What the Runnin’ Utes said after the team’s first official practice

The Huntsman Center was abuzz with activity Monday as the University of Utah men’s basketball program held its first official practice ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Yes, the Runnin’ Utes have been able to gather and work out prior to that — but with 42 days remaining until the season opener against Long Beach State on Nov. 2, Utah could officially return to a full schedule of preparation.

For second-year coach Alex Jensen, his coaching staff and the players, it’s one more step towards a season where the Utes will try and improve upon a frustrating 2025-26 campaign, when the Utes went 10-22 and 2-16 in Big 12 play, last in the conference.

They’re doing it with a nearly new cast of players, yet again — only three of the 16 players on Utah’s roster were in Salt Lake City last season.

“I think we had more time and we were able to put more thought into the roster and how the pieces fit together,” Jensen said of his staff as it assembled this year’s roster. “But until you get them here and they play ... there’s going to be rotations or lineups that we haven’t thought of yet. So I think (we’ll) get more and more of an idea.”

The countdown begins for Nov. 2‼️ pic.twitter.com/pz1J8ys3Vm

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) September 22, 2026

Getting the roster together this year has been a major storyline of its own for the Utes. There have been more eligibility unknowns than normal this offseason, and Utah hasn’t been immune to it.

This summer, the NCAA officially approved a new eligibility model for Division I student-athletes, allowing them five years to play up to five seasons, with no waivers or redshirt years.

That rule took effect with the start of the 2026-27 academic season.

There have been hundreds of athletes who recently finished four seasons of eligibility, though, and were a part of the 2022 recruiting class where many have sought to also be granted a fifth year of eligibility.