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Utah Basketball Preparing for Saturday Contest at Fresno State
11/28/2011 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2011
Game Notes - Game 7 at Fresno State - (Updated 12/1) 
Game Information
Date: Saturday, Dec. 3
Tipoff: 2 p.m. MT
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Arena: Save Mart Center
Radio
Utah Sports Radio Network
ESPN 700 AM
Play-by-Play: Bill Riley
Analyst: Jimmy Soto
Internet
For up-to-date information including live stats, game notes, media guides, ticketing and more, visit www.UtahUtes.com.
Utah fans can watch the game online by purchasing login credentials from Fresno State's website at www.gobulldogs.com.
Social Networking
facebook.com/utahmbasketball
twitter.com/utahmbasketball
facebook.com/utahathletics
twitter.com/utahathletics
Utah at Fresno State - Quick Hits
? Saturday's game marks the 13th all-time meeting between Utah and Fresno State. The Utes lead the series, 9-3, including a 3-2 record on the Bulldogs' home court. Utah has won three straight games in the series.
? The two teams met last season in Salt Lake City, with Utah capturing a 76-63 win. Utah's Josh "Jiggy" Watkins scored 16 points and added two assists and two steals. Fresno State's Kevin Olekaibe tallied 13 points and blocked three shots.
? Watkins has led Utah in scoring in all six games, averaging 18.8 points per contest. He also leads the Utes in assists at 4.8 per game. Jason Washburn is Utah's top rebounder at 6.8 boards per contest.
? Fresno State is led by Olekaibe's 21.9 points per game. Jonathan Willis is the Bulldogs' top rebounder at 5.7 boards per contest, while Steven Shepp leads the team with 4.6 assists per game.
? The Utes are looking to end a five-game losing streak, while Fresno State is in the midst of a three-game skid. Fresno State snapped a three-game skid of its own with an 85-55 win over Academy of Art University on Wednesday.
? Both head coaches, Utah's Larry Krystkowiak and Fresno State's Rodney Terry, are in their first years leading their respective programs.
Team and Individual Notes
Josh "Jiggy" Watkins Among League Leaders in Scoring, Assists
Watkins has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in each of the Utes' first six games and is averaging 18.8 points per contest, good for second in the Pac-12 Conference. He has racked up 20-plus points in three of the six games and missed that mark by only one at Boise State, scoring 19.
Watkins is also leading the Utes in assists at 4.8 per game, good for second in the Pac-12.
Watkins has been efficient in his scoring this year, shooting better than 50% from the floor through six games, hitting 40-of-79 overall. He is also knocking down more than 82% (28-of-34) at the free throw line, which leads the Utes and ranks 11th in the Pac-12.
Watkins has scored 20-plus points eight times in 36 career games as a Ute. He has scored double figures 30 times, including the last 12 consecutive games dating back to last year.
Washburn Gives Career-Best Performance vs. UNC Asheville
Washburn posted a career-high 21 points on a career-best nine field goals against UNC Asheville on Saturday. With 14 points in the first half alone, he eclipsed his previous season high of 12 points. Washburn also chipped in six rebounds.
Washburn scored double digits twice in three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis, averaging 12.0 points per game to go with 5.3 rebounds per contest.
Krystkowiak has stated that he would like Utah's big men to maintain a rebounding pace around one every four minutes. With 41 boards in 170 minutes this season, Washburn is right on that pace at a rebound every 4.1 minutes.
Washburn is shooting a very efficient 65% from the floor for the season (26-of-40), highest on the team among players with a minimum of two made baskets per game. He came into the season as Utah's most efficient shooter for two year's running, including a 61.8% mark on 76-of-123 last season.
Hines Keeps Scoring Numbers Up
Still fighting sore ribs and a sore elbow on his shooting arm, junior guard Chris Hines averaged 10.3 points in the three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis last week.
Hines came into the season as the Utes' top returning 3-point shooter, coming off a 36.8% mark last season (31-84). He is currently knocking down 3-pointers at a 35.5% clip (11-of-31).
Dawson Gets Into the Flow vs. UNC Asheville
Redshirt junior Javon Dawson had his best game as a Ute Saturday against UNC Asheville in the final game at the Battle 4 Atlantis, posting a season-best six points on 3-of-3 from the field. He also added four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 17 minutes of action.
Storey Scores Career-High 12 Points vs. UMass
Freshman guard Kareem Storey posted a career-high 12 points against UMass on Friday, going 4-of-5 from the field, including his first two 3-pointers of the year.
Storey was also 2-of-4 at the free throw line. He has been solid at the charity stripe this season, shooting 75% (15-of-20), including 10-of-12 in the season opener against San Diego Christian.
Wilkinson Has Breakout Performance vs. Harvard
Walk-on freshman forward Blake Wilkinson posted career highs of 12 points, six field goals, eight rebounds, three steals and 30 minutes played against Harvard on Thursday at the Battle 4 Atlantis. Wilkinson tied Watkins for the team-high scoring total, while his eight rebounds and three steals were both game highs.
The Utes at the Huntsman Center
Utah owns an all-time record of 527-126 (.807) all-time in its current home, the Jon M. Huntsman Center, including a 1-1 mark this season.
Following the Fresno State game, Utah's fourth consecutive game away from home and the fifth in seven games, the Utes will return for four straight home games from Dec. 7 to Dec. 19, including the rivalry game against BYU on Dec. 10.
The Utes have posted a winning record at home in 38 consecutive seasons, beginning in 1973-74. In conference home games over the last 17 years, Utah is 104-22 (.825).
With 15,000 seats, the Huntsman Center is the largest arena in the Pac-12 (excluding temporary and tournament sites).
Utes Ink Five for 2012
Utah opened the early signing period by inking five players who will join the Utes for the 2012-13 season. The signing class includes high school seniors Josh Hearlihy (North Hollywood, Calif., Harvard-Westlake HS), Jordan Loveridge (West Jordan, Utah, West Jordan HS) and Justin Seymour (Marietta, Ga., Wheeler HS), along with Southern Utah transfer Dallin Bachynski (Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Sir Winston Churchill HS) and returning LDS missionary Jeremy Olsen (Lawrenceville, Ga., Collins Hill HS).
Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak
With the win against San Diego Christian, Krystkowiak grabbed his first victory as the Utes' head coach. For his NCAA coaching career, Krystkowiak is in his third year and owns a 43-25 overall record (.632).
Krystkowiak (pronounced krist-KOH-vee-ak), who has prior head coaching experience in the NCAA, CBA and NBA, left a position as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets to become the 15th head coach in Utah men's basketball history.
In his previous collegiate head coaching post, Krystkowiak led his alma mater, the University of Montana, to a 42-20 record and two NCAA appearances as the Grizzlies' from 2004-06 before joining the NBA coaching ranks.
Battle 4 Atlantis Recap
Despite falling in all three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas over the Thanksgiving break, Utah saw several individuals post solid performances with season/career highs, and clearly grew as a team. According to Krystkowiak following the game against UNC Asheville, "This was a lifetime experience, and that's what college basketball is all about...young guys and giving them a chance to do something...we learned how to handle pressure vs. UMass, we learned to play some zone...I know our team is getting better all the time."
Players Mentioned
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