1998 Runnin’ Utes Team Makes ‘Legendary’ Bracket Created By Action Network
Mar 1, 2022, 11:18 AM | Updated: 11:25 am
2 Dec 1998: Coach Rick Majerus of Utah talking to Andre Miller #24 in the huddle during the Great Eight Classic Game against Rhode Island at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Rhode Island defeated Utah 70-63. Credit: Jonathan Daniel / Allsport / Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY – The 1998 Utah Runnin’ Utes basketball team made the cut for the “legendary” bracket that was posted by an Action Network talent.
Michael Calabrese of Action Network put the 1998 National Runner-Up team in his well-thought-out legendary bracket as March arrives.
The bracket has a lot of thought put into and will be fun to follow the results throughout.
With March just hours away, I wanted to share a passion project of mine that I've been working on for about six months.
The goal of this project is to determine the college basketball team that is truly the G.O.A.T.
Welcome to Legendary Madness
*THREAD* pic.twitter.com/GGDdzWFMfz
— Michael Calabrese (@EastBreese) February 28, 2022
1998 Runnin’ Utes Matchup In Legendary Bracket
The 1998 Runnin’ Utes went all the way to the National Championship game and lost to Kentucky. They had four players that went on to have stints in the NBA, including Michael Doleac, Andre Miller, Hanno Mottola and Britton Johnsen. Alex Jensen was also a critical part of that team.
They played the 1988 Oklahoma Sooners in the legendary bracket. That team lost in the National Championship game as well. Four players from that team went on to play in the NBA, including Stacey King, Harvey Grant, Mookie Blaylock and Ricky Grace.
Oklahoma is the No. 5 seed with Utah at No. 12 in the legendary bracket.
The Thought Behind The Legendary Bracket
According to the thread posted in Calabrese’s bracket release, he went into further detail about how the bracket works and everything you need to know. Eligible teams were selected from 1980 to now. He simulated the games by using College Hoops 2K8. The players’ height, weight, and attributes were adjusted to reflect their on-court likeness.
Calabrese used a scale that valued each player’s statistical accomplishments and accolades, including points per game, etc. and All-Conference, All-American, etc. That was how he determined the ratings for each player.
Even more impressive was that Calabrese adjusted the team settings to properly reflect the team’s preferred pace, substitution patterns, set plays and shot selection preferences. The higher seeds will benefit from officiating from back in their day.
Calabrese capped the bracket to one team per school. The teams were selected based off consulting a combination of sports reference SRS data, all-time lists, overall roster quality and conversations with journalists that cover prominent programs.
Cinderella teams were put into the bracket, which makes it more fun and not just the best 68 teams since 1980.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
