Stars Shined as Runnin' Utes Punch Ticket to Indy with Routing of VCU
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team punched their ticket to Indianapolis for the NIT semifinals Wednesday night after it routed VCU inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center 74-54 behind stellar play from Branden Carlson, Gabe Madsen and Deivon Smith.
Utah (22-14) advances to the NIT Semifinals for the fifth time in program history and now move to 5-3 all-time in the NIT Quarterfinals. The Utes are also now 7-2 (.778) all-time at home in the NIT with the win.
Meanwhile, Utah finished the home slate 17-2 on the year – tying it for the second-most wins at home in a single-season with the 1999-00 squad. Coincidentally enough, that 99-00 squad featured current assistant coach Chris Burgess – who was in his first year with the Runnin' Utes as a redshirt.
Smith forever etched himself into Pac-12 and NCAA history when he pulled down his 10th rebound of the night with 6:01 left to play to record his fifth triple-double of the season before finishing with 17 points, 11 boards and 12 assists at the end the night. The senior passed Jason Kidd, who had four in 1993-94, as the all-time leader in the Conference of Champions. His five triple-doubles is tied for second-most in a single-season in the NCAA with Vonterius Woolbright (Western Carolina) – who also achieved the feat this season. Smith will get at least one more opportunity to tie Kyle Collinsworth (2014-15, 2015-16) for the NCAA lead of six triple-doubles in a single-season next Tuesday in the NIT semifinals.
Madsen also became the single-season leader in made 3-pointers Wednesday night when he drained a triple with 4:00 on the clock in the first half. The Rochester, Minn., native passed Nick Jacobson for the single-season record – who had 99 back in the 2003-04 season. Madsen would finish with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from long-range.
The Runnin' Utes got off to a hot start, jumping out to an 8-0 lead to force a VCU (24-14) timeout just 1:42 into the game before pushing the lead up to 18-2. The Rams finally found their rhythm and went on an 18-5 run to cut the Utah advantage down to 23-20. But, back-to-back 3-pointers from Madsen and Carlson gave the Utes some cushion before a short 5-0 spurt from Smith put Utah ahead 36-26 at the break.
The Utes picked up steam out of the gates in the second frame, knocking down 5-of-7 from the floor to extend their lead to 47-28 at the 15:58 media break behind another pair of triples from Madsen. That offensive onslaught by the Runnin' Utes didn't slow down as the half continued with another 9-0 run to take a commanding 61-35 lead. Utah's lead got as high as 71-42 after a 3-pointer from Hunter Erickson before celebrating the 74-54 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
The 36 games played for Utah is tied for the most games in a single-season ever while Cole Bajema, Ben Carlson, Gabe Madsen and Hunter Erickson are tied for the most game splayed in a single-season with both records set to be broken once the NIT semifinal tips off next Tuesday … Utah once again dished out 20-plus assists for the third-straight game – the second time its happened this season … the 13 made 3-pointers is tied for a season-high.
UP NEXT
With the win, the Runnin' Utes are headed to Indianapolis for the NIT semifinals against Indiana State (31-6) on Tuesday, April 2, at 5 p.m. (MDT) / 7 p.m. (EDT) inside Hinkle Fieldhouse on ESPN. Mike Corey will have the call in the first semifinal game of the night alongside Fran Fraschilla and Myron Medcalf roaming the sidelines. Utah is 3-1 all-time in semifinal games and 9-8 (.529) all-time in neutral site games in the NIT.
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