Even as wacky as the transfer portal has become, the Utah Utes will now be the beneficiaries of one of the more interesting transfer situations out there.
On late Thursday afternoon, former Ute Both Gach announced via Twitter that he will be coming back to the program after a year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Gach, a 6-foot-6, 185-pound guard, was a very good player for the Utes over two seasons. As a sophomore, he started 25 games and averaged 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.4 minutes per contest.
Last May, however, he decided to depart then-head coach Larry Krystkowiak’s program, and he transferred to Minnesota, about 100 miles away from where he grew up. Last season for the Golden Gophers, however, Gach averaged just 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 22.7 minutes over 29 games as Minnesota went 14-15 and ultimately fired head coach Richard Pitino.
In mid-May, multiple outlets reported that Gach had once again entered the transfer portal.
Perhaps incidentally, new Utes head coach Craig Smith is from Minnesota, although he and Gach grew up essentially on complete opposite ends of the state.
Gach joins a slew of transfers to Utah this offseason. The list also includes David Jenkins Jr., Bostyn Holt, Marco Anthony, Rollie Worster and Gabe Madsen.