Welcome in guys, this is the Homestretch Podcast where we talk all things Utah Athletics. I’m your host Max Valva, and we’re diving in headfirst into the very first episode of the season with a big focus on the Utah men’s basketball team. So whether you’re a die-hard Utes fan or just looking for some good sports talk, you’re in the right place. This is the podcast where we break down the action, the moves and the game-changing moments that make Utah sports one of the best in the country. Let’s get into it.

Okay, let’s talk hoops. The 2023-2024 season for the Utah men’s basketball team was anything but boring. In fact, it was pretty insane. This season for the Utes was the first in the Big 12, and let’s be real, there was a lot of unknowns. It’s a new conference, which meant a whole lot of new faces and a whole lot of fresh transfers coming in. Not exactly a recipe for immediate success, right? Well, that’s what we thought.

But hey, the Utes were picked to finish dead last in the Big 12. Yeah, dead last. People really thought we would be an afterthought in this conference. And they were counting us out before the season even tipped off. Well, you know what? This team proved everyone wrong. They finished the season at a respectable 500, 16 and 16, 8 and 12 in the Big 12. But being in a new conference, that’s expected.

Although it wasn’t quite a Cinderella run when you look at it, the amount of turnover on the roster and the insane competition, the Big 12, was a pretty solid show. But let’s be honest, this is a program that expects more. Being the largest university in the state of Utah, we have to show up, we have to do our best to make the fans excited for the season. And that’s something that we just haven’t seen yet. We haven’t made the tournament since 2016, and it’s been a long, long time. It’s been a disappointing run. It’s a program that used to compete, and as a fan of the university, I think I speak for all of us out here to say we want to see more. It’s been a long time since 2016. It’s been years. And settling for 500 isn’t something we should be striving for.

Think back to the ’90s. The Utes were not just a regional power, we were a national powerhouse. Under the late great Rick Majerus, the Utes made deep runs in the tournament every year. Under Majerus, we had three straight 16 appearances, even a title game appearance in ’98. This program wasn’t just competitive, it was elite. And now we’re still trying to get that back. Nine years removed from playing in meaningful postseason basketball. Think about that. We haven’t made the [NCAA] tournament since Kuzma suited up for us. Since Jakob Poeltl. All these guys who have been in the NBA for almost a decade. So where do we go from?

After a disappointing year, the Utes decided to let go of fourth year head coach Craig Smith and bring in alum and Utah legend Alex Jensen. You heard me right, that Alex Jensen. A player who once played under Rick Majerus is now back to be the new head coach of the running Utes, the new captain to bring us back to the tournament.

So what is Jensen’s resume? He’s been an assistant coach in the NBA since 2013. First with the Utah Jazz, most recently with the Dallas Mavericks, helping lead them to the NBA Finals last year. Now obviously there’s been a little bit of turmoil down in Dallas with [the] Luka Doncic trade and Nico Harrison just killing the vibes down there. So … he’s coming back home.

Looking at Jensen, he’s not just an assistant coach. This guy has experienced coaching at the highest level, working alongside some of greatest NBA players. And he’s been a candidate before, and now he’s back at his alma mater. He’s ready to turn around this Utah program. He’s got the knowledge, he’s got the pedigree and he’s got the passion that this Utes team needs.

Not saying Craig Smith didn’t, he was a very passionate guy, but results on the court weren’t there. And the recruiting, that’s the biggest part. Jensen is tapped into the transfer portal already. He’s gonna bring in strong recruits. You best believe that. Trust me, Utes fans. We’re in good hands with Jensen. Now before we wrap up, I wanna give a big shout out to the seniors who played their final games in the Huntsman Center last month.

Gabe Madsen, Mason Madsen, Lawson Lovering, Hunter Erickson, Caleb Lohner and Brandon Haddock. Thank you guys for everything you gave to the program. And I gotta give a big, and I gotta give a special shout out to Gabe. Madsen’s been a huge part of this Utah team for the past four years, something that is becoming more and more rare these days in college basketball.

With the transfer portal being such a big part of today’s, Gabe, shout out to you. So what’s next for Utah Hoops? The future looks bright. You best believe Alex Jensen is going to bring the Utes back to relevance. It might take a couple of seasons, but the foundation is being built. I think it’s going to pay off big time. Keep your eyes open, folks. This team is coming back, or coming back strong.

That’s it for today’s episode of the Home Stretch Pod. I appreciate you tuning in for the ride. Make sure you follow the channel and leave a review if you’re feeling generous. Share the pod with your fellow Utes fans. We’ve got a lot more coming your way, so stay tuned as we dive deeper into Utah sports all year long. Til next time, this is Max Valva. You’ve listened to the Home Stretch Podcast, brought to you by the Daily Utah Chronicle.