UTAH UTES

Fans Get A First Look At Utah Men’s Basketball 2024-25 Squad In Free Exhibition Game

Oct 29, 2024, 10:57 AM

Utah Basketball...

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 27: Gabe Madsen #55 of the Utah Utes is congratulated by teammates Jake Wahlin #10, Luka Tarlac #21, and Jerry Huang #45 after sinking a three pointer against the VCU Rams during the second half of the quarterfinals of the NIT Mens Basketball Tournament at the Jon M Huntsman Center on March 27, 2024 in Salt Lake City Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah men’s basketball is set to host an exhibition game against the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves. This will be an opportunity for fans to get their first look at the 2024-25 squad.

The exhibition will tip at 7:00 p.m. inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center. It is free for fans to attend and will feature a post-game autograph session.

RELATED: Utah Basketball 2024-25 Schedule Complete With Big 12 Dates

A first look at the new Utah basketball roster

Craig Smith’s 2024-25 roster features nine new players and a nearly complete new look going into the Big 12. There are nine new players and six new staff members, which means Utah basketball is going to look quite different than it has over the past three seasons.

Those returners include Gabe Madsen, Lawson Lovering Hunter Erickson, Jake Wahlin, and Jayden Teat. There are seven transfers including Miro Little, Ezra Ausar, Brady Smith, Keanu Dawes, Mike Sharavjamts, Zach Keller, and Mason Madsen. Lastly, there were two freshmen additions Joul Karram and Ibi Traore.

For the first time under Smith, Utah has a full complement of scholarship players. There are new skills and dynamics to mesh together. Smith likes the potential of the group and the different things they’ll be able to do.

“I like our depth. I think this is the deepest team we’ve had,” Smith stated. “No question this is the most versatile team we’ve had. We can play a lot of different ways. It’ll be different without Branden (Carlson), an all-league three years. But we adapt and adjust and I’m excited about this team.”

It’s about earning respect for Craig Smith, Utah basketball

Smith has an entirely new coaching staff around him, while he’s also coaching a near-entirely new roster as well. With all of the changes, Utah was picked last in the preseason polls, and Smith knows they have to earn it in their new conference.

“Obviously, we’re not picked where you want to be picked but there’s nowhere to go but up,” Smith stated. “We’ve got to go earn respect, that’s the bottom line is you’ve got to earn respect and make that happen. There’s a lot of work to be done but we’re excited about where we’re going.”

RELATED: After Offseason Of Significant Change, Craig Smith Is Excited For Utah Basketball

Each and every conference game is going to be a significant test. Given his coaching experience, Smith knows that a lot is required of him to get this team where it needs to be.

“Every game that we play, I’ve got to coach that game with everything I’ve got,” he stated. “You’ve got to pour everything you’ve got into your players, you pour everything you’ve got into your staff, you pour everything you’ve got into your athletic department, you pour everything you’ve got into your fan base.”

Utah’s outlook for the 2024-25 season

Entering his fourth year as head coach, Craig Smith has had quite the offseason. Essentially turning over almost the entire program- there are 10 new players, three new assistants, a new general manager, and two other auxiliary staff members, Smith starts anew in 2024-25.

Smith has shown the ability to develop players during his tenure. Some have even maximized their potential under his watch. There are a few guys on this roster who seem capable of producing at higher levels and that will be a significant task for Smith and staff this season.

Taking care of the schedule’s non-conference slate is an absolute must. From there, Utah has to fight for each win in conference play.

Utah Basketball’s full 2024-25 schedule

  • November 4th – Home, Alcorn State
  • November 7th – Home, Central Arkansas
  • November 12th – Home, Queens
  • November 17th – Neutral Site, Mississippi State
  • November 22nd – Home, Utah Tech
  • November 26th – Home, Mississippi Valley State
  • November 30th – Home, Eastern Washington
  • December 7th – Home, St Mary’s
  • December 14th – Home, Radford
  • December 17th – Home, Florida A&M
  • December 21st – Neutral, Iowa
  • December 31st – Road, Baylor
  • January 4th – Home, Texas Tech
  • January 7th – Road, Iowa State
  • January 11th – Home, Oklahoma State
  • January 15th – Road, TCU
  • January 18th – Home BYU
  • January 21st – Road, Houston
  • January 25th – Home, Baylor
  • January 28th – Home, Cincinnati
  • February 1st – Road, Oklahoma State
  • February 5th – Home, Colorado
  • February 8th – Road, West Virginia
  • February 11th – Road, Cincinnati
  • February 15th – Home, Kansas
  • February 17th – Home, Kansas State
  • February 23rd – Road, UCF
  • February 26th – Road, Arizona
  • March 1st – Home, Arizona State
  • March 4th – Home, West Virginia
  • March 8th – Road, BYU

RELATED: Utah Basketball 2024-25 Schedule With Tip-off, Network Details

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. YouΒ can follow him on XΒ for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

Take us with you, wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

  • Utah Utes Scoreboard

  • Utah Utes Team Leaders

  • Utah Utes Standings

Utah Utes

BYU/Utah, Big 12 Conference, Rivalry...

Mitch Harper

BYU/Utah Rivalry Was Significant Addition For Big 12 Conference

Brett Yormark admits adding the BYU/Utah was important for the Big 12.

2 hours ago

Reno Mahe...

Brian Preece

Former Cougar Running Back Weighs In On Rivalry Week

Former BYU Cougar and Philadelphia Eagle Reno Mahe has an interesting perspective on the BYU-Utah rivalry as Saturday's game approaches.

4 hours ago

Zack Moss #31...

Brian Preece

Bengals Place Former Utah Running Back On Injured Reserve

Former Utah running back Zack Moss is expected to miss the remainder of the Cincinnati Bengals season after being placed on injured reserve.Β 

11 hours ago

BYU/Utah, Rivalry, Big 12...

Steve Bartle

Utah Coaches, Players ‘Indoctrinating’ First-Timers On The BYU Rivalry

Utah only has nine players who have played in the BYU rivalry game before, making the indoctrination process much more reliant on the past.

12 hours ago

Utah Basketball Ezra Ausar. PHOTO by Utah Athletics....

Steve Bartle

Utah Looking To Play More Free-Flowing Style Of Basketball

After the season-opening contest, Utah Basketball provided some initial indications of what to expect from the squad this season.

22 hours ago

South-Carolina-NCAA-Womens-Tournament...

EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer

Student-Athletes Are Getting Paid, Fans Begin To See Growing Share Of Bill

Winning at big-time college sports has never been free, but in a rapidly changing era in which players are allowed to earn money and be paid by their own schools, it has never been clearer that fans will be picking up a bigger part of the tab.

23 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Salt Lake County, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

game night live...

How To Watch Game Night Live: Park City Miners @ Spanish Fork Dons

Round three of the UHSAA football playoffs is on tap with spectacular playoff matchups around the Beehive State. Winners move on to the semifinals next weekend, and the 2024 high school football season inches toward its end.

Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week...

Utah County High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week is awarded each week to the top prep football players in Utah County. It honors athletes for their performances on the gridiron.

Farmington High School...

American Fork Outlasts Farmington In Defensive Battle

Twelfth-seeded American Fork put together a stout defensive performance, shutting down the Farmington Phoenix in a 21-17 win.

...

Northern Utah High School Player of the Week – Week 11

The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in all of Northern Utah, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week – Week 11

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Salt Lake County, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

Fans Get A First Look At Utah Men’s Basketball 2024-25 Squad In Free Exhibition Game