The Runnin’ Utes open up the 2018-2019 season hosting the College of Idaho for an exhibition match-up on Thursday, Nov. 1, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Utes are coming off of a 23-12 campaign last year, which included third place in the Pac-12 Conference and a first-round exit at the hands of the Oregon Ducks at the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.
This will be the first opponent for the Utes this season. However, the Yotes have played a few matches before taking on the Utes.
The Yotes are 2-0 in the season as they defeated New Hope Christian 88-64 and Salish Kootenai 128-94.
The Yotes have five players averaging double digits through their first two games, which include Keun Palu-Thompson, averaging 16 points per game. The Yotes are averaging 108.0 points per game while holding their opponents to just 79.0 points per game. The offense has been there for the Yotes, as they’ve outscored their opponents 216-158 through two games of play. That offensive prowess will be tested as they travel to Salt Lake City to take on a high-scoring Utah offense.
The Utes, however, have not played any games outside of their Red vs. White scrimmage and will need to ready up for a young and upcoming team. The Utes will look to their roster depth after the departure of key scorers Justin Bibbins and David Collette. With most of the players being freshman on the team, there will definitely be an adjustment period to the team’s play with new players in key positions.
Today’s showdown will be just the third match-up between these two teams and history favors the Utes. In the past two match-ups, the Utes defeated the Yotes in 2015 with a score of 115-74, and in 2012, they won 72-38.
It’s essential for the Runnin’ Utes to establish some early momentum, and if they can win, it will set the tone as we near the regular season.
The Utes and Yotes will be set to tip-off at 6 p.m. MST on Thursday, Nov. 1 in the Huntsman Center. This match-up will also be available on the Pac-12 Network.