UC Davis @ Utah preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2018 ) UC Davis 59, Utah 69

Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak is exercising patience with his young squad, which includes 11 freshmen and two sophomores. After losing two of three games in the Myrtle Beach Invitational, the Utes begin a three-game homestand on Friday against UC Davis.

Sophomore forward Timmy Allen averages 19.3 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 53.9 percent from the field to lead Utah, which was picked to finish ninth in the Pac-12 preseason media poll. Allen recorded 14 points and eight rebounds in last Sunday’s 65-61 loss to Tulane, but the 6-6 native of Arizona also committed seven of the Utes’ 20 turnovers. “When we play collectively and try to play together on both ends of the ball and are really committed to each other, we’re pretty dang good,” Krystkowiak told reporters. “But the minute we take a flyer and somebody tries to create something whether they’re gambling on defense or trying to do something out of character on offense, we’re pretty darn average.” The Utes are averaging 82.2 points while shooting 49.7 percent from the field but committing 14.7 turnovers per game.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT UC DAVIS (2-6): Picked to finish eighth in the Big West preseason media poll, the Aggies are facing their second Pac-12 opponent of the week after falling to California 72-66 on Tuesday. The team’s impressive backcourt includes 6-3 senior Joe Mooney (13.3 points per game) and freshman point guard Ezra Manjon, who scored 21 points against Cal and averages 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. The Aggies have just three players listed at 6-7 or taller – including 6-11 senior Matt Neufeld, who is averaging a team-high 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds.

ABOUT UTAH (4-2): Krystkowiak has been encouraged by the play of freshman point guard Rylan Jones, who averaged 10.3 points and 4.3 assists in games against Coastal Carolina, Ohio and Tulane during the Myrtle Beach tournament. Sophomore guard Both Gach ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game but was 9-for-26 shooting with a total of 10 turnovers in Myrtle Beach. Krystkowiak also needs more production from sophomore forward Riley Battin, who has started all six games but was just 4-of-10 shooting from the field during the tournament.

TIP-INS

1. The teams met in the NIT’s opening round on March 14, 2018, when Utah posted a 69-59 victory.

2. Utah has 107 victories in the Jon M. Huntsman Center dating back to the 2011-12 season.

3. UC Davis head coach Jim Les played two seasons for the NBA’s Utah Jazz from 1988-89.

PREDICTION: Utah 65, UC Davis 52