Utah's 1998 Final Four run, 20 years later.

KSL Sports revisted the Runnin' Utes run to the 1998 NCAA Final Four and national championship game with former stars Britton Johnsen, Alex Jensen and radio voice Bill Marcroft.

[@warrene633]

Only time I ever rooted for the Utes was the final four. Doleac, Hanson, and Miller, great players. Rick Majeris great coach! We loved to hate him in the Pit! Got to see them in person for many games against the Lobos. Got to root for the Utes at the Final Four!

[@aaronjensen8455]

One of the many things that made this team so special was that the players were great people off the court, just as they were on the court. I worked up at the HPER Center as a student and saw Andre Miller, Mike Doleac, Hanno Mottola, Drew Hanson and some of the other players on occasion, they were always friendly and down to earth. I went to almost every home game... that was the best basketball in the world...

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

It was such a fun team. Went to the WAC Tournament that year and was happy that they made it to the final four.

[@martinxbey]

I have a Utah Shirt from 1998‘s Final Four Run signed from all major players. Jensen, Miller, you name it! Hit me up if you‘re interested in it bud, I‘m letting it go to a new home

[@matthewowen4508]

The story of the game against Arizona wasn't just Andre Miller as an individual performance. It was coach's recognition that Arizona was so dependent on their guard play & his decision to go with the seldom-used triangle and two defense against Bibby, Simon, & Terry (future top-10 NBA pick...people forget that he actually played the best of the 3 in that game). It could have blown up in his face had the other AZ players stepped up. It was one of the boldest and smartest coaching moves I've ever seen in the NCAA tournament.

[@richcountyratrodsjrod2329]

Legendary majerus! Wish he was still alive.

[@walterlv01]

I was a senior at UNLV that season so I saw most of this Utah team's games either on TV or in person. I knew they were REALLY good but wasn't sure how far they could realistically go. I thought Elite Eight for sure, maybe Final Four if they got a good draw. I never imagined they could beat Arizona and North Carolina back-to-back. They squeezed every last drop out of their potential and they should be saluted for what they accomplished.

[@martinxbey]

I have a Utah Shirt from 1998‘s Final Four Run signed from all major players. Jensen, Miller, you name it! Hit me up if you‘re interested in it bud, I‘m letting it go to a new home

[@richcountyratrodsjrod2329]

Epic run!!! Takes me back to high school.

[@fiesta061000]

I was in elementary school and a kid that loved college basketball..CBK in the 90s was great ⁉🏀🏟

[@martinxbey]

I have a Utah Shirt from 1998‘s Final Four Run signed from all major players. Jensen, Miller, you name it! Hit me up if you‘re interested in it bud, I‘m letting it go to a new home

[@cbraat27]

I was all about Arizona that year and when Utah just ran them off the court, it was just like wtf? That was a great team and a great college basketball memory.

[@bennyrobinson1935]

Lol it was all about North Carolina

[@thesacredwematanye]

@@bennyrobinson1935 Kentucky

[@fiesta061000]

Arizona won it all in 1997, but I didn't think they would go back to back ⁉🏀🏜🏟

[@martinxbey]

I have a Utah Shirt from 1998‘s Final Four Run signed from all major players. Jensen, Miller, you name it! Hit me up if you‘re interested in it bud, I‘m letting it go to a new home

[@bradlewis6514]

It was unreal! They lose their best all-around player in Van Horn from the year before, but at the same time they grew into a more complete team and they had a better team leader in Miller! And they played their best at tournament time, beating the two pre-tournament favorites back to back (defending national champion Arizona and then the overall #1 seed North Carolina)! Unfortunately they ran into a team that was riding the same wave and crest of momentum in Kentucky, along with the fact due to their lack of depth they ran out of physical gas having given it their all - which u can't ask for more! Majerus' got the absolute maximum out of that club! They'll more than likely never have another run similar to that again, but their 2015 team with Delon Wright came the closest, losing a tight game to eventual national champion Duke in the Sweet 16!

[@fiesta061000]

Utah had a great run in the 1998 Tournament but blew a 10 point lead to UK in the national championship game ⁉📘🏀💺

[@martinxbey]

I have a Utah Shirt from 1998‘s Final Four Run signed from all major players. Jensen, Miller, you name it! Hit me up if you‘re interested in it bud, I‘m letting it go to a new home

[@tumbleweedconnection7906]

The casual fan won't remember this team but they nearly pulled off 3 consecutive upsets en route to a title. First they dismantled defending champ Arizona in the regional final then they upset unc in the final 4 and had a 10 point lead at halftime of the championship game against Kentucky but couldn't hold on to win... still a great team and a great run that is often overlooked.

[@walterlv01]

They also had to get past Arkansas, which was a national powerhouse in those days and a Top-15 team that season, way back in the second round in Boise.

[@martinxbey]

I have a Utah Shirt from 1998‘s Final Four Run signed from all major players. Jensen, Miller, you name it! Hit me up if you‘re interested in it bud, I‘m letting it go to a new home

[@chriswalter8092]

That was a great year

[@davidbrothers2765]

I don't think Dean Smith was coach of that team he retired the year before

[@matthewowen4508]

Yup, it was Bill Guthridge, but it was still Dean's team.

[@whodatmyan]

Just found a final four 98 tee at the thrift

[@richcountyratrodsjrod2329]

Cherish it

[@Dunkacccino]

too bad they lost in the title game and now no one even remembers them

[@JohnDoe-rs3oh]

Dunkacccino People know Utah Football and the progress they have made. The best is yet to come. Takes time to build a program. 29th best recruiting class in the nation, the best in program history. They just keep building and building, but it takes time.

[@Dunkacccino]

@@JohnDoe-rs3oh literally no one cares about the Utes kiddo

[@fiesta061000]

Utah Utes lost 1998 national championship and Utah Jazz lost 1998 NBA Finals ⁉🟪🏟🏔🏀Utah had the more impressive run in my opinion..The Jazz were down 3-1 in the Finals to the Bulls..

[@martinxbey]

I have a Utah Shirt from 1998‘s Final Four Run signed from all major players. Jensen, Miller, you name it! Hit me up if you‘re interested in it bud, I‘m letting it go to a new home