The University of Utah men's basketball schedule for the 2000-01 season is beginning to take shape and coach Rick Majerus has assembled some strong non-conference foes. The Utes' preseason schedule features games against six NCAA tournament teams, one NIT participant and five regular season conference champions from a year ago.
The Utes' November schedule is highlighted by the Puerto Rico Shootout over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 23-25). The tourney field features: Stanford, Georgia, Miami (Ohio), Indiana State, Memphis and American University of Puerto Rico. An eighth team will be added to round out the field.Chris Spencer, the organizer of the tournament, has petitioned the NCAA to allow each team in the tournament to play four games instead of three. Under his proposal, which is similar to Olympic pool play, the eight teams would be split into two four-team groups. After the first-round games are played at on-campus sites, all eight teams would conclude the three games of pool play in Puerto Rico. The top team from each pool would then meet in the championship game, while the rest of the teams would be matched-up by record for final games.
Utah's December schedule includes a game with USC in the Wooden Classic on Dec. 2 in Anaheim, Calif. It will be the Utes' second appearance in the Wooden Classic in five years. Utah met Arizona in the event in 1996, losing to the eventual national champions 69-61.
Two tough games against in-state opposition also await the Utes before finals week. Utah State is scheduled to host the Utes in Logan on Dec. 6. Weber State plans to visit the Huntsman Center on Dec. 9.
Utah will host Washington State on Dec. 16 before returning to California to face Pepperdine on Dec. 19. The Utes conclude their pre-Christmas schedule on Dec. 22 against Southern Utah.
Utah and Texas plan to continue their recent series on Dec. 30 in Austin. The Longhorns went 22-7 last season, placed second in the Big 12 Conference and lost to LSU in the second round of the NCAAs. After the New Year, the Utes host Long Beach State and Louisville in Salt Lake City. Utah is tentatively set to play Long Beach State on Jan. 3 and Louisville on Jan. 6. The Utes enter the 2000-01 season with the nation's longest active homecourt winning streak of 52 games and haven't lost in the Huntsman Center since a setback to Wake Forest on Dec. 31, 1996.
Details of the schedule are still being finalized and game dates may be changed to accommodate television. A complete schedule with conference games, times and television information should be available by late August.
Utah is coming off of a 23-9 season in which it advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and captured a share of the inaugural Mountain West Conference title. Five letter-winners return from last season including starting senior center Nate Althoff. Coach Majerus will also welcome two return missionaries with one year of playing experience at Utah, three junior transfers and three freshmen when practice begins in October.