Utah Basketball Impresses In Season Opening Win Over Abilene Christian
Nov 9, 2021, 9:19 PM
Utah Utes guard Marco Anthony (10) dunks on Abilene Christian Wildcats guard Stevie Smith (13) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah basketball team put on an impressive performance in their 70-56 win over Abilene Christian in their season opener.
It started a new era of Runnin’ Utes basketball with Craig Smith taking over as the head coach. He brought in some new faces and returned just two players from last year’s team that averaged seven minutes or more per game.
You LOVE to see it!!! @coachcsmith_ ☔️#UtesWin | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/cHFvhtXWxQ
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 10, 2021
Here are some thoughts after the Utes started their season off with a win:
Rebounding Is Improved Already After Game One
The main issue with the Utah basketball team last year under Larry Krystowiak was rebounding. They finished near the bottom of the Pac-12 in every rebounding category.
Utah finished with 55 rebounds in their win over ACU. The last time the Runnin’ Utes finished with over 50 rebounds was their 2019-20 season opener against Nevada.
Of those 55 rebounds, 22 of them came on the offensive end. Six players recorded at least six rebounds or more, led by Riley Battin with 10. Branden Carlson (9), Marco Anthony (9), Dusan Mahorcic (8), Rollie Worster (7), and David Jenkins (6) all were attacking the glass.
For a team that will be undersized heading into Pac-12 play, this is a good start to what the coaches have strongly emphasized all off-season.
FLEX ON 'EM!! @DMahorcic
📺 https://t.co/fBp0v4XGGV pic.twitter.com/VsHl8wHc8d
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 10, 2021
Newcomers Play Big Role
Utah rolled out seven newcomers on the team and was even missing their eighth guy. Both Gach has not received a waiver from the NCAA so until he gets that, he will need to sit out.
UNLV transfer David Jenkins Jr. had a strong debut with a game-high 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-for-9 from downtown. Utah State transfer duo Rollie Worster and Marco Anthony had a big presence in their Utah debuts.
Worster finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and just one turnover against a team that led the nation last season in steals and turnover margin. Anthony nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.
.@WorldStarDave with the HUGE four-point play 😤
📺 https://t.co/fBp0v4XGGV pic.twitter.com/6MJ0yJsgeD
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 10, 2021
Illinois State transfer Dusan Mahorcic played a big role on Tuesday night for the Runnin’ Utes. He served as the backup center to Branden Carlson and was called upon to step up when Carlson was in foul trouble. Mahorcic posted 11 points and 8 rebounds in 16 minutes on the floor.
Returners Show Improvement
The two players that return to Utah from last year’s team that averaged over seven minutes per game is Riley Battin and Branden Carlson. Both showed massive improvements in their games, particularly in rebounding.
Battin was all over the offensive glass, pulling down seven of his 10 rebounds on that end. Carlson had 14 points and nine rebounds. This is a big improvement from both of them as they didn’t have many near or actual double digit rebounding performances under Krystkowiak.
#11 making it 25-19 with 3:52 in the first half 👊
📺https://t.co/fBp0v4XGGV pic.twitter.com/AjxVQS9w7M
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 10, 2021
Carlson was also used as a stretch five, knocking down one of his three attempts from beyond the arc.
Utah improved their record to 1-0 on the season. They will return to the Jon M. Huntsman Center to face Sacramento State on Saturday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Mountain.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
