The public got a taste of the 2001-02 edition of the Utah men?s basketball team at the Huntsman Center Monday night?at least a good portion of it.
The annual Night with the Runnin? Utes featured a 3 point shootout, a dunk contest, a team scrimmage and crowd-involved relays. However, it did largely lack four returning seniors, three of them starters. Starters Phil Cullen and Chris Burgess, as well as top reserve Jeff Johnsen, were not present for Monday?s festivities due to night classes. Another starter, Travis Spivey, finished class early and got to attend part of the scrimmage session.
Particularly impressive Monday night was the play of sophomore Nick Jacobson. Last year?s MWC Freshman of the Year did well with the catch and shoot. Jacobson was also solid on the defensive end, which he has worked on in the offseason.
On display were three freshman Ute recruits ranked in the top 100 in the nation. Martin Osimani, a 6-foot-3 guard from Uruguay, played high school ball in Florida. Center Chris Jackson, the 2000-01 Gatorade New Mexico Player of the Year, liked the big-man focus of the Utes’ program. Eric Osmundson, a 6 foot-3 guard, came to Utah from California?s St. Augustine High School because he thought highly of head coach Rick Majerus.
Freshman Cameron Goettsche rounded out the first-year players. Goettsche, a 6-foot-7 forward from Colorado, placed second to junior Britton Johnsen in the dunk contest.
But the most impressive newcomer Monday night was Portland transfer Tim Frost. However, the 6-foot-10 Frost will have to save his soft touch for next year, as the night?s 3 point shootout winner will sit out due to NCAA transfer rules.
?It will be a rough year because I can?t play in any games,? said last year?s All West Coast Conference selection. ?I just came to play for a better program, this is one of the best programs in the nation.?
Walk-ons Jens Hofer, Paul Moss, Jon Taylor and Mike Walkenhorst fill out the roster.
Coach Rick Majerus pointed out the key factor for a successful year. ?It?ll be interesting to see if we remain injury free,? he said in a preseason press conference. ?A lot of our success and the rate at which we are going to progress is going to depend upon our ability to stay healthy.?
Present but inactive at the showcase was sophomore center/forward Lance Allred. Allred sat out the evening?s events due to a torn disc in his lower back, but he is expected to be back for the season opener.
The Utes will get a chance to play someone other than themselves once the exhibition season begins Nov. 1. Utah will play an EA Sports-sponsored team at the Huntsman Center to begin the 2001-02 season. Their second exhibition game, Nov. 7 against a London team, will be followed by the regular season-opener, a Nov. 16 home date with St. Francis (Ill.).