Utah Utes men's basketball

Infobox CBB Team
name = Utah Runnin' Utes

logo_size = 150px
university = University of Utah
conference = Mountain West Conference
conference_short = MWC
division =
city = Salt Lake City
stateabb = UT
state = Utah
coach = Jim Boylen
tenure = 1
arena = Jon M. Huntsman Center
capacity = 15,000
nickname = Utes
color1 = Crimson
color2 = White
hex1 = CC0000
hex2 = FFFFFF
NCAAchampion = 1944
NCAAfinalfour = 1944, 1961, 1966, 1998
NCAAeliteeight = 1956, 1997
NCAAsweetsixteen = 1955, 1959, 1960, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1996, 2005
conference_tournament = 1995, 1997, 1999, 2004
conference_season = 1910, 1913, 1916, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1945, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005
National_Invitational_Tournament_(NIT)_Champions = 1947The University of Utah Utes have consistently been one of the most successful basketball programs in the NCAA. They are currently an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Mountain West Conference. The school has made the NCAA Tournament 26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 2nd behind UCLA in the Western United States. They last made the tournament in 2005, when they advanced to the Sweet 16. Utah won the NCAA Championship in 1944, defeating Dartmouth College 42-40, it is the school's only basketball championship. They have also won the NIT once, defeating Kentucky in 1947.

History

Utah is currently the 10th winningest program in NCAA history. They began play in 1908, finishing with a record of 3-8, however, by 1916, they won their first national championship, winning the National AAU Tournament. The team would compete in the tournament two other times, in 1918 and 1919. But it wasn't until 1927 that Utah really began laying the foundation for what would become one of the winningest programs in college basketball.

That began with the hiring of Vadal Peterson, who would become the winningest coach in Utah basketball history. Peterson would guide Utah to 6 conference and state championships and reached the ultimate prize in 1944, when the Utes won the national championship. Oddly enough, Utah had turned down a bid to the NCAA Tournament because they wanted to play in the NIT. Back then, the NIT was a far more prestigious tournament and typically drew the big time college basketball programs. However, after being bounced in the first round by Kentucky, Utah was given a second chance to play in the NCAA Tournament after an accident injured the University of Arkansas team. The Utes accepted and went on to defeat Dartmouth 42-40. The legendary Arnie Ferrin was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after scoring 28 points in the final two games. Three years later, Peterson would lead Utah to the more prestigious NIT championship, as they defeated, ironically enough, Kentucky 49-45. Peterson would retire from Utah with a 385-230 (.626) record and is the only coach in Utah history to have won a national championship.

After Peterson retired, Utah basketball was known as one of the strongest in the west. That tradition helped convince Kansas State head coach Jack Gardner to accept the job. Gardner had led the Wildcats to two Final Fours prior to accepting the job and during his 18 years at Utah, he built a legacy that many today feel is the strongest in Utah history.

The Gardner Era

Jack Gardner was known for his quick offenses, which is where Utah got its name as the Runnin' Redskins (later changed to the Utes). Because of his radical offensive sets, the Utes were widely regarded as the team that helped usher in a new era of college basketball. By his second season, Gardner had the Utes in their first NCAA Tournament since the 1945 season and the Utes dominated their way to a conference championship. Finishing the year 24-4, Utah reached #7 in the rankings, but was eliminated in the second round.

In Gardner's third season he once again guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth. That year the Utes climbed to 11th in the polls and made it to the Elite Eight, before bowing out to eventual champion San Francisco, who was led by future NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell. The Utes kept their postseason streak alive for Gardner's fourth and fifth seasons, making the NIT, however, they lost in the first round both years. In 1959, Utah again returned to the NCAA Tournament, before losing to Idaho State in the second round. The Utes would make the NCAA Tournament again in 1960, and like in '59, were defeated in the second round, this time by USC.

1961 Final Four

After getting eliminated in the second round in consecutive years, Jack Gardner and Utah finally made a run at the national championship. That year the Utes finished 23-8 and 12-2 in conference play. They were ranked 11th in the nation and faced Loyola-California in the first round. The Utes easily won 91-75 and advanced to the Elite Eight, where they defeated Arizona State 88-80, to make the school's first Final Four in 17 years. There they would face the eventual national champions Cincinnati Bearcats, losing 82-67. Though the season had ended short of the national championship, Utah had returned to the national stage and would prove to be a worthy national foe for years to come.

Western Movement and a return to the Final Four

A season after the 1961 Final Four ushered in great change for Utah athletics. The Utes, along with the Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico, and Wyoming decided to form the Western Athletic Conference. The highly competitive conference made it far more difficult for the Utes to win, as Gardner struggled in the first three years of the conference's formation. During that span the Utes would go 12-14, 19-9 and 17-9. However, by 1966 Utah was once again ready to make a national splash, after cruising to a conference championship and the program's first tournament berth since the 1961 season.

Utah received a first round bye and faced Pacific in the semifinals. After a relatively easy 83-74 victory over the Tigers, Utah advanced to the Elite Eight where they would face the Oregon State Beavers. In a highly competitive game, the Utes came out on top, defeating the Beavers 70-64 to advance once again to the Final Four. This was a historical advancement for Jack Gardner, because it made him the first, and only, coach to guide two different teams to two Final Fours. But it was the cultural significance of this Final Four that would have far reaching historical impact and change the game of college basketball forever.

After getting by the Beavers, Utah faced Texas Western in the Final Four, the winner would go on to play Kentucky for the national championship. Though the game was tight, Utah wore down at the end and the Miners edged the Utes 85-78 to advance to the national championship game. There Texas Western, under the leadership of the legendary Don Haskins, started five black players for the first time in NCAA Championship history. Texas Western would go on to defeat Kentucky, led by Adolph Rupp, to claim the 1966 national title. Though Utah lost to the Miners in the Final Four, Jerry Chambers was named the Most Outstanding Player, joining Arnie Ferrin as the only Ute to win the award.

After the Utes trip to the Final Four, the program would gradually regress in Gardner's final years. Though they posted winning seasons every year, they failed to make the NCAA Tournament and only appeared in two NIT tournaments. After the 1971 season, Gardner decided to retire, ending his career at Utah with a 339-154 record. He's the only coach to lead the Utes to two Final Fours and his legacy lives on, as Gardner was integral in getting the athletic department to build the Huntsman Center, the current home to the men's basketball team.

The Revival of Utah basketball

Though the program had proven to be strong under Gardner, the team had struggled during the final years of his coaching career. After his retirement, Utah was faced with the daunting task of not only replacing a legend, but finding a coach who was capable of bringing Utah back to elite status.

The Utes looked to New Jersey, Rutgers to be exact, and found a successful unknown coach who had guided the Rutgers basketball team to some of their most successful seasons ever. Bill Foster, in the early part of 1971, was named the head coach of the Runnin' Utes. And though his stay with Utah wasn't long, he was essential to Utah's rebuilding plans. Though Foster got off to a slow start at Utah, going 13-12 and 8-19, his third and final season would prove to be a glimpse into Utah's successful future. He guided the team to a 22-8 season and an NIT berth. In the first round, Utah would face Foster's former team, Rutgers, however, they proved to be no match for the Utes as they easily dispatched of them 102-89. In the second round Utah blew out Memphis State 92-78 and then dominated Boston College 117-93 to advance to the title game. There they faced Purdue and though Utah kept it close, the Boilermakers prevailed, winning 87-81. Even with the loss, Utah basketball was showing signs of returning to its past glory, but it would have to do it under another coach, as Bill Foster quickly left Utah to rebuild Duke.

Pimmed for Success

Utah didn't have to go far for their next head coach, as they promoted Foster's assistant Jerry Pimm. The hire would prove to a good one, as he would continue what Foster had started. In Pimm's second season he guided the Utes to a conference championship and the NCAA Sweet 16, where they narrowly lost to UNLV. In his third year at Utah, he once again guided the Utes to the Sweet 16, however, again coming up short, losing a tough one to Notre Dame. Pimm would take Utah to its third NCAA Tournament in a row, but unlike the past two years, the Utes were upset in the first round by Pepperdine. After a year of not making the NCAA Tournament, the Utes returned, crushing Northeastern 94-69, before barely losing to North Carolina 56-61. The Tar Heels would go on to the national championship, before losing to Indiana.

Though Pimm had been a successful coach at Utah, his relationship was strained with the athletic department and his final season with the Utes occurred in the 1983 campaign. Like he had in years before, Pimm would lead the Utes to the NCAA Tournament and yet another Sweet 16 appearance, after Utah knocked off 7th seeded Illinois and then stunned 2nd seed UCLA in the second round. Yet, like in years past, the Utes failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16 and Utah's loss to eventual national champions North Carolina State would be Pimm's last game as Utah's head coach. He left the Utes for UC Santa Barbara. Pimm's record at Utah was 173-86 (.668). He won three conference championships and had four 20+ win seasons.

Struggles Return

Pimm was gone and Utah was once again looking for a head coach. This time they decided to go outside the program and hired Idaho State coach Lynn Archibald. Though his resume was lacking, Archibald easily endeared himself to Utah fans through his kindness and rather clean image. Unfortunately, that never translated to success on the basketball court, as Archibald's teams often underperformed. Though he had mild success with the Utes, like guiding them to the WAC Championship in 1986 and the NCAA Tournament, he could never build on what Foster and Pimm had started. In 6 seasons at Utah, he went 98-86 and though he made three postseason appearances in a row from 1986 to '88, the program never advanced beyond the first round. The final nail in Archibald's coffin came in the 1989 season, where the Utes went 6-10 in conference play. Archibald was fired from Utah, however, the program would reach new heights in the 1990s under the new leadership of Rick Majerus.

The Majerus Era

With Archibald gone, a fire that upset many fans, Utah looked to the Midwest for their next coach. And though he was fairly unknown, Majerus had just finished possibly the best season in Ball State history, leading the Cardinals to a 29-3 record and a second round appearance in the NCAA tournament. Rick Majerus was named the 12th head coach of the University of Utah in April 1989. During his run with Utah, he would guide them through the most successful period in the program's history, but it was a run that got off to a slow start.

Shortly after his first season with Utah began, Majerus had to step down because of medical reasons. He faced heart surgery and would not be able to lead the Utes for the rest of the year. The team was taken over by his assistant Joe Cravens and they limped to a 7-9 conference record. However, when Majerus returned for the next season, he was healthy and so was Utah's basketball program.

In his first full year as head coach, Majerus guided the Utes to a conference championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Though Utah was crushed by eventual national champ UNLV, the success Majerus had in his first full season with the Utes proved Utah basketball was once again returning to its rightful place as one of the strongest programs in the west.

During this time, a little quirk in the NCAA seeding had Utah facing Kentucky nearly every time they made the tournament. In 1993 the Utes were crushed by the Wildcats 83-62 in the second round. In 1996 the two met in the Sweet 16 with Kentucky defeating Utah 101-70. In 1997 the two would meet in the Elite Eight, with Kentucky winning 72-59, though that game was far more competitive than the final score indicated. The biggest meeting between the two would take place a year later, on the biggest stage and in the biggest game in Utah basketball history.

The Drive For a Championship

The 1998 season kicked off with many predicting the Utes would take a step back. Utah had lost one of its best players in school history, as Keith Van Horn graduated. Yet led by Andre Miller and Michael Doleac, the Utes would begin an improbable run that would guide the program to its first national championship game in 54 years.

The Utes had dominated their way to a WAC championship and a top-5 ranking to end the 1998 regular season. They were given a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and faced San Francisco in the first round. Unlike the last time these two teams met in the NCAA Tournament, Utah cruised to an 85-68 victory. In the second round they met a scrappy Arkansas club looking to pull the upset, and though the game was close, Utah pulled out a 75-69 victory to advance to the school's third straight Sweet 16. There they faced their toughest test of the tournament up to that point, and key free throws down the stretch sealed a 65-62 Utah victory over West Virginia, giving the Utes a second straight trip to the Elite Eight.

Reaching the Elite Eight for the second time in a row was a feat in and of itself. However, most felt Utah's run would end, as they were facing #1 seed Arizona, the defending national champions. Yet, using the Triangle-and-Two defense, Utah stunned Arizona 76-51. The game, one of the worst losses in Wildcat history, pushed Utah to their first Final Four in 32 years and turned heads across the nation. The Wildcats had no answer for Utah's defense, while Utah exploited every weakness Arizona had. It was one of the most stunning upsets in recent history, but it didn't end there.

Though Utah badly beat Arizona, the thought of them knocking off the #1 seed was unimaginable. North Carolina came in with the best record, the most talent and the odds to win it all. Yet Utah, much like they did against Arizona, jumped out to a large lead and barely held on for the 65-59 win. Though it wasn't as pretty as the win over Arizona, it was just as nice and it advanced Utah to the championship game, where they would face no other than Kentucky.

Heading into the national championship, Utah was looking to become the first non-Power Conference team to win the championship since UNLV won it in 1990. Like in the Elite Eight and Final Four, Utah jumped out to a large lead, going into the half up 10. However, they couldn't hold on and Kentucky fought back and using their depth and talent, they took over the game in the final minutes and cruised to a 78-69 victory. Once again the Utes season was ended at the hands of Kentucky. This time though, it was a loss that cost Utah a national championship.

Even with the loss, Utah had done something that hasn't been accomplished since — advance to the national championship game without being a member of a Power Conference. Utah's historical run in 1998 has gone down as the greatest season in Utah basketball history, and cemented the Utes standing on the national stage in the 1990s — where they were one of the nation's winningest programs.

Rick Majerus career would come to an end only a few years after that remarkable run. After guiding Utah to 3 more conference championships and 3 NCAA Tournament berths — and another loss to Kentucky (the 2003 NCAA second round) Majerus retired from Utah, citing health concerns. He left the Utes with a 323-95 record, including 4 Sweet 16s, 2 Elite Eights and 1 Final Four.

Post-Majerus Struggles

After Kerry Rupp finished out the remainder of Rick Majerus' season, Utah had to look for a coach for the first time in 15 years. After being turned down by Nevada head coach Trent Johnson, the Utes settled on Eastern Washington head coach Ray Giacoletti. An unknown from the Northwest, many fans were left wondering whether the hire would prove to be successful or not. And at first, it appeared it would be, as in his first season with the Utes, Giacoletti led them to a 29-6 record, a dominant 13-1 conference finish and a Sweet 16 appearance, the school's first since the amazing run in 1998. And, like in 1998, Utah would lose to their tournament nemesis, Kentucky. Utah finished the season ranked 14th in the nation; Andrew Bogut won the Naismith and Wooden Awards and was taken number 1 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. Yet that success ultimately did Giacoletti in, as the Utes lost too much from that season and failed to finish with an above .500 record in consecutive years for the first time since the 1983-'84 and 1984-'85 seasons.

On March 3 2007, Giacoletti resigned as Utah's head coach. The resignation came a day before Utah was to play rival BYU, a game they were blown out in. Giacoletti finished his career at Utah with an 80-54 loss to UNLV in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Giacoletti was 54-40 at Utah, with one conference championship and a 2-1 NCAA Tournament record.

The Boylen Era

On March 26th, 2007 it was announced that Jim Boylen would succeed Ray Giacoletti. Boylen, an assistant under Tom Izzo, comes to Utah after spending over 20 years as an assistant at the collegiate and pro level. His 13 years in the NBA as an assistant with the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks may prove to be an asset for a Utah program known for getting successful players into the NBA.

Jim Boylen went 18-15 in his first year at Utah, guiding the Utes to their first postseason tournament in 3 years, as they made the inaugural College Basketball Invitational, where they advanced to the second round before losing to the Tulsa Hurricanes.

Head Coaches