Preview Utah

 

Pac 12 Preview:  Utah

Last Season:  21-12 overall and 8-7 in Pac 12 play, Runner-up in Pac 12 Tournament. 

 

The Coaches:

Lynne Roberts is in her 8th year after moving from the University of Pacific, UOP.  Roberts was Head Coach at UOP for 9 seasons, being named Conference Coach of the Year twice in the last three years.  Before UOP Roberts was Head Coach at Chico State for 4 seasons.   

Gavin Peterson is in his 8th year after 2 seasons with Roberts at UOP.  Peterson has been an assistant in the West since 2002 and an Associate Head Coach for 6 of those seasons.

Jerise Freeman is in her 2nd season at Utah.  Freeman was an Assistant at Oklahoma State for 4 years.  

Jordan Sullivan is in her first year at Utah.   Sullivan is a former Montana player who was an Assistant at Montana the past 5 seasons.   

 

Losses:

Kemery Martin only played 6 games due to injury and transferred to Cal. 

Brynna Maxwell averaged 11 points with 68 threes at 38% transferred to Gonzaga.

Dru Gylten averaged 5 points and 5 assists transferred to South Dakota State.

Andrea Torres averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds and graduated.

Maka Jackson, averaged 3 points. Jackson graduated.   

 

Additions:

Alissa Pili 6-2 Jr Post who transferred from USC where she averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds however played hurt much of the time.

Nene Sow Jr 6-8 Jr Post JC transfer originally from Belgium 

Naya Ojukwu 6-0 Frosh Wing from Idaho

Teya Sidberry, 6-1 Frosh Wing, UT Not ranked However the all-time leading scorer in Utah HS history.

Lani White, 5-11 Frosh Guard SoCal Not ranked

 

The ReturningTeam:

Jenna Johnson 6-2 Soph Forward averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds. 

Gianna Kneepkens 5-11 Soph Guard averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds and made 56 threes at 38%.

Kennady McQueen, 5-10 Jr Guard averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds and made 61 threes at 44%.

Payton McFarland, 6-4 Jr Post from Idaho ranked # 80 out of HS and averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Kelsey Rees, 6-5 Jr Post from Australia.    Kelsey averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds.

Isabel Palmer is a 5-9 Sr Soph Guard who transferred from Texas where as a Frosh she averaged 3 points.   Palmer was born in the US but moved to Australia with her family at the age of 4 months.  She averaged 4 ppg.

Dasia Young, 5-11 Sr Wing averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds last season.

Ines Vieira, 5-6 Soph  Guard from Portugal.   She averaged 4 points and 2 assists.  

 

The Schedule:   

Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss and BYU

 

Predictions:           

Johnson, McQueen and Kneepkens are three solid players and two are preseason all-conference the other Honorable Mention.   Pili is a great addition if healthy to join Reese and Mcfarland who are solid front court players.   Young was solid off the bench last season.  The Media prediction is 5^th place in the conference for Utah.  

 

2023 Recruiting:          

Daniela Falcon, 6-3 Wing/ Forward from Germany

Reese Ross 6-1 Forward from SD Not ranked