SALT LAKE CITY-Thursday, Utah men’s basketball (9-3) hosts Oregon State (10-2) as the Utes and Beavers commence their Pac-12 slate against each other at the Huntsman Center.
In his 9th season at the helm of the Utes’ program, Larry Krystkowiak (164-114, .590; 206-134, .606) has led Utah to wins over Kentucky, Minnesota and BYU. These stellar wins promise to bolster the Utes’ NCAA Tournament resume provided they have a successful conference season as well.
Utah scores 79.3 points per game, which ranks them 45th nationally in scoring offense.
Rising star, sophomore forward Timmy Allen (21 points, 7.4 rebounds per game) leads the Utes in both scoring and rebounding on the season.
Sophomore guard Both Gach (11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds per game) and freshman guard Rylan Jones (11.1 points per game, team bests in assists [55] and steals [13]) each score in double figures this season on-average for the Utes as well.
Freshman center Branden Carlson leads the Utes with 9 blocked shots on the season.
Utah surrenders 69.3 points per game. This ranks the Utes 193rd nationally in scoring defense.
The Beavers are coached by Wayne Tinkle, who is 85-85 (.500) in his sixth season at the helm of the program at Corvallis, Ore. He is 243-176 (.580) as a collegiate head coach. Incidentally, both Tinkle and Krystkowiak commenced their collegiate head coaching careers at Montana after starring for the Grizzlies on the hardwood.
The Beavers score 78.4 points per game, which ranks them 54th nationally in scoring offense.
Oregon State is led by senior forward Tres Tinkle (20.4 points, 7.3 rebounds per game, a team-best 24 steals) who, like Allen, leads his squad in both scoring and rebounds.
Junior guard Ethan Thompson (15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds per game, a team-best 56 assists) and senior forward Kylor Kelley (11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds per game, a team-best 52 blocked shots [2nd nationally]) also score in double figures on-average for Oregon State. Kelley also ranks second nationally in blocked shots per game (4.33 blocks per game).
By virtue of Kelley’s heroics, the Beavers are tied for 14th nationally in blocked shots (77) with Auburn.
Oregon State surrenders 65.3 points per game which ranks the Beavers 102nd nationally in scoring defense.
The Utes lead the Beavers 18-13 all-time including a 13-2 mark at Salt Lake City in the series. Krystkowiak is 6-6 all-time against Oregon State.
