UTAH UTES NEWS

Gabe Madsen's big second half lifts Runnin' Utes over Washington State Gabe Madsen scored all 20 of his points after halftime, propelling the Utes to an 80-58 win over Washington State.

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • SLTRIB.COM

Rollie Worster - Guides second-half masterclass Worster had 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-1 FT), three rebounds and seven assists over 36 minutes during Friday's 80-58 victory over Washington State.

Impact Worster was subtly effective overall and helped catalyze Utah outscoring Washington State 59-29 in the second half of Friday's win. He's an essential component of Utah's offense, as 59.8 percent of the team's possessions feature Worster initiating pick-and-roll action -- grading as the 66th highest frequency in the nation. The senior is averaging 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 33.8 minutes across his last five games.

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Keba Keita - Booms in win Keita posted 18 points (6-8 FG, 6-8 FT), 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in 22 minutes during Friday's 80-58 victory over Washington State.

Impact Keita formed the paint-dwelling half of a formidable inside-outside duo with Branden Carlson (19 points, eight rebounds, five blocks) Friday. Both players supplying strong performances bodes well for the viability of this frontcourt in the future. The sophomore has only logged a 31.2 percent minute share through 10 appearances thus far, but his rebounding rates and block rates are elite figures on a per-minute basis.

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gabe Madsen - Continues canning threes Madsen registered 20 points (6-13 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-5 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 33 minutes during Friday's 80-58 victory over Washington State.

Impact Madsen's 64.7 effective field-goal percentage is a top-50 mark in the nation, and it comes in the form of a balanced metric with a healthy 63.1 percent of his shots coming from deep. His 65.6 percent shooting at the rim only constitutes 25.4 percent of his possessions, but it's nonetheless a functional element of his game to keep defenses honest. The senior continues specializing as a shooter, raining in 50.0 percent of 32 threes over his last four games

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Branden Carlson - Sharp defensively Carlson accumulated 19 points (6-15 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 4-7 FT), eight rebounds, five assists, five blocks and one steal across 32 minutes during Friday's 80-58 victory over Washington St...

Impact Carlson is averaging a career-best 17.0 points per game this season, but it was his interior defense that shined Friday. Limiting Washington State's Isaac Jones to 4-for-16 shooting, Carlson enforced the paint while showcasing his blossoming three-point stroke, which resides at a 35.9 percent clip on 3.9 triples per game. Carlson's shooting has been volatile, but the fifth-year senior is off to an excellent start and should be heavily relied upon in PAC-12 play.

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gabe Madsen's big second half sparks Utah past Washington State Gabe Madsen scored all 20 of his points in the second half to lead Utah to an 80-58 victory over Washington State on Friday night in Salt La...

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Madsen scores 20, Utah beats Washington State 80-58 in final Pac-12 opener

Gabe Madsen scored all 20 of his points in the second half and Utah rallied to beat Washington State 80-58 in a Pac-12 Conference opener

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

10 unranked men's college basketball teams on the rise heading into 2024

Ohio State is one of several unranked teams that could make some noise in the new year heading into the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

DECEMBER 28, 2023

Lawson Lovering scores 17 points in Utah's 85-43 rout of Bellarmine

Lawson Lovering scored 17 points and Utah rolled to an 85-43 victory over Bellarmine for its sixth straight win

DECEMBER 21, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Utah wins 5th straight behind Branden Carlson's 26 points in 76-62 win over Utah Valley

Branden Carlson scored 26 points and Utah beat Utah Valley 76-62 for its fifth straight win

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Deivon Smith - Dressed and set for debut Smith (waiver) is dressed and ready to make his season debut Saturday versus Utah Valley, Josh Furlong of KSL News Salt Lake City reports.

Impact Smith is one of a mass of players who benefit from the NCAA's decision not to enforce waivers any longer following a legal decision earlier in the week. Smith is eligible to make his season debut Saturday as a result, joining the mix after he posted 8.0 points, 5.6 boards and 3.7 assists per game last year at Georgia Tech. Smith will likely be a regular in the rotation moving forward.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Branden Carlson - Starting against BYU Carlson (undisclosed) is listed amongst Utah's starters ahead of Saturday's matchup with BYU.

Impact Carlson will make his return to the court following a brief one-game absence. The 7-foot senior will look to pick up where he left off against the Cougars as the Utes aim to win their fourth-straight game.

DECEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Branden Carlson - Warming up Saturday Carlson (undisclosed) is warming up ahead of Saturday's game against BYU, Josh Furlong of KSL News Salt Lake City reports.

Impact Carlson appears to be available for the Utes as they prepare to match up against the Cougars. The 7-foot senior, currently averaging 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds across seven starters, will look to make an impact if he's able to return.

DECEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Branden Carlson - Expected to play Saturday Carlson (undisclosed) is expected to suit up for Saturday's game versus BYU, Running Hoops reports.

Impact Carlson is expected to return to action Saturday after missing the previous game with an undisclosed injury. If the senior big man is upgraded to available, he would likely replace his brother, Ben Carlson, in the starting five.

DECEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Branden Carlson - Game-time decision Carlson (undisclosed) has been designated as a game-time decision ahead of Saturday's showdown with BYU, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Carlson will remain a game-time decision as the Utes prepare to host the surging Cougars. The 7-foot senior has led Utah into battle this season, averaging 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks on 27.3 minutes per game. If Carlson is ultimately unable to suit up, his brother Ben Carlson would likely get another start at power forward.

DECEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Keita helps Utah hold on for 88-86 victory over Southern Utah

Sophomore Keba Keita came off the bench to score 23 points and help Utah escape with an 88-86 victory over Southern Utah

DECEMBER 6, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hunter Erickson - Breakout performance Thursday Erickson registered 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-3 FT), two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 23 minutes during Thursday's 79-66 victory over Hawaii.

Impact Erickson has stepped into a healthy workload after hardly taking the court throughout two prior seasons at BYU, but Thursday marked his first impact performance. Utah's rotation has been consistent this season, so it remains to be seen whether Erickson can continue stepping up as a scorer, or if Thursday was more of an aberration.

DECEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Coleman and Hawaii host Utah

Hawaii faces the Utah Utes after Noel Coleman scored 26 points in the Rainbow Warriors' 77-66 win over the San Diego Toreros

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Keba Keita - Solid in return Keita had four points (1-1 FG, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 14 minutes during Monday's 78-71 win over Saint Mary's.

Impact Keita had missed back-to-back games for the Utes but returned for the tough road matchup and was productive in what turned out to be a signature victory that also snapped a two-game losing streak. It appears that, medically speaking, the sophomore forward is in the clear to provide frontcourt depth as Utah gears up for conference play.

NOVEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Keba Keita - Available at St. Mary's Keita (undisclosed) is available Monday at St. Mary's, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Keita logged two DNPs during the 2023 Charleston Classic. Fortunately for him, he will not have sat out more than twice. Keita averaged 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks across three games Utah played during the first half of November 2023.

NOVEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wilguens Jr. Exacte - Out at St. Mary's Exacte (undisclosed) is out for Utah's game Monday at St. Mary's, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Exacte will have logged six consecutive DNPs and one more opportunity to participate in a November game. After playing at St. Mary's, the Utes are scheduled to host Hawaii on Thursday.

NOVEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wilguens Jr. Exacte - Out against St. John's Exacte (undisclosed) is out Sunday against St. John's, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact With his injury still undisclosed, Exacte will have sat out the 2023-24 Utes' first five games. Currently, Exacte's next opportunity to play is at St. Mary's (CAL) more than one week from now, on Nov. 27.

NOVEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Men's college basketball top 25 roundup: Houston holds off late Utah surge for win in Charleston CHARLESTON, S.C. — LJ Cryer scored 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers after Utah had wiped out No. 6 Houston’s 14-point lead, and the...

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

LJ Cryer helps Houston withstand surge by Utah, win 76-66 in Charleston LJ Cryer scored 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers after Utah had wiped out No. 6 Houston’s 14-point lead, and the Cougars beat the U...

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

LJ Cryer's clutch 3s key No. 6 Houston's win over Utah in Charleston Classic

LJ Cryer scored 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers after Utah had wiped out No. 6 Houston’s 14-point lead, and the Cougars beat the Utes 76-66 to reach the Charleston Classi...

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS