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Tuesday, July 31
Team preview: Utah Utes



Returning Leaders
Points: Bradley 10.6 ppg
Rebounds: Burgess 5.9 rpg
Assists: Spivey 3.6 apg
FG %: Burgess 54.3%
3pt %: Johnsen 42.6%
FT %: Johnsen 75.6%

00-01 Stats:
Utah | MWC

The lowdown
2000-01 record: 19-12; 10-4 in MWC (t1st)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: Lost to Memphis 71-62 in first round of NIT.

Three Questions for 2001-02
1. Will Britton Johnsen return to his pre-Missionary potential? Can he live up to his McDonald's All-American style of play and have a breakthrough college season?

2. How healthy will Chris Burgess be? Will his back and ankle hold up and can he return to being an offensive force on the backboard like he was at times for Duke?

3. Can Travis Spivey handle being the primary point guard? Will he make Nick Jacobson a better shooter by setting him up well? Will Martin Osimani be a contributor? Utah is expecting him to be but it's hard for new players in Rick Majerus' system.

Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Utes return to their late 1990's form, click on all cylinders, Majerus is on board throughout the season, they win the MWC and win a few games in the tournament.

Worst case: They can't close out in close games again, inside scoring suffers and they fail to win the MWC, lose out on the NCAAs and end up in the NIT.

Key Players Returning
Player Yr. Pos. Ht./Wt. Comment
Kevin Bradley Sr. G 6-0/170 PTS: 10.6 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 2.3
Britton Johnsen Jr. F 6-9/205 PTS: 9.2 | REB: 5.4 | AST: 1.5
Chris Burgess Sr. C 6-10/245 PTS: 7.8 | REB: 5.9 | AST: 0.9

Key Losses
Player Pos. Ht./Wt. Comment
Nate Althoff C 6-11/240 PTS: 8.2 | REB: 3.2 | AST: 0.2

Utah Signings
Player Pos. Ht. High School/College
Chris Jackson C 7-0 Los Alamos, N.M.
Martin Osimani G 6-3 Hialeah, Fla./Champagnat Catholic
Eric Osmundson G 6-4 San Diego, Calif./St. Augustine
Cameron Goettsche F 6-8 Highlands Ranch, Colo./ThunderRidge
Tim Frost C 6-10 Kallamath Falls, Ore./Portland


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