Jake Wahlin just hit the portal so I thought id start this thread to discuss the players coming and going.
Only other news ive heard/seen is that with the JUCO news, Hunter Erickson has another year of eligibility if he wants it and the new staff wants him back.
That was quick.
It wouldn’t surprise me if our roster next season has no current players on it. Not exactly happy about that, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
But I am optimistic about Coach Jensen.
Rather liked Wahlin. He improved as the season went on and had more good games than bad games. Good luck to the young man in his future endeavors.
It won’t be a shock here is all of the players hit the portal. It seems to happen more than not when there is a HC change at a school. I hope some of them might choose to stay. If they go as always best wishes to them, just not against us.
Might help to have a lot of supportive fans show up Monday to attend the press conference welcoming Alex Jensen back.
I think Wahlin is making a big mistake. Having Alex Jensen as a teacher for the type of game that seems to be in his wheelhouse would have helped him a lot. I’m not sure what he thinks he’s going to be, but it’s not going to be go-to score guy with the current state of his skills.
The guys on twitter like Steve Bartle all seem to think we have a decent shot at retaining him, but that he and others simply want to explore their options. Ill believe it when I see it.
I’m guessing he’s just testing the waters for NIL offers and if Utah matches he’ll probably be back.
With the way the portal works they’ll have to enter just to make sure they’ve got a spot.
Doesn’t mean much anymore
Monday at 6p at the Hunty - introducing the Alex Jensen era.
I’m hearing positive rumors about the makeup of the coaching staff. That’s all I’ll say.
Anything else besides Miller?
I’m stoked to have Andre on staff, assuming that happens. But I’m super intrigued to see who else he brings in. I’ll probably not even know who they are, but I’m just interested to see what kind of team AJ builds.
People suggest all of these former Utes. But aside from Andre and perhaps Cullen, I’d rather see Jensen cast a wide net of experience and influence. If we’re bringing a guy in with NBA, G-league, AND college ties, lets get the best of ALL of that up on the Hill.
I have not heard multiple names, but a 6p “introduction” on a Monday? I’m intrigued.
There have been signs that Utah fans are ready to really support the team. Even though our team last year had a big drought on the road in the PAC’s last season, the support for the NIT games was encouraging.
This year for the BYU game the Hunty was packed, overwhelmingly with Ute fans. It was like a time warp. Even after the coach was canned, it looked to me 6000+ die hard fans that showed up for the next home game.
It will take a bit to get things going… but I’m optimistic.
I only went to two games this year. And they were the last two home games after Smith was let go.
This is not a brag. I wanted the players to feel some love. They deserved more and better.
But I’m deeply exhausted with how this program has been run for a long, long time.
There was something about last season that broke me. Like, broke me HARD…
Between another anemic year with Smith, the added insult of losing Burgess, a former Ute alum coach to BYU and Keita, our most promising player to BYU…that did me in. I was checked out until the U got serious again. I hate that I feel that way, but last season was the final straw of nearly two decades of kicks to the groin — particularly the last nine seasons or so.
Last year’s pain for mbb was rarely matched. Maybe losing to Kentucky in '98, or having Jimmer do whatever he wanted in the Hunty as a half-blue crowd cheered on.
This has GOT TO turn around. It HAS to. Maybe we’ll never see the highs of the past, but there is no good reason we’ve been camped out in the circle of hell we’ve been in for the last decade. We have it too good to be having it so bad.
Here’s to AJ & co.!
The BYU game in January was glorious. Sold out Hunty with far fewer BYU fans than they have usually had in recent years (think that was due to them playing twice each year now).
Most Utah hoops fans we’ve had in that arena in a long time.
Some Arizona games have been pretty full, right?
Zona always has a large crowd, but generally not sold out.
Attendance for gymnastics tonight UCLA vs. Utah 15,568
Depends on the year
Utah mens hoops will play in the new College Basketball Crown Tournament in Las Vegas. Play doesn’t begin till March 31st.
I’m not sure why? There are 5 other Big XII teams playing so maybe we were told by the conference that were playing?