Sometime late in the first half, perhaps early in the second half of today's game against Savannah State (noon, Huntsman Center), Nick Jacobson should become the all-time leading 3-point shooter in Utah basketball history.
Jacobson needs just three 3-pointers to pass former Ute Keith Van Horn who made 206 treys during his all-American career at Utah. Jacobson, a North Dakota native, has hit 47.1 percent of his 3-pointers this year with his best game coming last week against San Diego, when he sank 6 of 11 treys, all in the first half.
One reason Jacobson may not get the record today would be because the Utes may be so far ahead, he won't be playing much after the first half. Considering that the Utes handled San Diego by 43 points a week ago, Savannah State should be another breeze of a game.
It's the Utes' annual exam-week game against a team in its second year as a Div. I program. The Tigers won just three games last year after winning two the year before.
They come into today's game with a 1-5 record, having won their last game against Eastern Kentucky earlier this week. Their head coach is Edwin Daniels, who played at Marquette in the 1970s when Majerus was an assistant coach.
Utah should have a huge size advantage against the Tigers, whose center, Sherard Reddick, is 6-foot-7. Other starters include 6-7 P.L. Henderson, 6-4 Jamal Daniels, 6-1 Chris Daniel and 5-9 Ajmal Gordon. Daniels is the only one to average double figures with a 16.2 points per game.
The Utes haven't had a normal week of practice because of final exams. Also, the Huntsman Center floor wasn't available early in the week, forcing the Utes to move practice to the Jazz practice facility.
Besides players missing practice for tests, some players have been out because of injuries and sickness. Backup point guard Josh Olsen has been hobbled with a thigh contusion, while forward Justin Hawkins has been out since Wednesday with a stomach virus. The two freshmen reserves are questionable for today's game.
UTE NOTES: The Utes will leave for Louisiana this evening following the game to prepare for Tuesday night's game at LSU (4-0). It will be the first-ever meeting between the Utes and Tigers . . . Jacobson leads Utah with a 12.1 scoring average, followed by Richard Chaney at 11.1. Chaney also leads the Utes with a 59.6 field goal percentage . . . Freshman Andrew Bogut leads the team in rebounding with 11.9 boards per game and also scores 10.7 points per game . . . Utah's next home game will be Friday against Cal State Northridge.
Utes on the air
Utah (5-2) vs. Savannah State (1-5)
Huntsman Center (15,000)
Today at noon
TV: none
Radio: KALL 700 AM
E-MAIL: sor@desnews.com