New University of Utah basketball coach Craig Smith told the Deseret News in May that the Utes would play in a multiteam event this season, and on Tuesday details of that MTE appearance were made official.
The Runnin’ Utes will play in the Sunshine Slam at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, in November.
Utah will meet Boston College on Nov. 20, a Saturday. The Utes will face Rhode Island or Tulsa on Sunday, Nov. 21, depending on the outcome of Saturday’s games.
“We have looked at any and all of them. It is like anything — you have to do your due diligence and come up with the best opportunity that suits your team. … We want to play great teams. We want to bring on great competition, no question about it.” — Utah basketball coach Craig Smith
The Utes will host Bethune-Cookman at the Huntsman Center on Nov. 15, a game that will be considered part of the event, before leaving for Florida.
“We have looked at any and all of them,” Smith said on May 21. “It is like anything — you have to do your due diligence and come up with the best opportunity that suits your team. … We want to play great teams. We want to bring on great competition, no question about it.”
Tipoff times, broadcast information and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The Utes have never played Bethune-Cookman, which didn’t play last season due to COVID-19. Utah is 2-1 against Boston College, 5-2 against Tulsa and 2-2 vs. Rhode Island.
Utah’s nonconference schedule for the 2021-22 season now includes seven known games; Utah will host Sacramento State on Nov. 13 and Fresno State on Dec. 21.
The Utes are scheduled to visit Missouri on Dec. 18 and will host BYU in December, although a date for that matchup has not been announced.