Conjuring Australia to Get to New York City
The Utes have been drawing a lot upon their summertime exhibition tour of Australia, and they plan on doing so again in order to reach a far different destination:
The Big Apple.
Coach Jim Boylen and his team can reach the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City next week if they can beat Washington on its home floor tonight, which Boylen said is going to require summoning the effort the Utes delivered while playing six games in eight days in Australia.
Just like then, the Utes planned to practice today before the game.
"We've been in this situation," Boylen said. "We've talked about Australia paying dividends for us and so I think this is a situation that we've been in and we're going to, obviously, try to make the most of it and be ready to play."
The Utes will meet a Washington team that clobbered the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the first round of the tournament. That was the season opener for the Huskies, some of whose supporters already have bought plane tickets to the next round of the tournament in New York.
"We have to perform or they are going to New York without us," Washington forward Jon Brockman said.
The Huskies won their opener 88-47 after blowing open the game late in the first half. Eleven players scored, with guard Tim Morris leading the team with 16 points off the bench. Brockman and guard Joel Smith each added 12 points.
The Utes figure to have an advantage inside again, with 7-foot-2 center Luke Nevill towering over most of the Huskies. Washington's only real big man is 7-foot sophomore center Luke Wolfinger, but he played only 11 minutes off the bench in the opener after missing the last two seasons with a foot injury.
"We've talked about playing big games ... and being ready to play big games," Boylen said. "This will be a big game for us."
"It's a goal of ours is to get to the Garden," Boylen added. "But our first goal is to come ... ready to compete and take that step and play against a good opponent in their home arena. It's a good test for my team. We haven't been in that situation yet together this year. We're looking forward to the challenge."
By the way, the Utes are listed as a 7.5-point underdog against the Huskies, after they were favored by 1 before their 77-64 victory over High Point in the tournament opener.
The Big Apple.
Coach Jim Boylen and his team can reach the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City next week if they can beat Washington on its home floor tonight, which Boylen said is going to require summoning the effort the Utes delivered while playing six games in eight days in Australia.
Just like then, the Utes planned to practice today before the game.
"We've been in this situation," Boylen said. "We've talked about Australia paying dividends for us and so I think this is a situation that we've been in and we're going to, obviously, try to make the most of it and be ready to play."
The Utes will meet a Washington team that clobbered the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the first round of the tournament. That was the season opener for the Huskies, some of whose supporters already have bought plane tickets to the next round of the tournament in New York.
"We have to perform or they are going to New York without us," Washington forward Jon Brockman said.
The Huskies won their opener 88-47 after blowing open the game late in the first half. Eleven players scored, with guard Tim Morris leading the team with 16 points off the bench. Brockman and guard Joel Smith each added 12 points.
The Utes figure to have an advantage inside again, with 7-foot-2 center Luke Nevill towering over most of the Huskies. Washington's only real big man is 7-foot sophomore center Luke Wolfinger, but he played only 11 minutes off the bench in the opener after missing the last two seasons with a foot injury.
"We've talked about playing big games ... and being ready to play big games," Boylen said. "This will be a big game for us."
"It's a goal of ours is to get to the Garden," Boylen added. "But our first goal is to come ... ready to compete and take that step and play against a good opponent in their home arena. It's a good test for my team. We haven't been in that situation yet together this year. We're looking forward to the challenge."
By the way, the Utes are listed as a 7.5-point underdog against the Huskies, after they were favored by 1 before their 77-64 victory over High Point in the tournament opener.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 11:33 AM |
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