Utah Utes basketball, swimming notes

The University of Utah men's basketball team will hold an open scrimmage Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Huntsman Center. Admission to the inaugural JimmyBall Scrimmage will be free of charge as Ute fans catch a sneak peak of the 2008-09 Runnin' Utes.

"We will use this scrimmage to both evaluate our team after six days of practice and give an early showcase of the squad to our loyal fans," said Utah head coach Jim Boylen. "We felt that with four seniors and five freshmen, the best way to utilize our practice time was this scrimmage. It also gives our fans an up close and personal look at our returning players, the new guys we have added and the direction our program is headed.

"We are trying to make everything as fan-friendly as possible, from opening our doors for this free public scrimmage to all of our new ticket packages, game atmosphere and terrific non-conference schedule," Boylen added.

The format for the scrimmage will be two 15-minute halves with a running clock and a five-minute halftime. Utah's head women's basketball coach Elaine Elliot will address the crowd to lead off the event, followed by the introduction of the men's team as Utah fans meet their 2008-09 Runnin' Utes for the first time. The scrimmage will also feature Rick Bouillon, the new public address announcer for the upcoming season.

SWIMMING AND DIVING: University of Utah freshman Whitney Lopus and senior Anna Braszkiewicz earned the first Mountain West Conference women's swimmer and diver of the week for the 2008-2009 season and Michael Glasson was named the MWC men's diver of the week.

Glasson, a junior from Price, earned the award for the first time in his collegiate career for his performance against the University of Washington on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. He finished first in the 1-meter springboard with a score of 125.75 and first in the 3-meter, scoring 200.

Lopus has won nine events this season, including the 200 freestyle (1:50.68), 100 butterfly (55.52), 400 free relay (3:26.25) and 200 medley relay (1:46.91) in Utah's first meet against then-No. 24 Washington and Boise State. Braszkiwiecz started the 2008-09 season undefeated on the 3-meter springboard.