Utah Tech Men's Basketball Poised for Historic NCAA Tournament Bid

ESPN projects the Trailblazers as a potential No. 15 seed, which would mark the program's first-ever March Madness appearance.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Utah Tech Trailblazers men's basketball team is having a standout 2025-26 season, with a current record of 18-12 overall and 11-5 in the Western Athletic Conference. Led by senior forward Ethan Potter and guard Chance Trujillo, the Trailblazers are on the verge of securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, which would be the first time in program history.

Why it matters

Making the NCAA Tournament would be a historic milestone for the Utah Tech men's basketball program, which is still building its Division I identity. A tournament bid would raise the national profile of the school and provide a significant boost to the team's recruiting efforts going forward.

The details

Utah Tech has won six straight home games and is currently projected by ESPN's Joe Lunardi as a potential No. 15 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Trailblazers have two regular-season games remaining, including a matchup against in-state rival Utah Valley, before heading to the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas where they'll look to secure an automatic bid to March Madness.

  • Utah Tech travels to Southern Utah on February 28 for their penultimate regular-season game.
  • The Trailblazers host Utah Valley on March 7 for their final WAC regular-season game.
  • The 2026 WAC Tournament takes place March 11-14 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

The players

Ethan Potter

A senior forward for the Utah Tech Trailblazers who led the team with 25 points and 8 rebounds in their recent victory over Abilene Christian.

Chance Trujillo

A guard for the Utah Tech Trailblazers who scored 24 points, including 6 three-pointers, in the win over Abilene Christian.

Joe Lunardi

ESPN's bracketology expert who has projected Utah Tech as a potential No. 15 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Making the NCAA Tournament would be a historic milestone for the Utah Tech men's basketball program, which is still building its Division I identity.”

— Dallas Clifford, UTU Athletics (DALLAS CLIFFORD FROM UTU ATHLETICS TALKS ABOUT THE CHANCES OF THE TRAILBLAZERS MAKING HISTORY & A JUMP TO THE BIG SKY)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Utah Tech's potential NCAA Tournament bid would be a significant achievement for the program, showcasing the team's growth and competitiveness at the Division I level. A tournament appearance would raise the school's national profile and provide a boost to its recruiting efforts in the years to come.