Busting Brackets
Fansided

Pac-12 Basketball: Ducks to remain the league’s best

By Carmine Carcieri

March 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman celebrates after cutting down the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Utah Utes at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Utes 88-57. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman celebrates after cutting down the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Utah Utes at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Utes 88-57. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 14
Next
Oct 21, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Utah junior forward Kyle Kuzma during Pac-12 men’s basketball media day at Pac-12 Conference/Pac-12 Networks. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Utah junior forward Kyle Kuzma during Pac-12 men’s basketball media day at Pac-12 Conference/Pac-12 Networks. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Utah Utes

2015-16 record: 26-8 overall, 13-5 in Pac-12, reached second round of NCAA Tournament

Head coach: Larry Krystkowiak

Key returning players: Kyle Kuzma, Lorenzo Bonam

Newcomers: Four-star C Jayce Johnson, three-star SG Devon Daniels, two-star SF Chris Seeley, JUCO transfer SG JoJo Zamora, JUCO transfer PG Tim Coleman Jr., non-ranked C Jakub Jokl, JUCO PF Tyler Rawson, SMU transfer G Sedrick Barefield (eligible in December), Utah State transfer F David Collette

With Jakob Poeltl, Jordan Loveridge and Brandon Taylor graduating, and Kenneth Ogbe and Brekkott Chapman, among others, transferring, Larry Krystkowiak’s Utah Utes will have almost an entirely different team in 2016-17.

However, Utah still has two of their top four scorers in the fold. Power forward Kyle Kuzma (10.8 points per game) and Lorenzo Bonam (10.2 points per game) are the lone double figure scorers returning to the Utes.

Kuzma has value as a potential stretch four, but he’ll need to improve his three point percentage (26 percent) and will need to cut down on his turnovers (2.0 per game). Bonam is a big guard who is comfortable playing both on and off the ball. He uses his strength and size to attack the rim and finish amongst the bigs. The point guard averaged 3.0 assists per game last season, and will likely improve as a playmaker in 2016-17.

Although Kuzma and Bonam are the centerpieces of the roster, Jayce Johnson, Tyler Rawson, JoJo Zamora, Tim Coleman Jr.,  Sedrick Barefield and David Collette are needed at their respective positions.

Johnson stands at 6’11” and provides Utah with a back-to-the-basket player who has plus footwork. Rawson was named a NJCAA Third Team All-American in 2015-16. Zamora averaged 18.0 points last year in JUCO. Coleman will likely backup Bonam. Barefield is a former three-star guard who had offers from UConn, Memphis and Michigan, among others. And Collette averaged in double figures back in 2014-15 with Utah State.

It will likely take some time for Utah to gell given the influx of newcomers. However, Krystkowiak runs flawless offensive sets, the Utes normally take care of the basketball and their defense is always stout. Culture matters, so expect the Utes to make their third straight NCAA Tournament.

Home/Pac-12