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SALT LAKE CITY — The Runnin’ Utes are getting some respect with a No. 25 ranking in the preseason The Associated Press Top 25 poll released Friday.
The preseason vote in the Top 25 is the first time Utah has been ranked by the AP since the 2000-01 season where the program was ranked No. 13. Utah was ranked No. 25 in the final AP poll following the 2008-09 season.
Last week, Utah was voted to be the second best team in the Pac-12, behind unanimous favorite Arizona. Earlier in the month, the Utes received votes in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, coming in as the 30th best team in the country.
Utah will be playing four teams currently ranked in the preseason poll, including No. 2 Arizona (twice), No. 5 Kansas, No. 11 Wichita State and No. 16 San Diego State.
Despite the preseason voting and hype surrounding the Runnin’ Utes program, Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak has attempted to temper expectations.
“We didn’t pay attention to them when everybody picked us 12th and the variety of places we’re being picked now,” Krystkowiak said. “But we’re certainly not going to start thinking that’s very important when it wasn’t before.”
