Pac-12 Basketball: Strengths and weaknesses of each team for 2020-21 season
7. Utah Utes
Projected Starters:
G: Rylan Jones, 6’0 So. (9.6 ppg, 4.5 apg)
G: Alfonso Plummer, 6’1 Sr. (8.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
F: Timmy Allen, 6’6 Jr. (17.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg)
F: Riley Battin, 6’9 Jr. (7.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
C: Branden Carlson, 7’0 So. (7.0 ppg, 1.4 bpg)
The Utes come into the season after a mediocre 16-15 year that had them in a tie for 8th in the Pac-12. Most of that was due to a dreadful 0-9 road record in conference, which optimists could chalk up to youth. Larry Krystkowiak enters his tenth year at the helm in Salk Lake, and it’s time for results to start to come. Utah has not made an NCAA tournament since 2016, but All-Pac-12 candidate Timmy Allen would like to change that.
Strengths: It’s time for the youth movement to start paying off for Utah. Underclassmen accounted for 89% of their scoring from a season ago. They were already 5th in the Pac-12 in scoring, and there is no reason to believe that wouldn’t continue to increase this season.
They have two good option to start at shooting guard, whether it be Jaxon Brenchley or Alfonso Plummer. Brenchley started when Both Gach went down last season and had a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Alfonso Plummer set the Pac-12 tournament record when he launched 11 three’s. One of them will pair with the consistent sophomore, Rylan Jones.
Everything runs through Timmy Allen offensively, who removed his name from the draft in July. Allen is a certified bucket-getter, scoring more than 20 points on ten different occasions a year ago. Branden Carlson recorded 43 blocks in his freshman campaign and has the scoring capability to put up double digits every game. Ian Martinez, a touted California recruit, could be a key reserve.
Weaknesses: The only starter not returning is Both Gach (10.7 ppg) who opted to transfer to Minnesota this season. Gach provided some defensive tenacity on a team that was 201st nationally in scoring defense. The Utes need to find a defensive stopper. They also need more consistent play from some of their pieces.
Riley Battin, for example, seemed to disappear at times during the year. In the last seven regular-season games, he only averaged right at 2.1 ppg. The pieces around Timmy Allen are now older, so there is little excuse for spotty production this time around.
The Call: Although Utah is still quite young, they need to take advantage of what is most likely Timmy Allen’s last year in Salt Lake (unless he’s drafted by the Jazz). Rylan Jones will likely make a bigger name for himself, and Allen will be in first-team Pac-12 talks. Alfonso Plummer will make his last year his best one. The Utes defense will be the thing holding them from breaking into the top 5 in the conference and will find themselves squarely on the bubble.