Fighting for Starting Positions (Almost Literally)
Easily the most interesting part of the Utes' scrimmage last night was hearing coach Jim Boylen say afterward that starting spots were still "up for grabs."
Specifically, Boylen said that guard Lawrence Borha and forward Shaun Green might be playing their way out of their projected starting roles. Neither one made a huge impact during the scrimmage, and neither has been impressing Boylen in recent days.
Most damagingly, perhaps, Borha endured a heated confrontation with Boylen at practice on Friday in which Boylen berated and threatened Borha for being lazy, selfish and undisciplined. That came after Borha nearly got into a fight with teammate Sayre Brennan, when Brennan -- a walk-on until just a couple of weeks ago -- chastised and pushed him for missing a lay-up during a full-court drill. Boylen later praised Brennan for sticking up for the team and demanding Borha perform better.
"We have to go through those kinds of days," Boylen said. "We're just going through some family growing things, and that's OK."
The Utes would prefer to start Borha at shooting guard because Boylen has said he's their best perimeter defender -- as recently as last week, Boylen was consistently praising Borha for working hard and "getting it" -- and because that would allow them to bring guard Johnnie Bryant off the bench for Borha or point guard Tyler Kepkay. (Boylen believes Bryant will perform better in that role than as a starter.)
Ideally, they also would start Green at power forward so forward Kim Tillie could back up both Green and center Luke Nevill. Otherwise, the potential rotation and substitutions get complicated and probably compromised -- with little depth in the frontcourt.
But Boylen said that Tillie probably has outplayed Green so far, and that he needs to maintain "credibility in the locker room" by rewarding the players who perform the best and work the hardest.
"I would prefer to have a consistent lineup," Boylen said, "but that's about what they do on the floor."
The Utes still have several days before their exhibition opener against Montana Tech, and nearly two weeks before their regular-season opener against South Carolina-Upstate on Nov. 9 at the Huntsman Center. Boylen said a lot can happen between now and then.
Specifically, Boylen said that guard Lawrence Borha and forward Shaun Green might be playing their way out of their projected starting roles. Neither one made a huge impact during the scrimmage, and neither has been impressing Boylen in recent days.
Most damagingly, perhaps, Borha endured a heated confrontation with Boylen at practice on Friday in which Boylen berated and threatened Borha for being lazy, selfish and undisciplined. That came after Borha nearly got into a fight with teammate Sayre Brennan, when Brennan -- a walk-on until just a couple of weeks ago -- chastised and pushed him for missing a lay-up during a full-court drill. Boylen later praised Brennan for sticking up for the team and demanding Borha perform better.
"We have to go through those kinds of days," Boylen said. "We're just going through some family growing things, and that's OK."
The Utes would prefer to start Borha at shooting guard because Boylen has said he's their best perimeter defender -- as recently as last week, Boylen was consistently praising Borha for working hard and "getting it" -- and because that would allow them to bring guard Johnnie Bryant off the bench for Borha or point guard Tyler Kepkay. (Boylen believes Bryant will perform better in that role than as a starter.)
Ideally, they also would start Green at power forward so forward Kim Tillie could back up both Green and center Luke Nevill. Otherwise, the potential rotation and substitutions get complicated and probably compromised -- with little depth in the frontcourt.
But Boylen said that Tillie probably has outplayed Green so far, and that he needs to maintain "credibility in the locker room" by rewarding the players who perform the best and work the hardest.
"I would prefer to have a consistent lineup," Boylen said, "but that's about what they do on the floor."
The Utes still have several days before their exhibition opener against Montana Tech, and nearly two weeks before their regular-season opener against South Carolina-Upstate on Nov. 9 at the Huntsman Center. Boylen said a lot can happen between now and then.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 11:00 AM |
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