Basketball: Utah is not in Colorado's shadow, at least
There's an interesting series of articles in today's Denver Post -- sister paper of The Salt Lake Tribune, by the way -- about the horrendous state of college basketball in Colorado right now.
Go to the main story at http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_8508685 and there are links to the other stories within that article.
I found the statistics about Colorado's lack of decent high school basketball especially compelling because I am often asked how Utah basketball stacks up nationally. Generally, I have considered it to be average, maybe a little below average, in terms of talent production.
Judging by the Post's numbers, though, I might have to change my thinking -- at least this year.
Nine boys players in Colorado, which has a population of 4.7 million people, have signed to play for Division I programs.
In Utah, which has a state population of 2.5 million, 10 players have signed with Division I schools, and a few more are getting real close looks.
Other larger or similar-size states have fewer, according to the Post: Alabama (4.6 million) has 12, Oregon (3.7 million) has 10 and Kansas (2.7 million) has seven.
I do know this: Utah has an abundance of outstanding high school coaches and directors of club programs who give up a lot of their time at little or no pay to help players improve in the state.
As another Post story points out, men's college basketball in Utah is alive and well, with BYU having won back-to-back MWC regular-season titles, Utah State earning a share of the WAC titlle and Weber State and Utah posting winning seasons.
Combined, Colorado's version of the big five -- Colorado State, Denver, Colorado, Air Force and Northern Colorado -- are 57-90, including 24-57 in conference games.
Also, Colorado State is the only Division I program in the nation to have both its men's and women's teams go winless in league play the same season this decade.
Go to the main story at http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_8508685 and there are links to the other stories within that article.
I found the statistics about Colorado's lack of decent high school basketball especially compelling because I am often asked how Utah basketball stacks up nationally. Generally, I have considered it to be average, maybe a little below average, in terms of talent production.
Judging by the Post's numbers, though, I might have to change my thinking -- at least this year.
Nine boys players in Colorado, which has a population of 4.7 million people, have signed to play for Division I programs.
In Utah, which has a state population of 2.5 million, 10 players have signed with Division I schools, and a few more are getting real close looks.
Other larger or similar-size states have fewer, according to the Post: Alabama (4.6 million) has 12, Oregon (3.7 million) has 10 and Kansas (2.7 million) has seven.
I do know this: Utah has an abundance of outstanding high school coaches and directors of club programs who give up a lot of their time at little or no pay to help players improve in the state.
As another Post story points out, men's college basketball in Utah is alive and well, with BYU having won back-to-back MWC regular-season titles, Utah State earning a share of the WAC titlle and Weber State and Utah posting winning seasons.
Combined, Colorado's version of the big five -- Colorado State, Denver, Colorado, Air Force and Northern Colorado -- are 57-90, including 24-57 in conference games.
Also, Colorado State is the only Division I program in the nation to have both its men's and women's teams go winless in league play the same season this decade.
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