Fans Get A First Look At Utah Men’s Basketball 2024-25 Squad In Free Exhibition Game
Oct 29, 2024, 10:57 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 27: Gabe Madsen #55 of the Utah Utes is congratulated by teammates Jake Wahlin #10, Luka Tarlac #21, and Jerry Huang #45 after sinking a three pointer against the VCU Rams during the second half of the quarterfinals of the NIT Mens Basketball Tournament at the Jon M Huntsman Center on March 27, 2024 in Salt Lake City Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah men’s basketball is set to host an exhibition game against the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves. This will be an opportunity for fans to get their first look at the 2024-25 squad.
The exhibition will tip at 7:00 p.m. inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center. It is free for fans to attend and will feature a post-game autograph session.
IT'S FINALLY 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬‼️
🆚 @CSUPuebloMBB
🏟️ @HuntsmanCenter
🕰️ 7pm (MT)
📊 https://t.co/bhP4LXsyj3
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION
🌭 $2 Hot Dogs
🖊️ Postgame Autographs#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/TAlQSX6VBX— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) October 29, 2024
RELATED: Utah Basketball 2024-25 Schedule Complete With Big 12 Dates
A first look at the new Utah basketball roster
Craig Smith’s 2024-25 roster features nine new players and a nearly complete new look going into the Big 12. There are nine new players and six new staff members, which means Utah basketball is going to look quite different than it has over the past three seasons.
Those returners include Gabe Madsen, Lawson Lovering Hunter Erickson, Jake Wahlin, and Jayden Teat. There are seven transfers including Miro Little, Ezra Ausar, Brady Smith, Keanu Dawes, Mike Sharavjamts, Zach Keller, and Mason Madsen. Lastly, there were two freshmen additions Joul Karram and Ibi Traore.
For the first time under Smith, Utah has a full complement of scholarship players. There are new skills and dynamics to mesh together. Smith likes the potential of the group and the different things they’ll be able to do.
“I like our depth. I think this is the deepest team we’ve had,” Smith stated. “No question this is the most versatile team we’ve had. We can play a lot of different ways. It’ll be different without Branden (Carlson), an all-league three years. But we adapt and adjust and I’m excited about this team.”
It’s about earning respect for Craig Smith, Utah basketball
Smith has an entirely new coaching staff around him, while he’s also coaching a near-entirely new roster as well. With all of the changes, Utah was picked last in the preseason polls, and Smith knows they have to earn it in their new conference.
“Obviously, we’re not picked where you want to be picked but there’s nowhere to go but up,” Smith stated. “We’ve got to go earn respect, that’s the bottom line is you’ve got to earn respect and make that happen. There’s a lot of work to be done but we’re excited about where we’re going.”
RELATED: After Offseason Of Significant Change, Craig Smith Is Excited For Utah Basketball
Each and every conference game is going to be a significant test. Given his coaching experience, Smith knows that a lot is required of him to get this team where it needs to be.
“Every game that we play, I’ve got to coach that game with everything I’ve got,” he stated. “You’ve got to pour everything you’ve got into your players, you pour everything you’ve got into your staff, you pour everything you’ve got into your athletic department, you pour everything you’ve got into your fan base.”
Utah’s outlook for the 2024-25 season
Entering his fourth year as head coach, Craig Smith has had quite the offseason. Essentially turning over almost the entire program- there are 10 new players, three new assistants, a new general manager, and two other auxiliary staff members, Smith starts anew in 2024-25.
Smith has shown the ability to develop players during his tenure. Some have even maximized their potential under his watch. There are a few guys on this roster who seem capable of producing at higher levels and that will be a significant task for Smith and staff this season.
Taking care of the schedule’s non-conference slate is an absolute must. From there, Utah has to fight for each win in conference play.
Utah Basketball’s full 2024-25 schedule
- November 4th – Home, Alcorn State
- November 7th – Home, Central Arkansas
- November 12th – Home, Queens
- November 17th – Neutral Site, Mississippi State
- November 22nd – Home, Utah Tech
- November 26th – Home, Mississippi Valley State
- November 30th – Home, Eastern Washington
- December 7th – Home, St Mary’s
- December 14th – Home, Radford
- December 17th – Home, Florida A&M
- December 21st – Neutral, Iowa
- December 31st – Road, Baylor
- January 4th – Home, Texas Tech
- January 7th – Road, Iowa State
- January 11th – Home, Oklahoma State
- January 15th – Road, TCU
- January 18th – Home BYU
- January 21st – Road, Houston
- January 25th – Home, Baylor
- January 28th – Home, Cincinnati
- February 1st – Road, Oklahoma State
- February 5th – Home, Colorado
- February 8th – Road, West Virginia
- February 11th – Road, Cincinnati
- February 15th – Home, Kansas
- February 17th – Home, Kansas State
- February 23rd – Road, UCF
- February 26th – Road, Arizona
- March 1st – Home, Arizona State
- March 4th – Home, West Virginia
- March 8th – Road, BYU
RELATED: Utah Basketball 2024-25 Schedule With Tip-off, Network Details
