After being one of the country’s worst power conference teams just four years ago, Utah capped off their rebuild with a Sweet 16 appearance this past March. The question is, can they do it again?
Searching for that answer, we look at the Utes and what they will feature in 2015-2016.
Key Losses: Delon Wright (graduation)
Possible Losses: Jakob Poeltl
Key Returners: Brandon Taylor, Jordan Loveridge, Dakarai Tucker, Brekkot Chapman
Key Newcomers: Majol Mawien (three-star, power forward)
Breakdown: On paper, Utah doesn’t look like a team ready to surrender their spot in the Pac-12’s top three for next season. However, one of the biggest questions anywhere in the college basketball universe next season is how these Utes will respond after losing their do-it-all star in Wright. Wright was the straw that stirred Utah’s drink in every way imaginable, and now, everyone else has to pick up the slack. Certainly, Taylor is capable of taking over the point guard duties with Tucker moving to SG, though his outside shooting would be well served to improve. Loveridge will be the man at SF, and one hopes that he can regain the form we saw his first two seasons. At the two frontcourt spots, Utah will be extremely versatile and deadly…if Poeltl returns. Him and Chapman would serve as mismatches nearly every night they took the floor in the Pac-12. But that’s a big “if”, with Poeltl being graded as an almost sure-fire first-round draft pick in this year’s NBA Draft. If he comes back, Utah is likely a top four team in the conference. If he doesn’t the Utes fall back more in line with the rest of the pack.
