How Utah Basketball’s Rotation Looks Without Both Gach Ahead Of 2020-21 Season
May 21, 2020, 12:17 PM
Utah Utes guard Alfonso Plummer (25) shoots a three pointer during the first round game of the men's Pac-12 Tournament between the Oregon State Beavers and the Utah Utes on March 11, 2020, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Runnin’ Utes will go into the 2020-21 season without one of their key starters. So, who will replace Both Gach?
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Gach entered the transfer portal earlier this week after he told Stadium’s Jeff Goodman last week that he was going to transfer from Utah if he pulled his name from the NBA Draft.
He is the second Utah player this off-season that has entered the transfer portal with the first player including center Matt Van Komen who transferred to St. Mary’s.
The Utah guard finished his sophomore season in 2019-20 averaging 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Now that Gach will not be with the Utes this season, here are the players who are expected to step up to fill the void.
Returning Backcourt Players
Gach played both the point guard and shooting guard positions for Utah. He primarily played the shooting guard position but would fill in at point for Rylan Jones when he was injured or on the bench.
Two players on the roster right now will provide the immediate help for the Utes. The first player is Alfonso Plummer who emerged as a serious offensive threat at the end of the season. In Utah’s Pac-12 Tournament game against Oregon State, Plummer made a conference record 11 three-pointers. He arrived on the scene late in the season after head coach Larry Krystkowiak realized that Plummer was not a practice player but would play well when the lights went on.
.@AlfonsoPlummer9 has tied his career-high with 23pts in the 1st half…🔥🔥🔥#GoUtes🏀🔴 #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/PHRWMtunDL
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 11, 2020
Plummer started the last two games for the Utes while averaging 8.4 points per game throughout the season. In the final three games, Plummer scored 23, 21 and 35 points respectively.
The second player that will fill in immediately for Gach is incoming sophomore guard Jaxon Brenchley who played in 30 of Utah’s 31 games as a true freshman last season. Brenchley started in all of the games that Gach could not play in when he was injured towards the end of the season. The Providence, Utah native has shown signs of brilliance on both sides of the ball. He averaged 4.2 points per game last season but with his first year under his belt, it will only get better from here.
Two Incoming Freshmen
Utah’s backcourt-heavy 2020 signing class will have two players that could come in immediately and contribute. Scoring guard Ian Martinez was a four-star prospect when he was being recruited out of high school. Martinez is ranked the 60th recruit in the nation according to 247 Sports. His ability to score and create his own shot will really help Utah’s offense and will make a great one-two punch with Plummer.
REMEMBER THE NAME!!! 🎯ALFONSO PLUMMER!🎯
📺@Pac12Network#GoUtes🏀🔴 #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/8FiH4kYKyf
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 11, 2020
Swedish combo guard Pelle Larsson is a 6’5 guard who can play both point guard and shooting guard. With Jones in need of a backup at the point, the perfect spot for Larsson will be the backup point guard.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
