Men's Basketball | 11/20/2024 11:00:00 AM

Scouting the Utes
Utah enters Friday afternoon's contest with a 3-1 record coming off its first loss of the season last Sunday against Mississippi State, 78-73.

The Utes opened the season with 30-plus point home victories over Alcorn State (100-59), Central Arkansas (98-63) and Queens University (96-65).

Utah is in its first season in the newly expanded Big 12 after finishing 22-15 in 2023-24 advancing to the NIT Semifinals.

Led by fourth-year head coach Craig Smith, Utah has five players averaging double figures led by fifth-year guard Gabe Madsen averaging 21.3 points per game to lead the Big 12.

As a team, the Utes lead the Big 12 in field goal defense (34.8), defensive rebounds per game (32.25), three pointers per game (15.3) and three point attempts per game (36.5).

Series History vs. Utah & Big 12 Conference
This will be the Trailblazers' second meeting against Utah. Utah Tech fell at Utah, 83-64 on Jan. 8, 2008.

Of the current 16 members of the Big 12, the Trailblazers have faced two others programs in addition to Utah.

Utah Tech faced Arizona two years ago falling 104-77 on Nov. 17, 2022 and Colorado last season, losing 98-71 in Boulder on Dec. 21, 2023.

Last Time Out
The Trailblazers opened their eight-game road swing last Saturday at Wyoming falling 86-69 to the Cowboys in Laramie.

UT was led in scoring by a career-high 16 points from Tennessee Rainwater and also got double digits from Beon Riley (14), Noa Gonsalves (13) and Britton Berrett (12).

After the Trailblazers raced back with a 6-0 run to knot the game at 16, Wyoming responded with a 14-0 run, holding the Trailblazers without a field goal for nearly five minutes. 

A layup by Gonsalves ended the scoreless drought with just under five minutes to play while Wyoming led 42-28 at the half.

The second half saw Wyoming stretch its lead to as many as 28 before the Trailblazers ended the game on a 21-10 run over the final 6:19 of action.

Where the Blazers Rank in the WAC/NCAA
Utah Tech leads the WAC in turnover margin (4.3), and ranks second in offensive rebounds per game (13.25), three point attempts per game (25.5) and turnovers per game (10.0).

The Trailblazers rank third in the conference in three point percentage defense (30.6) and are fourth in scoring defense (75.0) and rebounds per game (38.25).

Individually, Riley ranks fifth in rebounds per game (7.5) and is sixth in total rebounds (30).

Gonsalves sits fifth in the conference in minutes played per game (31:51) and three pointers per game (2.00).

Road Trip Gets Underway
With the Trailblazers next eight games on the road, UT will not host another home game at Burns Arena until facing Weber Staet on Dec. 13.     

The Trailblazers will be one of 18 Division I teams who will go at least 30 days in between home games led by Bethune Cookman going 63 days (Nov. 16-Jan. 18).

Gettting on the Boards
The Trailblazers' 59 rebounds against Bethesda on Nov. 13 tied for the third-most in a single game in program history and were only three shy of tying the program record of 62 set at Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 10, 2017.

Seasoned Veteran
Head coach Jon Judkins is in his 20th season at Utah Tech this season sporting a 332-206 (.617) overall record and a 312-194 (.617) mark in NCAA play.

Only nine current Division I coaches have been at their schools longer - Greg Kampe (41st season at Oakland), Tom Izzo (30-Michigan St.), Mark Few (26-Gonzaga), James Jones (26-Yale), Randy Bennett (26-Saint Mary's), Leonard Hamilton (23-Florida St.), Scott Drew (22-Baylor), Bill Self (22-Kansas) & Gary Manchel (22-Mercyhurst).

New Kids on the Block
The Blazers bring in five transfers in sixth-year guard Justin Bieker (San Francisco), fifth-year guard Hakim Byrd (Thomas Jefferson University/UMBC/Marist), redshirt junior forward Samuel Ariyibi (Washington), junior guard Britton Berrett (College of Southern Idaho) and redshirt freshman guard Dallin Grant (Utah State).

Rounding out the newcomers are five freshmen in a pair of guards Hunter Schenck (Pleasant View, Utah) & Madiba Owona (Bordeaux, France), guard/forward Preston Vandermyde (St. George, Utah), forward Bryson Bailey (Lehi, Utah) and center Pavle Misic (Nis, Serbia).

Nine of the 10 Trailblazer newcomers have seen action this season with Bieker and Byrd starting all four games. Bieker scored a career-high 14 points in the season opener at Oregon State.

Gonsalves The Sniper
With 98 career games played, including 64 starts, Gonsalves ranks second in program history in career three-pointers made (153) and attempts (408) while ranking ninth in three point percentage (.375).

He is just 14 made three-pointers and 15 three-point attempts shy of reaching the top spot in both categories.

Trailblazers in Home Openers
Utah Tech fell to 4-1 in home openers in the Division I era with its loss to New Mexico State on Nov. 9.

The Blazers have racked up wins over North Dakota (2020-21), Southern Utah (21-22), CSUN (22-23) and Utah Valley (23-24).

The Trailblazers had won five straight home openers before its loss to the Aggies with its last loss coming in the 2018-19 home opener falling 72-66 to Cal Poly Pomona.

UT Picked Eighth in the WAC
The Trailblazers was picked to finish eighth in the 2024-25 WAC men's basketball preseason coaches poll, which was released on October 15.

Grand Canyon received eight of nine first place votes and 64 total points to be tabbed as the WAC preseason favorite, while UT Arlington (49 pts) was picked to finish second, followed by Seattle U (46 pts.), California Baptist (45 pts.), Utah Valley (38 pts.), Tarleton State (30 pts.), Abilene Christian (29 pts.), the Trailblazers and SUU (11 pts.)

What's Next
Utah Tech travels to the Stew Morrill Classic hosted by Montana next week facing CSUN (3-1) on Sunday, Montana (2-3) on Monday and Denver (3-2) on Tuesday.