The Utah Tech University men’s basketball team defied the odds, improved in every statistical category and made history along with multiple other achievements throughout the season.
The team completed its 2022-2023 season March 9, falling short against Southern Utah University during the 2023 Hercules Tires Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament and finished with an overall record of 14-19 and a 5-13 conference record.
Despite the loss against SUU, the team proved itself and is continuing to adapt to the Division I change.
Head coach Jon Judkins said some of the most impactful accomplishments of the season was winning the first-ever WAC tournament conference game in addition to beating SUU and Seattle University during the regular season.
“It felt great, and it was a great experience for our guys to see and feel what the NCAA is all about,” Judkins said. “I’m very proud of these guys. We made history for Utah Tech, and we hope to make more in the future.”
The team also improved its 3-point shooting percentage and moved up in the KenPom rating. Utah Tech’s rating was 328 during the team’s first DI year, 278 in the second year and is now 147 this year.
“I think we are doing a great job adapting to the DI change,” Judkins said. “We know it is going to take some patience and time, but I like where we are heading. We made a big jump this year.”
Jacob Nicolds, a fifth-year Dixie State University graduate from Mesa, Arizona, also said beating SUU at home was a great accomplishment because of the full house and loud energy in addition to the NCAA DI postseason victory.
Nicolds said: “[The postseason victory] was one of the best feelings in my life. No one besides us expected us to go in there and come out with a victory. We came so close to coming about with at least two, but some things just didn’t end up going our way. I will hold onto those memories for my entire life and am proud to say that I was on that team and in this transition period.”
Judkins said seeing the team get better and better each year is a major motivating factor and that the team “needs to be patient and take baby steps.” Going forward, recruiting will be a major aspect that is focused on going into next season.
“We need to replace a lot of players this year, and we need to get better at each position,” Judkins said.
The Utah Tech men’s basketball team will continue to improve and begin its 2023-2024 season in November.
