2020
7:00 pm, FS1
at No. 17 Oregon L 62–80  14–11
(5–8)
Matthew Knight Arena (8,542)
Eugene, OR
February 20, 2020
8:30 pm, FS1
UCLA L 58–69  14–12
(5–9)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,815)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 23, 2020
4:00 pm, ESPNU
USC W 79–65  15–12
(6–9)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,765)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 26, 2020
8:00 pm, P12N
at Stanford L 62–70  15–13
(6–10)
Maples Pavilion (2,978)
Stanford, CA
February 29, 2020
4:00 pm, P12N
at California L 79–86 OT 15–14
(6–11)
Haas Pavilion (6,420)
Berkeley, CA
March 7, 2020
12:30 pm, P12N
Colorado W 74–72 OT 16–14
(7–11)
Jon M. Huntsman Center (10,886)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pac-12 tournament
March 11, 2020
1:00 pm, P12N
(9) vs. (8) Oregon State
First round
L 69–71  16–15
T-Mobile Arena (8,048)
Paradise, NV
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Mountain Time.

Source[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Utes will open the 2019-20 men's basketball season at Nevada and host BYU on Dec. 4". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Schlabach, Mark. "Utah on NCAA probation for recruiting issues". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019.
  3. ^ "Report: Charles Jones Jr. is transferring from the Utah men's basketball program". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  4. ^ Norlander, Matt (November 8, 2019). "Utah beats Mississippi Valley State by 94, setting the record for largest margin of victory vs. a D-I team". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  5. ^ "Utah's men's basketball schedule is done. There's one Sunday home game, and the Beehive Classic format is changed". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2019.