Utah Utes men's basketball

Utah Utes men's basketball
2015–16 Utah Utes men's basketball team
University University of Utah
Conference Pac-12
Location Salt Lake City, UT
Head coach Larry Krystkowiak (4th year)
Arena Jon M. Huntsman Center
(Capacity: 15,000)
Nickname Utes
Colors Red and White[1]
         
Uniforms
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament champions
1944
NCAA Tournament runner-up
1998
NCAA Tournament Final Four
1944, 1961, 1966, 1998
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
1944, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1997, 1998
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2015
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2015, 2016
NCAA Tournament appearances
1944, 1945, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2016
Conference tournament champions

WAC
1995, 1997, 1999


Mountain West
2004, 2009
Conference regular season champions

Rocky Mountain Conference
1931, 1932, 1933, 1937


Mountain States Conference
1938, 1945, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962


WAC
1966, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999


Mountain West
2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009

The Utah Utes men's basketball team represents the University of Utah as an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Pac-12 Conference. They are currently led by head coach Larry Krystkowiak and play their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The school has made the NCAA Tournament 27 times, which ranks 20th in NCAA history and tied for 3rd behind UCLA and the University of Arizona in the Western United States. They last made the tournament in 2015. Utah won the NCAA Championship in 1944, defeating Dartmouth College 4240 for the school's only NCAA basketball championship. However, the school also claims the 1916 AAU National Championship, which was awarded after winning the AAU national tournament. They have also won the NIT once, defeating Kentucky in 1947. In 1998 the Utes played in the NCAA championship game, losing to Kentucky.

History

Utah began play in 1908, finishing with a record of 38, however, by 1916, they won their first national championship, winning the National AAU Tournament. The team would compete in the tournament two other times, in 1918 and 1919. But it wasn't until 1927 that Utah really began laying the foundation for what would become one of the winningest programs in college basketball.

That began with the hiring of Vadal Peterson, who would become the winningest coach in Utah basketball history. Peterson would guide Utah to 6 conference and state championships and reached the ultimate prize in 1944, when the Utes won the national championship. Oddly enough, Utah had turned down a bid to the NCAA Tournament because they wanted to play in the NIT. Back then, the NIT was a far more prestigious tournament and typically drew the big time college basketball programs. However, after being bounced in the first round by Kentucky, Utah was given a second chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. The Arkansas Razorbacks were forced to withdraw after two of their players were badly injured in a car accident. Needing another team to take the Razorbacks' place, the NCAA invited Utah. The Utes accepted and went on to defeat Dartmouth 4240. The legendary Arnie Ferrin was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after scoring 28 points in the final two games. Three years later, Peterson would lead Utah to the more prestigious NIT championship, as they defeated, ironically enough, Kentucky 4945. Peterson would retire from Utah with a 385230 (.626) record and is the only coach in Utah history to have won a national championship.

After Peterson retired, Utah basketball was known as one of the strongest in the west. That tradition helped convince Kansas State head coach Jack Gardner to accept the job. Gardner had led the Wildcats to two Final Fours prior to accepting the job and during his 18 years at Utah, he built a legacy that many today feel is the strongest in Utah history.

The Gardner era

Jack Gardner was known for his quick offenses, which is where Utah got its name as the Runnin' Redskins (later changed to the Utes). Because of his radical offensive sets, the Utes were widely regarded as the team that helped usher in a new era of college basketball. By his second season, Gardner had the Utes in their first NCAA Tournament since the 1945 season and the Utes dominated their way to a conference championship. Finishing the year 244, Utah reached #7 in the rankings, but was eliminated in the second round.

In Gardner's third season he once again guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth. That year the Utes climbed to 11th in the polls and made it to the Elite Eight, before bowing out to eventual champion San Francisco, who was led by future NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell. The Utes kept their postseason streak alive for Gardner's fourth and fifth seasons, making the NIT, however, they lost in the first round both years. In 1959, Utah again returned to the NCAA Tournament, before losing to Idaho State in the second round. The Utes would make the NCAA Tournament again in 1960, and like in '59, were defeated in the second round, this time by USC.

1961 Final Four

After getting eliminated in the second round in consecutive years, Jack Gardner and Utah finally made a run at the national championship in 1961. That year the Utes finished 238 and 122 in conference play. They were ranked 11th in the nation and faced Loyola-California in the first round. The Utes easily won 9175 and advanced to the Elite Eight, where they defeated Arizona State 8880, to make the school's first Final Four in 17 years. There they would face the eventual national champions Cincinnati Bearcats, losing 8267. Though the season had ended short of the national championship, Utah had returned to the national stage and would prove to be a worthy national foe for years to come.

Western movement and a return to the Final Four

A season after the 1961 Final Four ushered in great change for Utah athletics. The Utes, along with the Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico, and Wyoming decided to form the Western Athletic Conference. The highly competitive conference made it far more difficult for the Utes to win, as Gardner struggled in the first three years of the conference's formation. During that span the Utes would go 1214, 199 and 179. However, by 1966 Utah was once again ready to make a national splash, after cruising to a conference championship and the program's first tournament berth since the 1961 season during that season.

Utah received a first round bye and faced Pacific in the semifinals. After a relatively easy 8374 victory over the Tigers, Utah advanced to the Elite Eight where they would face the Oregon State Beavers. In a highly competitive game, the Utes came out on top, defeating the Beavers 7064 to once again advance to the Final Four. This was a historical achievement for Jack Gardner, because it made him the first, and only, coach to guide two different teams to two Final Fours. But it was the cultural significance of this Final Four that would have far reaching historical impact and change the game of college basketball forever.

After getting by the Beavers, Utah faced Texas Western in the Final Four, the winner would go on to play Kentucky for the national championship. Though the game was tight, Utah wore down at the end and the Miners edged the Utes 8578 to advance to the national championship game. There Texas Western, under the leadership of the legendary Don Haskins, started five black players for the first time in NCAA Championship history. Texas Western would go on to defeat Kentucky, led by Adolph Rupp, to claim the 1966 national title, and would be inducted as a team in 2010. Though Utah lost to the Miners in the Final Four, Jerry Chambers was named the Most Outstanding Player, joining Arnie Ferrin as the only other Ute to win the award.

After the Utes trip to the Final Four, the program would gradually regress in Gardner's final years. Though they posted winning seasons every year, they failed to make the NCAA Tournament and only appeared in two NIT tournaments. After the 1971 season, Gardner decided to retire, ending his career at Utah with a 339154 record. He's the only coach to lead the Utes to two Final Fours and his legacy lives on, as Gardner was integral in getting the athletic department to build the Huntsman Center, the current home to the men's basketball team.

The revival of Utah basketball

Though the program had proven to be strong under Gardner, the team had struggled during the final years of his coaching career. After his retirement, Utah was faced with the daunting task of not only replacing a legend, but finding a coach who was capable of bringing Utah back to elite status.

The Utes looked to New Jersey, Rutgers to be exact, and found a successful unknown coach who had guided the Rutgers basketball team to some of their most successful seasons ever. Bill Foster, in the early part of 1971, was named the head coach of the Runnin' Utes. And though his stay with Utah wasn't long, he was essential to Utah's rebuilding plans. Though Foster got off to a slow start at Utah, going 1312 and 819, his third and final season would prove to be a glimpse into Utah's successful future. He guided the team to a 228 season and an NIT berth. In the first round, Utah would face Foster's former team, Rutgers, however, they proved to be no match for the Utes as they easily dispatched of them 10289. In the second round Utah blew out Memphis State 9278 and then dominated Boston College 11793 to advance to the title game. There they faced Purdue and though Utah kept it close, the Boilermakers prevailed, winning 8781. Even with the loss, Utah basketball was showing signs of returning to its past glory, but it would have to do it under another coach, as Bill Foster quickly left Utah to rebuild Duke.

Under coach Jerry Pimm

Utah didn't have to go far for their next head coach, as they promoted Foster's assistant Jerry Pimm. The hire would prove to a good one, as he would continue what Foster had started. In Pimm's third season he guided the Utes to a conference championship and the NCAA Sweet 16, where they narrowly lost to UNLV. In his fourth year at Utah, he once again guided the Utes to the Sweet 16, however, again coming up short, losing a tough one to Notre Dame. Pimm would take Utah to its third NCAA Tournament in a row, but unlike the past two years, the Utes were upset in the first round by Pepperdine. After a year of not making the NCAA Tournament, the Utes returned, crushing Northeastern 94-69, before barely losing to North Carolina 61-56. The Tar Heels would go on to the national championship game before losing to Indiana.

Though Pimm had been a successful coach at Utah, his relationship was strained with the athletic department and his final season with the Utes occurred in the 1983 campaign. Like he had in years before, Pimm would lead the Utes to the NCAA Tournament and yet another Sweet 16 appearance, after Utah knocked off 7th seeded Illinois and then stunned 2nd seed UCLA in the second round. Yet, like in years past, the Utes failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16 and Utah's loss to eventual national champions North Carolina State would be Pimm's last game as Utah's head coach. He left the Utes for UC Santa Barbara. Pimm's record at Utah was 173-86 (.668). He won three conference championships and had four 20+ win seasons.

Struggles return

Pimm was gone and Utah was once again looking for a head coach. As with the Pimm hire, Utah stayed in-house and hired Pimm's lead assistant Lynn Archibald, who had previously coached at Idaho State before taking an assistant role with the Runnin' Utes. Though his resume was lacking, Archibald easily endeared himself to Utah fans through his kindness and rather clean image. Unfortunately, that never translated to success on the basketball court, as Archibald's teams often underperformed. Though he had mild success with the Utes, like guiding them to the WAC Championship in 1986 and the NCAA Tournament, he could never build on what Foster and Pimm had started. In 6 seasons at Utah, he went 9886 and though he made three postseason appearances in a row from 1986 to '88, the program never advanced beyond the first round. The final nail in Archibald's coffin came in the 1989 season, where the Utes went 610 in conference play. Archibald was fired from Utah, however, the program would reach new heights in the 1990s under the new leadership of Rick Majerus.

In 1986 and 1987, Montenegrin playmaker Luka Pavićević played for Utah.[2] Pavićević won European club titles with Croatian team KK Jugoplastika. He was Yugoslav national team and Serbia and Montenegro national basketball team player, and in 2011 he became Montenegro national team coach.[3]

The Majerus era

With Archibald gone, a fire that upset many fans, Utah looked to the Midwest for their next coach. Rick Majerus was named the 12th head coach of the University of Utah in April 1989. Although he was fairly unknown, Majerus had just finished possibly the best season in Ball State history, leading the Cardinals to a 29-3 record and a second round appearance in the NCAA tournament. During his run with Utah, he would guide them through the most successful period in the program's history, but it was a run that got off to a slow start.

Shortly after his first season with Utah began, Majerus had to step down because of medical reasons. He faced heart surgery and would not be able to lead the Utes for the rest of the year. The team was taken over by his assistant Joe Cravens and they limped to a 7-9 conference record. However, when Majerus returned for the next season, he was healthy and so was Utah's basketball program.

In his first full year as head coach, Majerus guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Though Utah was crushed by undefeated UNLV, the success Majerus had in his first full season with the Utes proved Utah basketball was once again returning to its rightful place as one of the strongest programs in the west.

During this time, a little quirk in the NCAA seeding had Utah facing Kentucky nearly every time they made the tournament. In 1993, the Utes were crushed by the Wildcats 83-62 in the second round. In 1996, the two met in the Sweet 16 with Kentucky defeating Utah 101-70. In 1997, the two would meet in the Elite Eight, with Kentucky winning 72-59, though that game was far more competitive than the final score indicated. The biggest meeting between the two would take place a year later, on the biggest stage and in the biggest game in Utah basketball history.

1997–98 season: The drive for a championship

The 1998 season kicked off with many predicting the Utes would take a step back. Utah had lost one of its best players in school history, as Keith Van Horn graduated. Yet led by Andre Miller and Michael Doleac, the Utes would begin an improbable run that would guide the program to its first national championship game in 54 years.

The Utes had dominated their way to a WAC championship and a top-5 ranking to end the 1998 regular season. They were given a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and faced San Francisco in the first round. Unlike the last time these two teams met in the NCAA Tournament, Utah cruised to an 85-68 victory. In the second round they faced Arkansas and pulled out a 75-69 victory to advance to the school's third straight Sweet 16, where they defeated West Virginia 65-62, giving the Utes a second straight trip to the Elite Eight.

Reaching the Elite Eight for the second time in a row was a feat in and of itself. However, most felt Utah's run would end in 1998, as they were facing #1 seed Arizona, the defending national champions. Yet, using the triangle-and-two defense, Utah defeated Arizona 76-51. The game, one of the worst losses in Wildcat history, pushed Utah to their first Final Four in 32 years, where they beat the #1 overall seed, North Carolina, 65-59.

Heading into the national championship, Utah was looking to become the first Mid-major Conference team to win the championship since UNLV won it in 1990. Like in the Elite Eight and Final Four, Utah jumped out to a large lead, going into the half up 10. However, they couldn't hold on and Kentucky fought back and using their depth and talent, they took over the game in the final minutes and cruised to a 78-69 victory. Once again the Utes' season was ended at the hands of Kentucky. This time though, it was a loss that cost Utah a national championship.

Utah's 1998 NCAA Tournament run capped one of the greatest seasons in Utah basketball history, and cemented the Utes standing on the national stage in the 1990s — where they were one of the nation's winningest programs.

Rick Majerus career would come to an end only a few years after that run. After guiding Utah to 3 more conference championships and 4 NCAA Tournament berths (1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003) which included another loss to Kentucky (the 2003 NCAA second round). Majerus retired from Utah, citing health concerns. He left the Utes with a 323-95 record, including 4 Sweet 16s, 2 Elite Eights and 1 Final Four.

Post-Majerus struggles

After Kerry Rupp led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament to finish out the remainder of Rick Majerus' season in 2004, Utah had to look for a coach for the first time in 15 years. After being turned down by Nevada head coach Trent Johnson, the Utes settled on Eastern Washington head coach Ray Giacoletti. An unknown from the Northwest, many fans were left wondering whether the hire would prove to be successful or not. And at first, it appeared it would be, as in his first season with the Utes, Giacoletti led them to a 29-6 record, a dominant 13-1 conference finish and a Sweet 16 appearance, the school's first since the amazing run in 1998. And, like in 1998, Utah would lose to their tournament nemesis, Kentucky. Utah finished the season ranked 14th in the nation; Andrew Bogut won the Naismith and Wooden Awards and was taken number 1 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. Yet that success ultimately did Giacoletti in, as the Utes lost too much from that season and failed to finish above .500 in consecutive years for the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons.

On March 3, 2007, Giacoletti resigned as Utah's head coach. The resignation came a day before Utah was to play rival BYU, a game they were blown out in. Giacoletti finished his career at Utah with an 80-54 loss to UNLV in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Giacoletti was 54-40 at Utah, with one conference championship and a 2-1 NCAA Tournament record.

The Boylen slump

Brown (#15) driving to the basket playing against Michigan at home in December 2009

On March 26, 2007, it was announced that Jim Boylen would succeed Ray Giacoletti. Boylen, an assistant under Tom Izzo, came to Utah after spending over 20 years as an assistant at the collegiate and pro level. His 13 years in the NBA as an assistant with the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks appeared to have been an asset for a Utah program known for getting successful players into the NBA.

Jim Boylen went 18-15 in his first year at Utah, guiding the Utes to their first postseason tournament in 3 years, as they made the inaugural College Basketball Invitational, where they advanced to the second round before losing to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

They also won the 2009 Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in a close 52-50 victory over San Diego State Aztecs. Utah entered the NCAA Tournament as a number 5 seed. The Utes would then be upset by the 12 seed Arizona Wildcats 8471 in the first round.

On March 12, 2011, the University of Utah fired Jim Boylen after consecutive losing seasons.

Krystkowiak leads the Utes into the Pac-12

On April 3, 2011, the University of Utah announced Larry Krystkowiak would take over the head coaching position as the Utes transition in the inaugural season of the newly formed Pac-12.[4] Krystkowiak, who is a former NBA player and coach, in his previous NCAA head coaching position, he spent two seasons with his alma mater of Montana (2004–06), leading the Grizzlies to Big Sky Conference tournament wins and NCAA tournament appearances in both seasons. In 2006 the Grizzlies beat a heavily favored Nevada team for Krystkowiak's only NCAA tournament victory as a head coach, before joining the Utes.

Overall, Krystkowiak had compiled a record of 42–20 as an NCAA Division I head coach before moving on to coach with the Milwaukee Bucks and New Jersey Nets.

Head coaches

Name Seasons Record
Erastus J. Milne 1908-09 3-8
Robert Richardson 1909-10 17-3
Fred Bennion 1911-14 44-9
Thomas Fitzpatrick 1917-25 42-30
Ike Armstrong 1925-27 9-18
Vadal Peterson 1927-53 385-230
Jack Gardner 1953-71 339-154
Bill Foster 1971-74 43-39
Jerry Pimm 1974-83 173-86
Lynn Archibald 1983-89 98-86
Rick Majerus 1989-04 323-95
Joe Cravens (acting) 1989-90 12-12
Dick Hunsaker (acting) 2000-01 18-12
Kerry Rupp (interim) 2004 9-4
Ray Giacoletti 2005-07 54-40
Jim Boylen 2007-11 69-60
Larry Krystkowiak 2011- 105-80

Season-by-season results

Season Head Coach Conference Overall Postseason
1943-44 Vadal Peterson -- 22-4 NIT First Round
NCAA Champions
1944-45 Vadal Peterson 8-0 (1st) 17-4 NCAA Regional Semifinals
1945-46 Vadal Peterson 8-4 (3rd) 12-8
1946-47 Vadal Peterson 10-2 (2nd) 19-5 NIT Champions
1947-48 Vadal Peterson 6-4 (2nd) 11-9
1948-49 Vadal Peterson 14-6 (2nd) 24-8 NIT First Round
1949-50 Vadal Peterson 8-12 (5th) 16-18
1950-51 Vadal Peterson 12-8 (3rd) 23-13
1951-52 Vadal Peterson 8-6 (4th) 19-9
1952-53 Vadal Peterson 5-9 (5th) 10-14
1953-54 Jack Gardner 7-7 (4th) 12-14
1954-55 Jack Gardner 13-1 (1st) 24-4 NCAA Sweet 16
1955-56 Jack Gardner 12-2 (1st) 22-6 NCAA Elite Eight
1956-57 Jack Gardner 10-4 (2nd) 19-8 NIT First Round
1957-58 Jack Gardner 9-5 (2nd) 20-7 NIT First Round
1958-59 Jack Gardner 13-1 (1st) 21-7 NCAA Sweet 16
1959-60 Jack Gardner 13-1 (1st) 26-3 NCAA Sweet 16
1960-61 Jack Gardner 12-2 (1st) 23-8 NCAA Final Four
1961-62 Jack Gardner 13-1 (1st) 23-3
1962-63 Jack Gardner 5-5 (3rd) 12-14
1963-64 Jack Gardner 4-6 (4th) 19-9
1964-65 Jack Gardner 3-7 (6th) 17-9
1965-66 Jack Gardner 7-3 (1st) 23-8 NCAA Final Four
1966-67 Jack Gardner 5-5 (3rd) 15-11
1967-68 Jack Gardner 5-5 (2nd) 17-9
1968-69 Jack Gardner 5-5 (2nd) 13-13
1969-70 Jack Gardner 9-5 (2nd) 18-10 NIT Second Round
1970-71 Jack Gardner 9-5 (2nd) 15-11
1971-72 Bill Foster 5-9 (6th) 13-12
1972-73 Bill Foster 4-10 (7th) 8-19
1973-74 Bill Foster 9-5(2nd) 22-8 NIT Runner-up
1974-75 Jerry Pimm 7-7 (4th) 17-9
1975-76 Jerry Pimm 9-5 (2nd) 19-8
1976-77 Jerry Pimm 11-3 (1st) 22-7 NCAA Sweet 16
1977-78 Jerry Pimm 12-2 (2nd) 23-6 NCAA Sweet 16
1978-79 Jerry Pimm 9-3 (2nd) 20-10 NCAA First Round
1979-80 Jerry Pimm 10-4 (2nd) 18-10
1980-81 Jerry Pimm 13-3 (1st) 25-5 NCAA Sweet 16
1981-82 Jerry Pimm 6-10 (7th) 11-17
1982-83 Jerry Pimm 11-5 (1st) 18-14 NCAA Sweet 16
1983-84 Lynn Archibald 4-12 (8th) 11-19
1984-85 Lynn Archibald 8-8 (6th) 15-16
1985-86 Lynn Archibald 12-4 (1st) 20-10 NCAA First Round
1986-87 Lynn Archibald 9-7 (5th) 17-13 NIT First Round
1987-88 Lynn Archibald 11-5 (2nd) 19-11 NIT First Round
1988-89 Lynn Archibald 6-10 (6th) 16-17
1989-90 Rick Majerus (*1) 7-9 (6th) 16-14
1990-91 Rick Majerus 15-1 (1st) 30-4 NCAA Sweet 16
1991-92 Rick Majerus 9-7 (4th) 24-11 NIT Final Four
1992-93 Rick Majerus 15-3 (1st) 24-7 NCAA Second Round
1993-94 Rick Majerus 8-10 (5th) 14-14
1994-95 Rick Majerus 15-3 (1st) 28-6 NCAA Second Round
1995-96 Rick Majerus 15-3 (1st) 27-7 NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1996-97 Rick Majerus 15-1 (1st) 29-4 NCAA Elite Eight
1997-98 Rick Majerus 12-2 (1st) 30-4 NCAA Runner-up
1998-99 Rick Majerus 14-0 (1st) 28-5 NCAA Second Round
1999-00 Rick Majerus 10-4 (1st) 23-9 NCAA Second Round
2000-01 Rick Majerus (*2) 10-4 (1st) 19-12 NIT First Round
2001-02 Rick Majerus 10-4 (2nd) 21-9 NCAA First Round
2002-03 Rick Majerus 11-3 (1st) 25-8 NCAA Second Round
2003-04 Rick Majerus (*3) 9-5 (3rd) 24-9 NCAA First Round
2004-05 Ray Giacoletti 13-1 (1st) 29-6 NCAA Sweet 16
2005-06 Ray Giacoletti 6-10 (6th) 14-15
2006-07 Ray Giacoletti 6-10 (6th) 11-19
2007-08 Jim Boylen 7-9 (6th) 18-15 CBI Second Round
2008-09 Jim Boylen 12-4 (1st) 24-10 NCAA First Round
2009-10 Jim Boylen 7-9 (5th) 14-17
2010-11 Jim Boylen 6-10 (7th) 13-18
2011-12 Larry Krystkowiak 3-15 (11th) 6-25
2012-13 Larry Krystkowiak 5-13 (10th) 15-18
2013-14 Larry Krystkowiak 9–9 (8th) 21–12 NIT First Round
2014-15 Larry Krystkowiak 13-5 (2nd (tie)) 26-9 NCAA Sweet 16
2015-16 Larry Krystkowiak 13-5 (2nd) 27-9 NCAA Second Round

Postseason

NCAA Tournament results

The Utes have appeared in 29 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 38–32. They were national champions in 1944.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
1944 Quarterfinals
Final Four
National Championship Game
Missouri
Iowa State
Dartmouth
W 45–35
W 40–31
W 42–40 OT
1945 Quarterfinals
Regional 3rd Place Game
Oklahoma State
Oregon
L 37–62
L 66–69
1955 Regional Semifinals
Regional 3rd Place Game
San Francisco
Seattle
L 59–78
W 108–85
1956 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Seattle
San Francisco
W 81–72
L 77–92
1959 Regional Semifinals
Regional 3rd Place Game
California
Idaho State
L 53–71
L 65–71
1960 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional Semifinals
Regional 3rd Place Game
USC
Oregon
Santa Clara
W 80–73
L 54–65
W 89–81
1961 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game
Loyola Marymount
Arizona State
Cincinnati
Saint Joseph's
W 91–75
W 88–80
L 67–82
L 120–127 4OT
1966 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game
Pacific
Oregon State
UTEP
Duke
W 83–51
W 70–64
L 78–85
L 77–79
1977 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
St. John's
UNLV
W 72–68
L 83–88
1978 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Missouri
Notre Dame
W 86–79 2OT
L 56–69
1979 First Round Pepperdine L 88–92 OT
1981 Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Northeastern
North Carolina
W 94–69
L 56–61
1983 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Illinois
UCLA
NC State
W 52–49
W 67–61
L 56–75
1986 First Round North Carolina L 72–84
1991 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
South Alabama
Michigan State
UNLV
W 82–72
W 85–84 OT
L 66–83
1993 First Round
Second Round
Pittsburgh
Kentucky
W 86–65
L 62–83
1995 First Round
Second Round
Long Beach State
Mississippi State
W 76–64
L 64–78
1996 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Canisius
Iowa State
Kentucky
W 72–43
W 73–67
L 70–101
1997 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Navy
Charlotte
Stanford
Kentucky
W 75–61
W 77–58
W 82–77 OT
L 59–72
1998 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game
San Francisco
Arkansas
West Virginia
Arizona
North Carolina
Kentucky
W 85–68
W 75–69
W 65–62
W 76–51
W 65–59
L 69–78
1999 First Round
Second Round
Arkansas State
Miami (OH)
W 80–58
L 58–66
2000 First Round
Second Round
Saint Louis
Michigan State
W 48–45
L 61–73
2002 First Round Indiana L 56–75
2003 First Round
Second Round
Oregon
Kentucky
W 60–58
L 54–74
2004 First Round Boston College L 51–58
2005 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
UTEP
Oklahoma
Kentucky
W 60–54
W 67–58
L 52–62
2009 First Round Arizona L 71–84
2015 Second Round
Third Round
Sweet Sixteen
Stephen F. Austin
Georgetown
Duke
W 57–50
W 75–64
L 57–63
2016 First Round
Second Round
Fresno State
Gonzaga
W 80–69
L 59–82

NIT results

The Utes have appeared in 11 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 11–11. They were NIT champions in 1947. They participated in the 2014 NIT.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
1944 Quarterfinals Kentucky L 38–46
1947 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship Game
Duquesne
West Virginia
Kentucky
W 45–44
W 64–62
W 49–45
1949 Quarterfinals San Francisco L 63–64
1957 First Round Memphis L 75–77
1958 Quarterfinals St. John's L 70–71
1970 First Round
Quarterfinals
Duke
Marquette
W 78–75
L 63–83
1974 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship Game
Rutgers
Memphis
Boston College
Purdue
W 102–89
W 92–78
W 117–93
L 81–87
1987 First Round Boise State L 61–62
1988 First Round Evansville L 55–66
1992 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game
Ball State
Arizona State
Rhode Island
Notre Dame
Florida
W 72–57
W 80–58
W 84–72
L 55–58
W 81–78
2001 First Round Memphis L 62–71
2014 First Round Saint Mary's L 58-70

CBI results

The Utes have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their record is 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
2008 First Round
Quarterfinals
UTEP
Tulsa
W 81–69
L 60–69

National Campus Basketball Tournament results

The Utes appeared in the only National Campus Basketball Tournament. Their record is 2–1.[5]

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
1951 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game
Villanova
Syracuse
Wyoming
W 67–65
L 57–74
W 55–52

Top-25 finishes

The University of Utah has consistently been a top-25 team throughout its history. Outside of various seasons cracking the top-25, Utah has ended the season ranked in the top-25 20 times.

Year Record Ranking
1949 24- 7 12
1955 24- 4 7
1956 22- 6 18
1959 25- 7 18
1960 26- 3 7
1961 24- 7 11
1962 23- 3 7
1974 22- 8 15
1977 23- 7 14
1978 23- 6 14
1981 25- 5 14
1991 30- 4 10
1993 24- 7 19
1995 28- 6 19
1996 27- 7 12
1997 29- 4 2
1998 30- 4 7
1999 28- 5 6
2005 29- 6 18
2009 24- 10 25
2015 26- 9 15
2016 27- 9 13

All-time series record vs. Pac-12 opponents

Opponent Wins Losses Pct. Streak
Arizona 29 29 .500 Utah 1
Arizona St. 28 19 .596 Utah 2
Cal 10 12 .455 Utah 2
Colorado 16 24 .400 Utah 1
Oregon 9 17 .346 Oregon 7
Oregon St. 14 10 .583 Utah 2
Stanford 15 11 .577 Stan. 2
UCLA 6 7 .461 Utah 1
USC 18 17 .514 Utah 4
Washington 8 8 .500 Utah 2
Wash. St. 15 4 .789 Utah 1

Retired numbers

Utah has retired the numbers of the following basketball players.

Retired jerseys
No. Player Years played
4 Andrew Bogut 2003–2005
12 Billy McGill 1959–1962
22 Arnie Ferrin 1943–1948
23 Danny Vranes 1977–1981
24 Andre Miller 1995–1999
33 Vern Gardner 1945–1949
44 Keith Van Horn 1993–1997

See also

References

  1. "Visual Style – University Marketing & Communications". University of Utah. March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  2. Utah Basketball History
  3. Sportnet Simon Maljevac. Pavićević izbornik Crne Gore. Dec 24, 2011 (in Croatian)
  4. "Utah Utes hire New Jersey Nets assistant Larry Krystkowiak as coach - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  5. http://www.luckyshow.org/basketball/campustourney.htm
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