2023–24 Utah Utes men's basketball team

The 2023–24 Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by third-year head coach Craig Smith. They played their home games at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2023–24 Utah Utes men's basketball
NIT, Semifinals
ConferencePac-12 Conference
Record22–15 (9–11 Pac-12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaJon M. Huntsman Center
(Capacity: 15,000)
2023–24 Pac-12 Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 11 Arizona155 .750279  .750
No. 23 Washington State146 .7002510  .714
Colorado137 .6502611  .703
Oregon128 .6002412  .667
UCLA1010 .5001617  .485
Utah911 .4502215  .595
California911 .4501319  .406
Washington911 .4501715  .531
USC812 .4001518  .455
Stanford812 .4001418  .438
Arizona State812 .4001418  .438
Oregon State515 .2501319  .406
2024 Pac-12 tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Utah started the season with strong non-conference play, winning landmark games on the road against Saint Mary's and at home against then #14th-ranked BYU. Prior to their final out-of-conference game against Bellarmine, Utah received the 29th-most votes in that week's AP poll and were projected to be a 9th-seed in that year's NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.[1] Despite being dominant at home, even giving UCLA their second-worst loss in program history,[2] the Runnin' Utes failed to win all but one conference road game, scoring a last-second basket to beat the same team in Pauley Pavilion.[3] After home losses to Arizona and Arizona State, Utah was considered to be on the bubble for an NCAA tournament bid.[4][5] After a road loss to Oregon State in which Branden Carlson scored a career-high 40 points, it was reported that "Utah’s NCAA tournament hopes were all but extinguished".[6]

This season, Branden Carlson broke the all-time Runnin' Utes blocks record, finishing the season with 241 blocks.[7] Incoming transfer Deivon Smith was unable to play until December due to double-transfer eligibility rules, but was able to debut in Utah's game against Utah Valley University after judge John P. Bailey extended a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit against the NCAA to the end of the season.[8] After becoming eligible, Smith would go on to score five triple-doubles in the rest of the season, breaking the all-time Pac-12 record that was previously held by Jason Kidd.[9]

In the 2024 Pac-12 men's tournament, Utah won their first round game against Arizona State before falling to Colorado in the quarterfinals.[10] The team played in the 2024 National Invitation Tournament, being the only Pac-12 team to accept one of two automatic bids for teams in the conference.[11] This marked the program's first appearance in a postseason tournament since the 2018 NIT six years prior. Utah advanced to the semi-finals before being eliminated by the Indiana State Sycamores.[12]

This was their final season as members of the Pac-12 Conference after 12 years before they will join the Big 12 Conference in the 2024–25 season.[13]

Previous season

The Utes finished the 2022–23 season 17–14, 10–10 in Pac-12 play, to finish in 7th place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament to Stanford.[14]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Gavin Baxter0F6'9"224SeniorProvo, UTRetired from basketball due to injuries[15]
Mike Saunders Jr.2G6'0"184JuniorIndianapolis, INTransferred to McNeese State
Bostyn Holt3F6'6"193SeniorPortland, ORGraduate transferred to South Dakota
Jaxon Brenchley5G6'5"195SeniorProvidence, UTGraduate transferred to Denver
Marco Anthony10G6'5"223RS SeniorSan Antonio, TXGraduated
Lazar Stefanovic20G6'7"185SophomoreBelgrade, SerbiaTransferred to UCLA
Eli Ballstaedt32G6'5"198SeniorMidway, UTWalk-on; graduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious school
Hunter Erickson0G6'3"195JuniorProvo, UTSalt Lake CC
Cole Bajema2G6'7"190GS SeniorLynden, WAWashington
Deivon Smith5G6'1"172SeniorLoganville, GAGeorgia Tech
Lawson Lovering34C7'1"225JuniorCheyenne, WYColorado

2023 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jake Wahlin
#42 PF
Provo, UT Timpview High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) May 22, 2023 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 75
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:

  • "2023 Utah Basketball Commitment List". Rivals.com.
  • "Utah Utes 2023 Player Commits". ESPN.com.
  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2024 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2024 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
David Katoa
#43 SG
Salt Lake City, UT Real Salt Lake Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sep 26, 2023 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 75
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:

Roster

2023–24 Utah Utes men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Hunter Erickson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)194 lb (88 kg) JrSalt Lake CC Provo, UT
F 1 Ben Carlson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)228 lb (103 kg) SrWisconsin Woodbury, MN
G 2 Cole Bajema 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)194 lb (88 kg) GSWashington Lynden, WA
G 3 Jayden Teat (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)178 lb (81 kg) FrCapital Christian School Sacramento, CA
G 5 Deivon Smith 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)172 lb (78 kg) SrGeorgia Tech Loganville, GA
F 10 Jake Wahlin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)206 lb (93 kg) FrTimpview Provo, UT
G 11 Wilguens Exacte Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)233 lb (106 kg) SoNBA Academy Latin America Montreal, QC
C 13 Keba Keita 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)235 lb (107 kg) SoWasatch Academy Bamako, Mali
G 14 Brandon Haddock (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)178 lb (81 kg) JrCarroll HS Southlake, TX
G 21 Luka Tarlac 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)224 lb (102 kg) SoInternational School of Belgrade Belgrade, Serbia
G 25 Rollie Worster 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)204 lb (93 kg) SrUtah State Missoula, MT
F 32 Ayomide Bamisile (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)198 lb (90 kg) FrMontverde Academy Lagos, Nigeria
C 34 Lawson Lovering 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)244 lb (111 kg) JrColorado Cheyenne, WY
C 35 Branden Carlson 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)223 lb (101 kg) GSBingham HS South Jordan, UT
G 45 Jerry Huang (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)187 lb (85 kg) FrWasatch Academy Taipei, Taiwan
G 55 Gabe Madsen 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)203 lb (92 kg) SrCincinnati Rochester, MN
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

Roster
Last update: April 8, 2024

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 1, 2023*
6:00 p.m.
Westminster W 84–61 
 18  Bajema  9  Be. Carlson  4  Bajema  Jon M. Huntsman Center (–)
Salt Lake City, UT
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:30 p.m., P12N
Eastern Washington W 101–66  1–0
 20  Madsen  11  Keita  8  Worster  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,632)
Salt Lake City, UT
November 10, 2023*
8:00 p.m., P12N
UC Riverside W 82–53  2–0
 18  Lovering  7  tied  7  Worster  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,565)
Salt Lake City, UT
November 16, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPNU
vs. Wake Forest
Charleston Classic quarterfinals
W 77–70  3–0
 31  Br. Carlson  7  Be. Carlson  9  Worster  TD Arena (2,745)
Charleston, SC
November 17, 2023*
2:30 p.m., ESPN2
vs. No. 6 Houston
Charleston Classic semifinals
L 66–76  3–1
 29  Madsen  8  tied  6  Worster  TD Arena (3,029)
Charleston, SC
November 19, 2023*
3:30 p.m., ESPN
vs. St. John's
Charleston Classic third-place game
L 82–91  3–2
 22  Br. Carlson  8  Br. Carlson  3  tied  TD Arena (3,841)
Charleston, SC
November 27, 2023*
9:00 p.m., ESPNU
at Saint Mary's W 78–71  4–2
 17  tied  8  Worster  3  Br. Carlson  University Credit Union Pavilion (3,500)
Moraga, CA
November 30, 2023*
7:00 p.m., P12N
vs. Hawai'i W 79–66  5–2
 17  Br. Carlson  9  Worster  3  Worster  Delta Center (4,686)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 5, 2023*
7:00 p.m., P12N
Southern Utah W 88–86  6–2
 23  Keita  10  Be. Carlson  10  Worster  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,161)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 9, 2023*
5:00 p.m., P12N
No. 14 BYU
Rivalry
W 73–69  7–2
 17  Madsen  8  Br. Carlson  8  Worster  Jon M. Huntsman Center (15,648)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 16, 2023*
2:00 p.m., P12N
Utah Valley W 76–62  8–2
 26  Br. Carlson  11  Lovering  9  Worster  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,349)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 20, 2023*
7:00 p.m., P12N
Bellarmine W 85–43  9–2
 17  Lovering  9  Be. Carlson  4  Worster  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,310)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pac-12 regular season
December 29, 2023
6:30 p.m., P12N
Washington State W 80–58  10–2
(1–0)
 20  Madsen  11  Keita  7  Worster  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,235)
Salt Lake City, UT
December 31, 2023
4:00 p.m., P12N
Washington W 95–90  11–2
(2–0)
 34  Br. Carlson  11  Madsen  7  Br. Carlson  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,468)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 4, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPN2
at Arizona State L 70–82  11–3
(2–1)
 19  Br. Carlson  8  Br. Carlson  5  Madsen  Desert Financial Arena (6,259)
Tempe, AZ
January 6, 2024
6:00 p.m., P12N
at No. 10 Arizona L 73–92  11–4
(2–2)
 18  Madsen  6  Be. Carlson  5  Worster  McKale Center (14,688)
Tucson, AZ
January 11, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
UCLA W 90–44  12–4
(3–2)
 14  tied  14  Br. Carlson  8  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,934)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 14, 2024
3:00 p.m., P12N
at Stanford L 73–79  12–5
(3–3)
 16  tied  10  Smith  11  Smith  Maples Pavilion (3,037)
Stanford, CA
January 18, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPNU
Oregon State W 74–47  13–5
(4–3)
 18  Keita  15  Keita  8  D. Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,063)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 21, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN
Oregon W 80–77  14–5
(5–3)
 24  Smith  9  Smith  8  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,919)
Salt Lake City, UT
January 24, 2024
8:00 p.m., P12N
at Washington State L 57–79  14–6
(5–4)
 20  Br. Carlson  9  Keita  3  tied  Beasley Coliseum (2,605)
Pullman, WA
January 27, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
at Washington L 73–98  14–7
(5–5)
 20  Smith  7  Keita  3  tied  Alaska Airlines Arena (7,419)
Seattle, WA
February 3, 2024
3:00 p.m., P12N
Colorado
Rivalry
W 73–68  15–7
(6–5)
 21  Madsen  11  Smith  9  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (9,294)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 8, 2024
6:00 p.m., P12N
No. 8 Arizona L 99–105 3OT 15–8
(6–6)
 27  Br. Carlson  15  Br. Carlson  10  D. Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (10,944)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 10, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
Arizona State L 77–85  15–9
(6–7)
 25  Br. Carlson  11  Br. Carlson  9  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,235)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 15, 2024
9:00 p.m., FS1
at USC L 64–68  15–10
(6–8)
 19  Smith  9  Smith  7  Smith  Galen Center (5,122)
Los Angeles, CA
February 18, 2024
5:00 p.m., FS1
at UCLA W 70–69  16–10
(7–8)
 17  tied  7  Br. Carlson  10  Smith  Pauley Pavilion (9,537)
Los Angeles, CA
February 24, 2024
7:00 p.m., P12N
at Colorado
Rivalry
L 65–89  16–11
(7–9)
 18  Madsen  6  tied  5  Smith  CU Events Center (9,075)
Boulder, CO
February 29, 2024
6:30 p.m., P12N
Stanford W 90–68  17–11
(8–9)
 21  Bajema  10  Smith  10  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,833)
Salt Lake City, UT
March 2, 2024
7:00 p.m., P12N
California
Senior Night
W 88–59  18–11
(9–9)
 30  Br. Carlson  10  tied  10  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (8,841)
Salt Lake City, UT
March 7, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPNU
at Oregon State L 85–92  18–12
(9–10)
 40  Br. Carlson  7  Br. Carlson  10  Smith  Gill Coliseum (3,362)
Corvallis, OR
March 9, 2024
5:00 p.m., P12N
at Oregon L 65–66  18–13
(9–11)
 19  Br. Carlson  6  Smith  4  Lovering  Matthew Knight Arena (8,668)
Eugene, OR
Pac-12 tournament
March 13, 2024
9:30 p.m., P12N
(6) vs. (11) Arizona State
First Round
W 90–57  19–13
 22  Baejma  10  tied  9  Smith  T-Mobile Arena (10,133)
Paradise, NV
March 14, 2024
9:30 p.m., FS1
(6) vs. (3) Colorado
Quarterfinal/rivalry
L 58–72  19–14
 13  tied  6  tied  5  Smith  T-Mobile Arena (11,428)
Paradise, NV
NIT
March 19, 2024*
9:00 p.m., ESPN2
(2) UC Irvine
First Round – Villanova bracket
W 84–75  20–14
 21  Br. Carlson  11  Br. Carlson  10  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (3,137)
Salt Lake City, UT
March 24, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
(2) (3) Iowa
Second Round – Villanova bracket
W 91–82  21–14
 31  Madsen  10  tied  10  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (3,804)
Salt Lake City, UT
March 27, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
(2) VCU
Quarterfinals – Villanova bracket
W 74–54  22–14
 18  Madsen  11  Smith  12  Smith  Jon M. Huntsman Center (6,008)
Salt Lake City, UT
April 2, 2024*
5:00 p.m., ESPN
(2) vs. (1) Indiana State
Semifinals
L 90–100  22–15
 28  Smith  7  Smith  6  Smith  Hinkle Fieldhouse 
Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Mountain Time.

Source:[16]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
APRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRVRV

*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings.

References

  1. Judd, Brandon (January 31, 2024). "3 things we learned about Utah basketball during nonconference play". Deseret News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  2. "Utah puts historic beat-down on UCLA". Reuters. January 11, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  3. Bolch, Ben (February 19, 2024). "Utah shocks UCLA on last-second basket, ending Bruins' six-game winning streak". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. Coles, Joe (February 12, 2024). "Where Utah's NCAA Tournament résumé stands after sweep by Arizona schools". Deseret News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  5. "Bubble-riding Utah makes dreaded trip to Oregon State". CBSSports.com. March 7, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  6. Coles, Joe (March 8, 2024). "Utah's NCAA Tournament hopes all but extinguished after 92-85 loss at Oregon State". Deseret News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  7. Bodkin, Michelle (February 10, 2024). "Branden Carlson Makes More History As A Runnin' Ute". KSL Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  8. Coles, Joe (January 31, 2024). "Deivon Smith makes debut in Utah's 76-62 win over UVU". Deseret News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  9. Bodkin, Michelle (March 27, 2024). "Deivon Smith Breaks 30-Year-Old Pac-12 Record Held By Jason Kidd". KSL Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. Judd, Brandon (March 15, 2024). "Utah's likelihood of missing NCAA Tournament again hits home after loss in Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals". Deseret News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  11. Daschel, Nick (March 20, 2024). "Did Oregon State turn down an invitation to play in the NIT?". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  12. Judd, Brandon (April 4, 2024). "What Utah said about its run to the NIT semifinals". Deseret News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  13. Cobb, David (August 5, 2023). "Arizona, Arizona State, Utah join Big 12: Programs follow Colorado departing Pac-12 before 2024 season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  14. "Stanford 73-62 Utah (Mar 8, 2023) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  15. Bodkin, Michelle (December 9, 2022). "Gavin Baxter Announces He Is Medically Retiring From Basketball". Philadelphia Media Network. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  16. "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". University of Utah Athletics. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
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