Snapshot of a Road Tour
The Utes are nearly finished with their exhibition tour of Australia, and it's not hard to figure out why they have won only once -- and by just one point -- in four games:
They're shooting, passing and defending poorly.
According to the statistics that director of operations Jon Dykema was kind enough to forward along, the Utes are shooting just 41.8 percent from the field on the trip, and a brutal 22 percent from three-point range. Meanwhile, opponents are hitting 46.5 percent from the floor and 39 percent from long range.
And while the Utes have committed 82 turnovers compared to 66 assists -- center Luke Nevill and guard Chris Grant have been the worst offenders with 30 turnovers between them -- their opponents have enjoyed the exact opposite ratio.
Nonetheless, coach Jim Boylen was encouraged by the defensive effort in a 102-88 loss to the West Sydney Razorbacks in Sydney today -- just hours after a "full-contact practice" that itself occured only about 18 hours after an 87-76 loss to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
"I felt we were more focused defensively," Boylen said. "I'm proud of the way we responded after having a contact practice this morning. Playing our fourth game in five days and holding a team to 40 percent on their home floor is a baby step in the right direction."
But the overall statistics don't show too many exciting trends.
Forward Shaun Green is having probably the toughest time among the regulars, shooting just 32 percent -- he's only 6-for-24 from three-point range -- and averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds to go with his 11 turnovers. Meanwhile, Grant has hit only 2 of 13 shots, and point guard Curtis Eatmon has strained to stay on the floor, compiling nine points, four rebounds, nine assists and nine turnovers while playing a team-low 77 minutes.
It's not all bad, though.
Forward Kim Tillie might be the biggest surprise, averaging 8.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 48 percent in only 94 minutes. Boylen has said Tillie "should be a double-double guy in our system," and praised him after making his first start of the trip against West Sydney for "playing with a sense of urgency" and being "really focused on improving."
Guard Lawrence Borha "has been our most consistent defender," Boylen said, which could result in his earning the starting job at shooting guard when the season begins. Borha has not shot well overall -- just 39.4 percent -- but he has hit 5 of 11 three-pointers while averaging 10 points and committing a team-low four turnovers.
And the Aussies on the roster?
Forward Stephen Weigh and Nevill have played more minutes than anybody else, and averaged 18.2 and 19.0 points, respectively. Weigh also has hit 11 of 12 free throws and 12 of 28 three-pointers, while Nevill has averaged nine rebounds and blocked four shots -- though he has shot poorly and committed all of those turnovers.
They're shooting, passing and defending poorly.
According to the statistics that director of operations Jon Dykema was kind enough to forward along, the Utes are shooting just 41.8 percent from the field on the trip, and a brutal 22 percent from three-point range. Meanwhile, opponents are hitting 46.5 percent from the floor and 39 percent from long range.
And while the Utes have committed 82 turnovers compared to 66 assists -- center Luke Nevill and guard Chris Grant have been the worst offenders with 30 turnovers between them -- their opponents have enjoyed the exact opposite ratio.
Nonetheless, coach Jim Boylen was encouraged by the defensive effort in a 102-88 loss to the West Sydney Razorbacks in Sydney today -- just hours after a "full-contact practice" that itself occured only about 18 hours after an 87-76 loss to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
"I felt we were more focused defensively," Boylen said. "I'm proud of the way we responded after having a contact practice this morning. Playing our fourth game in five days and holding a team to 40 percent on their home floor is a baby step in the right direction."
But the overall statistics don't show too many exciting trends.
Forward Shaun Green is having probably the toughest time among the regulars, shooting just 32 percent -- he's only 6-for-24 from three-point range -- and averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds to go with his 11 turnovers. Meanwhile, Grant has hit only 2 of 13 shots, and point guard Curtis Eatmon has strained to stay on the floor, compiling nine points, four rebounds, nine assists and nine turnovers while playing a team-low 77 minutes.
It's not all bad, though.
Forward Kim Tillie might be the biggest surprise, averaging 8.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 48 percent in only 94 minutes. Boylen has said Tillie "should be a double-double guy in our system," and praised him after making his first start of the trip against West Sydney for "playing with a sense of urgency" and being "really focused on improving."
Guard Lawrence Borha "has been our most consistent defender," Boylen said, which could result in his earning the starting job at shooting guard when the season begins. Borha has not shot well overall -- just 39.4 percent -- but he has hit 5 of 11 three-pointers while averaging 10 points and committing a team-low four turnovers.
And the Aussies on the roster?
Forward Stephen Weigh and Nevill have played more minutes than anybody else, and averaged 18.2 and 19.0 points, respectively. Weigh also has hit 11 of 12 free throws and 12 of 28 three-pointers, while Nevill has averaged nine rebounds and blocked four shots -- though he has shot poorly and committed all of those turnovers.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 2:14 PM |
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