Comments about ‘Utah Utes basketball: Three more Runnin' Utes to transfer’

Leaving or booted?

Unfortunately, my guess is leaving. It's dark times up on the hill for basketball. Oh how times have changed the last 8 years. Utah is now a football school.

These departures are quality players as well.

This was expected from Kareem and Jovan. They've still got a couple years of eligibility ahead of them and would have had playing time severely decrease. Surprised and sad to hear about Chris, though. He's stuck through a lot with this team, and could have helped the team a lot next year. Congratulations to him on graduating, and good luck to all three of them wherever they end up.

wow, why even have a bball program?

I wish all of them the best. Out of the three I am surprised to Hines go, I thought he still had a chance to play next year.

I expect to see at least two more go - I think they had to make room for 7 total new players to join the team for next year.

"why even have a bball program?"

jark:

It's not like the U is coming off a 1-win season. Did you ask that question of the y in 1997?

JohnInSLC

"Did you ask that question of the Y in 1997?"

No need to; BYU wasn't in a prolonged downward spiral.

On the other hand, Utah is coming off its 5th losing season in the last 7 years, continuing a downward spiral that has seen Utah finish well below every team in the state in the final Sagarin ratings:

#40 BYU
#124 Utah State
#135 Weber State
#233 Utah Valley
#239 Southern Utah
#294 Utah

Out of 345 Division 1 basketball programs, Utah finished 339th in scoring, 337th in rebounds, 325th in assists, and 304th in FG%.

btw, here's a little comparison of the two seven year periods:

BYU (three losing seasons, three 20+ win seasons, two NCAA tournaments)
1995 22-10
1996 15-13
1997 1-25
1998 9-21
1999 12-16
2000 22-11
2001 24-9, MWC regular and tournament champions; NCAA tournament
Overall 105-105

Utah (five losing seasons, one 20+ win season, one NCAA tournament)
2006 14-15
2007 11-19
2008 18-15
2009 24-10, MWC regular and tournament champions; NCAA tournament
2010 14-17
2011 13-18
2012 6-25
Overall 100-119