Utah basketball taking exhibition lessons into season opener
Oct 28, 2026, 4:55 PM
Utah basketball celebrating a basket vs Oregon. Photo courtesy by Utah Athletics.
SALT LAKE CITY — Three exhibition games gave Alex Jensen a glimpse of what Utah basketball can become in his second season, along with a clear picture of what needs to improve before the season opener.
An exhibition win over Oregon provided encouragement, but Jensen sees substantial room for growth in Utah’s rebounding, passing and lineup combinations as a new roster learns to play together.
“I think we could be really good,” Jensen said during Wednesday’s media availability.
The Utes now have 120 minutes of film against three different opponents to help guide that process. Jensen, Taison Chatman and Jaxon Johnson discussed those lessons and the next steps during Wednesday’s availability.
Rebounding leads the list of improvements
Utah showed promise in its three exhibitions, but Jaxon Johnson knows the Utes need to be more consistent.
“Through the three games, I think we showed flashes of the team we can be, and we also showed flashes of the team that we shouldn’t be,” Johnson said.
Rebounding is one of the biggest areas Alex Jensen wants to improve.
“I think we could be a really good rebounding team. We’re not,” Jensen said.
The positive is that Utah collected 45 offensive rebounds and 42 second-chance points across the three exhibitions. However, Utah secured 65.4% of available defensive rebounds, allowing opponents to collect 44 offensive boards.
Taison Chatman agreed. He pointed to shooting and ball movement as strengths, but said Utah needs to improve its defense, rebounding and hustle plays.
Getting healthier inside could help. Jensen said Babacar Faye has been cleared to play after a year without game action. He will still need time with his teammates after being away over the summer. Fynn Schott is recovering from surgery, and his return date is still uncertain. Jensen expects to have a clearer timeline in the next week or two.
Jensen believes Schott’s size and strength can help Utah rebound better and take pressure off the players around him.
Jensen also wants better passing. He said coaching and more time playing together should help the Utes improve in that area.
Depth, experience gives Jensen options
Jensen believes Utah’s older roster has room to grow as the season progresses. He’s still sorting out which lineups work best and how much each player can handle. Having players who can fill several positions gives Utah options, but they need time to learn their roles before taking on more.
That adjustment is especially important for Utah’s European newcomers, who are getting used to different spacing, traffic around the basket and rebounding demands. Experience should help, but getting comfortable together takes practice and games.
Utah’s depth also requires patience. Playing time will change, and some players may have to wait several games for an opportunity. Jensen needs them ready when that chance comes.
Taison Chatman wants to stay aggressive
Taison Chatman left the exhibitions with both a confidence boost and a clear personal objective.
His game-tying 3-pointer against Oregon helped Utah secure an exhibition victory and provided momentum heading toward the season. He wants to build on that moment by becoming more assertive on both ends.
“Not letting the game come to me, kind of just going in and taking it,” Chatman said.
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Offensively, that means continuing to read the defense, recognizing extra attention and knowing when to move the ball to a teammate. He also identified rebounding as an area where he can contribute more.
Chatman scored 9, 11, and 12 points across the three exhibition games. He finished 6-of-21 from 3-point range, obviously an area he must and wants to improve. But finished 5-of-8 from inside the arc, and added six assists as well.
Chatman spoke confidently about his decision to come to Utah, praising the coaching staff’s experience and the teammates around him.
“I just feel like I made the right decision this year,” he said. “I know I need to be more aggressive and assertive, just doing the little things.”
Jaxon Johnson finding his rhythm
Jaxon Johnson’s exhibitions provided reassurance as he works his way back into playing rhythm. He said his legs are getting underneath him and he feels increasingly comfortable competing at the college level.
The physicality and speed have been adjustments, but his offensive role has brought clarity. Johnson said he is comfortable providing perimeter shooting as a stretch forward, with coaches encouraging him to shoot when he is open.
His strongest endorsement of the team, however, concerned what happens after practice.
Johnson described players remaining in the locker room for an hour or more, talking and joking, then spending more time together away from basketball. He believes those relationships can build the trust needed to make the extra pass when a teammate is open.
“We are really best friends,” Johnson said. “We love being around each other, and we love hanging out outside of basketball.”
For Johnson, who grew up following Utah, the larger ambition is helping restore the connection between the program and its fans. Filling the Huntsman Center again is part of that vision, but he understands what has to happen first.
“We’ve got to come out, we’ve got to compete, and we’ve got to prove everyone wrong,” Johnson said.
For Utah, the season opener is the next opportunity to put those expectations into practice. The exhibitions offered encouraging stretches; the task now is producing them more consistently.
