{
  "id": 9068768,
  "title": "What the Runnin’ Utes said after the team’s first official practice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/what-the-runnin-utes-said-after-the-teams-first-official-practice",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T02:49:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/runnin-utes-said-team-first-024904575.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The University of Utah men's basketball team held its first official practice ahead of the 2026-27 season on Monday, Sept. 21, at the Huntsman Center. This marked a significant milestone for the Runnin' Utes, who will aim to improve upon their disappointing 10-22 record and 2-16 Big 12 performance from the previous year. Coach Alex Jensen and his staff welcomed a new roster, consisting primarily of freshmen, after only three players from last season's squad returned. Jensen expressed optimism about the roster-building process, acknowledging the time invested in finding the right fit for the team. However, the team faces several challenges, including eligibility issues with several players, such as senior guard Trey Campbell and international guard Noam Yaacov. Additionally, promising center Fynn Schott will miss the first few games due to surgery. Despite these hurdles, the Utes' focus remains on preparing for the upcoming season, with Coach Jensen emphasizing the importance of adapting to the evolving NCAA rules.",
  "summary": "Utah basketball heads into Year 2 of the Alex Jensen era with a group of mostly new faces and its own set of eligibility questions.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}