ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 1 Power Rankings
By Trevor Booth
10. Utah Utes
The Utes will look to rebuild their roster after a successful season in which they made a run to the finals of the NIT Tournament. While the team finished with over 20 wins during the 2017-18 campaign, the Utes will look to fill the void of three starters from last year’s team.
Utah capped off a 23-12 season with a selection to the NIT, making a run to the finals with victories over UC Davis, LSU, Saint Mary’s, and Western Kentucky before falling in the championship game to Penn State.
The ending capped off a streaky season for the Utes as they endured both a four-game losing streak at the beginning of Pac-12 play and a five-game winning streak near the end of the conference season.
This inconsistency combined with inexperience will be the biggest hurdles for head coach Larry Krystkowiak’s team.
The three aforementioned starters the Utes lose from a season ago come in the form of guard Gabe Bealer, forward Tyler Rawson and center David Collette. This trio played a pivotal role in Utah’s NIT run.
Looking to replace and replenish the roster for the Utes will be four freshmen and two transfers. The most decorated and highest rated player on the freshman side of things for Utah is the four-star recruit, Timmy Allen.
Formerly the No. 1 player in Arizona during high school, the 6-foot-6 forward has the potential to make an impact right away, Allen brings a defensive presence and hustle to what will look to be a gritty defensive unit under Krystkowiak.
When it comes to transfers, look no further than Southern Idaho product Charles Jones Jr. The 6-foot-2 guard adds high-volume scoring to a team that lost its lead guard in Justin Bibbins.
As a sophomore. Jones Jr. led SI to a national title game during the 2017-18 season en route to being named the NJCAA Player of the Year. Jones averaged 24.5 points per game in the postseason.
These two players combined with returning players from last year’s season will give Utah the ability to potentially be a dark-horse contender in the Pac-12 this season.