Never Too Late for a New Role
Center Luke Nevill probably isn't going to be coming off the bench when the Utes open the college season in a few months.
But Johnnie Bryant?
The senior guard appears poised to fill a new role in his final collegiate season, judging by the way new coach Jim Boylen is using him during the team's exhibition tour of Australia. Bryant has come off the bench in the last two games -- including a 92-71 victory over the Rockhampton Rockets on Wednesday -- as Boylen tries to acclimate him to that role.
"Johnnie seems to be embracing the role of coming off the bench and has played better as a result," Boylen said. "I thought he did a better job of leading us" against the Rockets.
Bryant scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds against the Rockets, a second-division developmental team in the Australian Basketball Association. It was probably his best game of the tour, and suggests he will keep coming off the bench when the college season rolls around -- despite having started 57 of 59 games for the Utes the past two seasons.
"We're just learning, every day," Bryant said before the trip. "That's the biggest thing. I think it's very good for us, and I think it's going to help us."
If the Utes had to start the season today, Boylen said he probably would start incoming junior-college transfer Tyler Kepkay at point guard and junior Lawrence Borha at shooting guard, with Bryant coming off the bench and able to play both guard positions.
That would certainly give the second group more firepower -- Bryant averaged 15.1 points last season -- and Bryant did not sound before the trip as if he would have any problems with Boylen or his methods. "He's real hands on, and he teaches the game of basketball and shows us how to pay attention to detail," Bryant said while agreeing that he likes his new coach. "Thinking of things in advance."
Nevill also has come off the bench the last two games, but that seemed to be mostly in response to his poor performance in the third game of the tour. The 7-foot-1 center undoubtedly will be back in the starting lineup when the Utes take the floor for the college season.
But Johnnie Bryant?
The senior guard appears poised to fill a new role in his final collegiate season, judging by the way new coach Jim Boylen is using him during the team's exhibition tour of Australia. Bryant has come off the bench in the last two games -- including a 92-71 victory over the Rockhampton Rockets on Wednesday -- as Boylen tries to acclimate him to that role.
"Johnnie seems to be embracing the role of coming off the bench and has played better as a result," Boylen said. "I thought he did a better job of leading us" against the Rockets.
Bryant scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds against the Rockets, a second-division developmental team in the Australian Basketball Association. It was probably his best game of the tour, and suggests he will keep coming off the bench when the college season rolls around -- despite having started 57 of 59 games for the Utes the past two seasons.
"We're just learning, every day," Bryant said before the trip. "That's the biggest thing. I think it's very good for us, and I think it's going to help us."
If the Utes had to start the season today, Boylen said he probably would start incoming junior-college transfer Tyler Kepkay at point guard and junior Lawrence Borha at shooting guard, with Bryant coming off the bench and able to play both guard positions.
That would certainly give the second group more firepower -- Bryant averaged 15.1 points last season -- and Bryant did not sound before the trip as if he would have any problems with Boylen or his methods. "He's real hands on, and he teaches the game of basketball and shows us how to pay attention to detail," Bryant said while agreeing that he likes his new coach. "Thinking of things in advance."
Nevill also has come off the bench the last two games, but that seemed to be mostly in response to his poor performance in the third game of the tour. The 7-foot-1 center undoubtedly will be back in the starting lineup when the Utes take the floor for the college season.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 2:19 PM |
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