The University of Utah tracked down its next men’s basketball coach inside the state’s lines, with the Utes getting previous Utah State mentor Craig Smith to supplant Larry Krystkowiak.
It’s a move that in any event one public college basketball master is a fanatic of.
The Athletic’s Brian Hamilton positioned the best Power Six school ball instructing recruits by levels, and Smith is among the awesome, new Cincinnati mentor Wes Miller and Marquette’s Shaka Smart in the Tier 2 gathering. Level 1 included only one mentor — Texas taking away Chris Beard from individual Big 12 program Texas Tech.
Concerning Smith, Hamilton proposed that notwithstanding previous Utes star and Utah Jazz colleague mentor Alex Jensen apparently being the top decision — he eventually pulled out his name from thought — Smith’s recruit may have been viewed as a top level recruit for the University of Utah.
“Proven record of success? Familiarity with the landscape? Potential for longevity in the spot? Smith won 75% of his games in three years with the Utah State Aggies,” Hamilton wrote of Smith. “The Aggies would’ve made the NCAA Tournament all three seasons if the 2020 event hadn’t been canceled. And Smith is just 48. So, yeah, he checks pretty much all the boxes.”
Smith had a prompt effect for Utah State when he assumed control over the Aggies program before the 2018-19, driving them to a couple of Mountain West Conference competition titles and regularly being a competitor in the MWC.
He acquires an Utah program hoping to advance back to the highest point of the Pac-12 and get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Utes last played in the NCAA Tournament five years prior and were eighth in the alliance standings the previous two years. Utah last dominated 20 or more matches in the 2017-18 season.
“He’ll overhaul the vibe around the program and provide a needed jolt at a crucial time; it doesn’t look like life in the Pac-12 is getting any easier,” Hamilton said of Smith.
