'Nothing Changes' for matchup with Wyoming
The Utes are facing a critical game tonight at Wyoming, where the Cowboys are coming off a victory over San Diego State that snapped a four-game losing streak.
But coach Ray Giacoletti said there's no secret strategy for winning at the Arena-Auditorium.
"Nothing changes," he said. "It's about effort, pride, and talking on the defensive end of the floor."
The 9-16 Utes haven't shown much of any of that the past two games - back-to-back blowouts that suddenly have them heading in the wrong direction after winning four of their previous six games. They held a players-only meeting earlier this week, hoping to find some solution to a slide that could cost Giacoletti his job if it isn't stopped.
"We'll see what we come up with," the coach said.
The Utes beat the Cowboys 62-60 at the Huntsman Center on Jan. 20, with Wyoming's Daaron Brown fouling out after just 14 minutes trying to defend center Luke Nevill. Brown had missed five straight games with a sprained ankle before returning for the San Diego State game - he had four points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in 16 minutes - and expects to be closer to full strength for the rematch with the Utes.
But the 14-12 Cowboys also have guard Brandon Ewing, the league's leading scorer at 19.5 points per game, and backcourt mate Brad Jones - who was named the weekly Mountain West Conference player of the week after making 17 of 18 free throws on his way to 32 points in the 80-71 win over San Diego State.
Still, coach Steve McClain worries about Nevill.
"Utah does a great job of getting him the basketball," McClain said. "He's gotten stronger, and he's added to his moves. The key to defending him is you can't let him get you buried in and around the goal. Even then, he's become a very good passer and does a good job of sharing the basketball."
But coach Ray Giacoletti said there's no secret strategy for winning at the Arena-Auditorium.
"Nothing changes," he said. "It's about effort, pride, and talking on the defensive end of the floor."
The 9-16 Utes haven't shown much of any of that the past two games - back-to-back blowouts that suddenly have them heading in the wrong direction after winning four of their previous six games. They held a players-only meeting earlier this week, hoping to find some solution to a slide that could cost Giacoletti his job if it isn't stopped.
"We'll see what we come up with," the coach said.
The Utes beat the Cowboys 62-60 at the Huntsman Center on Jan. 20, with Wyoming's Daaron Brown fouling out after just 14 minutes trying to defend center Luke Nevill. Brown had missed five straight games with a sprained ankle before returning for the San Diego State game - he had four points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in 16 minutes - and expects to be closer to full strength for the rematch with the Utes.
But the 14-12 Cowboys also have guard Brandon Ewing, the league's leading scorer at 19.5 points per game, and backcourt mate Brad Jones - who was named the weekly Mountain West Conference player of the week after making 17 of 18 free throws on his way to 32 points in the 80-71 win over San Diego State.
Still, coach Steve McClain worries about Nevill.
"Utah does a great job of getting him the basketball," McClain said. "He's gotten stronger, and he's added to his moves. The key to defending him is you can't let him get you buried in and around the goal. Even then, he's become a very good passer and does a good job of sharing the basketball."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 9:27 AM |
1 Comments:
By nothing changes, does he mean that Utah will lose this one as well?
Who would have thought that we would be in jepoardy of not winning 10 games.
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