Larry Krystkowiak Attends Utah Basketball’s Regular Season Finale
Mar 5, 2022, 9:51 PM
Utah Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak talks with reporters during media day in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – It’s been nearly one year since Utah basketball fired head coach Larry Krystkowiak after 10 seasons at the helm.
Utah basketball was playing their final regular season game at the Huntsman Center in Craig Smith’s first season as head coach and Larry Krystkowiak was seen in attendance.
Krystkowiak was spotted near courtside with former Athletic Director Dr. Chris Hill.
I know it’s hard to tell from the back of his head but Larry Krystkowiak is in the house. #GoUtes @kslsports pic.twitter.com/IBw3TBMzxJ
— Trevor Allen (@TrevorASports) March 6, 2022
Krystkowiak was there to support players that played for him during his time as head coach. Utah honored Riley Battin on Senior Night, who was recruited by Krystkowiak and spent three seasons playing for him.
Krystkowiak took over the Utah basketball program in 2011, their first season in the Pac-12. He was tasked with making the difficult transition from the Mountain West to the Pac-12, which had its bumps along the way.
In his first season at the helm, Utah went 6-25 overall and 3-15 in conference play. They improved the next season by nine wins in 2012-13. Then they won 21 games in 2013-14, while reaching the NIT.
Led by Delon Wright and Jakob Poeltl, Utah had one of their best seasons in Krystkowiak’s tenure when they posted a 26-9 record and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Duke.
The following season with Poeltl and Kyle Kuzma, Utah reached the second round of the Big Dance before losing to Gonzaga. The Runnin’ Utes reached the NIT the next two seasons, including an appearance in the championship game but lost to Penn State. Since that runner-up season, Utah has not played in the postseason.
Utah basketball suffered an 84-71 loss to Colorado to wrap up their regular season on Senior Night.
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.
