The Runnin’ Utes start off their season with an exhibition game against Cal State Monterey on Thursday in the Huntsman Center.
Although the Utes have not taken the court since mid-March, they feel as though they never left. After a strong showing in the 2015 NCAA Tournament that ended in the Sweet 16, the team is looking to pick up right where it left off, but with a different mix of guys.
While Thursday’s game may not be on anyone’s top priority list, senior point guard Brandon Taylor realizes it is important for his team to come out strong and cannot wait to get out and play in front on the fans.
“It’s really just not an exhibition game, it’s more our viewpoint towards the season,” Taylor said. “It feels like we never left. Being in that film room, even having a scouting report, it feels like last season never left.”
This game is a stepping stone for the team to really get a feel for where they are, and it will be a lot different from just playing against themselves. Whenever they would practice against one another this offseason, it’s easy for the players to cheat plays on defense, so Taylor thinks it’ll be nice to get back in rhythm and get some exposure.
This exposure is exactly what Utah needs to push past last year’s performance. Forward Jordan Loveridge understands the team was special last year, but feels the same way towards this year’s team.
“We got a whole new group of guys gelling together, so we’re not really worried about last year too much,” Loveridge said. “We’re just worried about what we’re going to do this year. Hopefully we can take some momentum if anything from last year.”
As a senior, Taylor is also hoping to build off some of that momentum from last season, but with a new set of team members, knows it is important for this team to find its own personality.
So far, so good for the Utes.
“This is a new team, but the nucleus is back,” Taylor said. “We got to forget about last year. We have to forget about it and get out of the shadow of last year. We’re all enthusiastic, funny. We just have a lot of character. We’re hard working.”
This will also be Loveridge’s final season as a Ute so he wants to make this season count. He wants to show all the hard work he’s put in over the summer, especially on defense, and is looking forward to that opportunity on Thursday night.
“You can’t come out and make every shot every game, but you can come out and play hard and defend every game,” Loveridge said.
Tip off is at 7:00 p.m. MST in the Huntsman.
@kbrenneisen