15. Utah (8-2)
While he had a magical run at Utah State, Craig Smith hasn’t had the same kind of breakthrough success since sliding over to Utah back in 2021. Honestly, not a lot of great things have happened for the Utes in recent years, though a new era begins in the Big 12 going forward. Considering the Utes were under .500 in last year’s final Pac-12 season, it might take time for them to become a contender in this league.
Despite having low expectations, Utah has still gotten fantastic play out of Gabe Madsen, who’s averaging nearly 20 points per game and hopes to establish himself as a presence in the Big 12. A few notable faces are gone from last season, though former East Carolina forward Ezra Ausar is establishing himself in this frontcourt. The good news is that 7-footer Lawson Lovering is back from injury and has gotten his season off solidly the last few weeks.
With that being said, the Utes haven’t exactly been challenged in nonconference play. Their only game away from home was a loss to Mississippi State back in the middle of November, though they did play decently against a currently-ranked Bulldogs squad. Everything else has come at home, including a loss to Saint Mary’s, while the most notable win is either Radford or Queens; not exactly a pristine list for the resume.
Utah’s offense has been strong, with Ausar, Lovering, and this frontcourt getting the job done inside the arc. This program actually ranks 14th in the nation in points per game, 12th in rebounds, and 40th in 3-point shooting, but you have to wonder about the level of competition. Beating up on Alcorn State and Florida A&M won’t prepare these Utes for the rigors of league play and it’s hard to even know what we can expect moving forward.