Nov. 27, 2007

Game #5 - Utah (2-2) at Weber State (2-2)

7:05 p.m. MST - Wednesday, Novmeber 19
Dee Events Center
Ogden, Utah
Radio: Utah Sports Radio Network
Mike Lageschulte (play-by-play); Jimmy Soto (color analyst) TV: KJZZ-14
Internet: www.UtahUtes.com live audio
Series History: Utah leads 23-12 Last Meeting: Utah 69, Weber State 55 - Nov. 29, 2006 - Salt Lake City

Complete Release in PDF Format

After Long Break, Utes Hit Hardwood at Weber State
The University of Utah men's basketball team will have had nine days in between games when they finally return to the hardwood Wednesday night at Weber State University. The Runnin' Utes travel to Ogden to face the Wildcats at the Dee Events Center in a 7:05 p.m. contest.

Utah comes into Wednesday's mtachup with a 2-2 record, after dropping a 72-57 decision to Santa Clara back on Nov. 19. Utah struggled to score in the second half, shooting just .393 from the field and suffering through an eight-minute stretch without a field goal.

Weber State is 2-2 and coming off a 61-56 victory over Cal State Bakersfield. The Wildcats' other win came over Utah State in the season-opener. Weber State then suffered defeats to Cal State San Bernadino and Youngstown State at the College Basketball Experience tournament in Los Angeles.

Utah leads the series with the Wildcats 23-12, including a 69-55 Ute victory last season.

Runnin' Ute Fast Breaks
• Four Utah players are averaging double-digit points per game, while two more average 6.0 or more.
• Through four games last season, Utah was allowing opponents to shoot .525 from the field. So far this season, the Utes are holding opponents to a field-goal percentage of .417.
• Utah held South Carolina Upstate to 52 points in the season-opener. The Runnin' Utes did not hold a single 2006-07 opponent to less than 55 points.
• Utah is 121-51 all-time versus current members of the Big Sky Conferece. The Utes have played six of the nine Big Sky teams in the past and have winning records against all of them.
• Utah will face two Big Sky teams this season. The Utes will host Idaho State on Dec. 27.
• Utah has converted a clip of .532 from the field in the first four games, making more than half their attempts in three of the four. The Utes currently rank No. 1 in the MWC in field-goal percentage.
• Utah's -1.0 average turnover margin ranks 8th in the Mountain West Conference.

Scouting the Wildcats
Santa Clara is 2-2 coming into Wednesday's game. The Wildcats evened their record with a 61-56 win over Cal State Bakersfield on the road Nov. 19.

Like Utah, Weber State will have had nine days without a game prior to this matchup. The Wildcats opened the season with a 78-71 win over Utah State. WSU then dropped decisions to Cal State San Bernardino and Youngstown State.

The Wildcats have five players averaging 8.0 points or more per game. They are led by Arturas Valeika, who is averaging a double-double (14.8 ppg, 12.0 rpg). He is the only player averaging double-figure scoring for Weber State.

The Wildcats are being out-scored 32.8-29.3 in the first half, but coming back to hold a 36.8-34.0 advantage in the second period. WSU is also shooting .508 from the field so far this season.

Nice Shootin', Tex
Utah is the top shooting team in the Mountain West Conference. The Runnin' Utes made more than half their field-goal attempts in each of their first three games. Despite shooting .467 in its last outing, Utah is still converting at a .532 clip, which is tops in the league.

Only one other team (New Mexico, .520) is above 50 percent. The Utes are also one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the MWC. Utah has hit 30-of-70 from behind the arc, for a percentage of .429. Only New Mexico (.478) and San Diego State (.438) are better in the early going this season.

Bryant's Big Off the Bench
Senior guard Johnnie Bryant has embraced his role as Utah's sixth man, after starting 57 of 59 games in the first two seasons of his Ute career. Bryant is Utah's leading scorer, averaging 14.3 points per game, despite ranking sixth on the team in minutes per game. He is averaging 22.3 minutes per game. Bryant is shooting the ball very well, hitting at a rate of .564 from the field and .444 (8-of-18) from 3-point range. His 14.3 points per game ranks 8th in the Mountain West Conference. He's the only non-starter in the top 10 in MWC scoring.

-UU-