Pac 12 Preview: Utah Utes

Last Season:
Utah went 12-19 last season and 4-14 in Pac 12 play. They were really hurt by the loss of Post Taryn Wicijowski who suffered an ACL before the season started. Taryn is now healthy and back for her 6th year, having missed all but 3 games 4 years ago with an ACL.
Average attendance was 886.



The Coaching Staff:
Anthony Levrets returns for his 5th year and with a career record of 69-66 maybe needs a solid season to continue. Levrets was an Assistant at Utah before becoming the Head Coach.

Matt Legerski is the Associate Head Coach and in his 12th season at Utah. He is a Utah Grad.

Velaida Harris is in her 6th year at Utah, one year as Director of Operations and 5 years as an Assistant.

JD Gustin is in his first year as an Assistant having been the Director of Operations. He was Head Coach at NAIA Westminster for 7 seasons.



Losses:
The great Michelle Plouffe has graduated and taking with her 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Of course Plouffe is a huge loss.

Ciera Dunbar started all but 3 games averaging 6 points per game and 2nd on the team in threes.

Ariel Reynolds also graduated but played just 7 minutes per game.




The Schedule:
In Pac 12 play the Utes play Stanford and Cal once each as they do the Oregon schools. So it’s a big break there missing 3 games against maybe the top 3 teams. In non- conference games the highlights are Nebraska and BYU and Ole Miss. Not a tough schedule.



Additions:
Utah has in effect 7 “new” players, 4 truly new to Utah and 3 returning from injuries.

Start with returnee for her final season after missing last season is Taryn Wicijowski who 2 years ago averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds. Taryn has played a number of years with Canadian National Teams.

Paige Crozen is a 6-1 RS Soph Guard who averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds 2 years ago. Paige has twice played for Canadian National Teams.

Valarie Nawahine is a 5-9 Soph guard who transferred from BYU. Valarie’s sister and cousin are both on the Utah team.

Tanaeya Boclair is a 6-0 frosh Forward who averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds for her San Antonio HS team. Boclair was all State for her Diviosn and San Antonio athlete of the year.

Gabrielle Bowie is a 5-9 frosh Guard also from San Antonio and played Travel ball with Boclair. Bowie averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game in HS.

Joeseta Fatuesi is a 6-4 frosh Center from Wilcox HS in Santa Clara. Joeseta averaged 18 points 12 rebounds and 6 assists over her prep career. She is very big and the key will be getting up and down the court.

Jada Matthews is 6-1 Frosh Forward from Long Beach Poly. Starter on last year’s CA Division 1 state champion.



The Team:
Taryn Wicijowski the 6-3 Post averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds a game two years ago, when she was last healthy. I’m told she is healthy which means Utah has a very good Post.

Emily Potter is a 6-5 Soph who can start at Forward and back up at Center. Last season Emily averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds playing Center in place of the then injured Wicijowski. Emily has a very bright future. She has been a member of a Canadian national team.

Danielle Rodriquez is a 5-10 Jr Guard who averaged 8 points and over 4 assists a game as the Starting Point Guard.
Danielle’s assist to turnover ratio was 2:1. She also ran in the California State meet in HS in the 1600.

Cheyanne Wilson is a 5-11 Sr Guard who averaged 7 points per game and led the Utes with 44 threes at 38%. Like Potter and Rodriquez Wilson is a returning starter.

The 5th starter could be a newcomer of one of several others who played quite a bit last season but I’ll project 6-1 RS Soph Paige Crozon here. Paige missed last season with an injury but started 10 games while playing 16 minutes a game as a Frosh. She averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds. In 2 games against Stanford she twice had 8 rebounds scoring 11 and 10 points.

Three others played quite a bit last season. Malia Nawahine played 20 minutes per game averaging 6 points. Malia is a 5-10 Soph Forward who grew up in California then moved to Utah and was the HS Player of the Year in Utah.

Devri Owens is a 5-8 Soph Guard who averaged 14 minutes and 3 points last season.
Nakia Arquette is a 6-1 RS Soph Forward who averaged 14 minutes and 3 points per game also. Nakia played Travel ball with Ellie Tinkle.

Wendy Anae is a 6-3 Soph Forward who averaged 10 minutes last season. Wendy is a cousin to the Nawahine’s and their grandfather played Football at Utah.

Awa Kalmstronm is a 5-7 Jr Guard who hasn’t played much thus far.

The frosh who should contribute are Matthews and Fatuesi.



Predictions:
Battling for a place in the 1st division.


2015 Recruiting:
Jordanna Porter 5-11 WF Killeen Ellison HS.