Utes Facing Major Challenge Against Ducks
The Utes are leaving today to play the No. 19 Oregon Ducks on Saturday in the Pape Jam event at the Rose Garden in Portland in their first huge test of the coach Jim Boylen era.
And while have been tuning up with three games in the last nine days, the Ducks have not played since Nov. 29 -- an impressive victory at Kansas State -- on account of their exam week. And they evidently are viewing the Utes as presenting the same kind of strong test as the Utes see the Ducks providing.
"We like the challenge," forward Maarty Leunen said.
Leunen is one of five Oregon starters averaging in double-figures, and he probably will be the guy charged with defending Utah's Luke Nevill. Ordinarily, that would be a big advantage for Nevill, since Leunen is only 6-foot-9 -- some four inches shorter than Nevill.
But it doesn't take much of a memory to remember how 6-7 Jon Brockman of Washington worked Nevill over in Seattle last month, and Boylen was annoyed at how many opportunities Nevill missed (with a similar size advantage) in the 72-48 victory over Utah State on Wednesday night.
Not only that, but Leunen fared pretty well against Kansas State's Michael Beasley, the freshman sensation who had been leading the nation in scoring, so he's no slouch.
The Ducks will severely test the Utah defense, still playing their trademark push-the-pace style even after the departure of star guard Aaron Brooks, who led the team to a 29-8 record and the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season. The Ducks are averaging 91.3 points per game -- that's fourth in the nation -- and twice have scored 100 this season.
Coach Ernie Kent is shooting for his 200th victory at Oregon, by the way, which would pull him within a dozen of Hall of Fame predecessor Howard Hobson, the winningest coach in school history.
And while have been tuning up with three games in the last nine days, the Ducks have not played since Nov. 29 -- an impressive victory at Kansas State -- on account of their exam week. And they evidently are viewing the Utes as presenting the same kind of strong test as the Utes see the Ducks providing.
"We like the challenge," forward Maarty Leunen said.
Leunen is one of five Oregon starters averaging in double-figures, and he probably will be the guy charged with defending Utah's Luke Nevill. Ordinarily, that would be a big advantage for Nevill, since Leunen is only 6-foot-9 -- some four inches shorter than Nevill.
But it doesn't take much of a memory to remember how 6-7 Jon Brockman of Washington worked Nevill over in Seattle last month, and Boylen was annoyed at how many opportunities Nevill missed (with a similar size advantage) in the 72-48 victory over Utah State on Wednesday night.
Not only that, but Leunen fared pretty well against Kansas State's Michael Beasley, the freshman sensation who had been leading the nation in scoring, so he's no slouch.
The Ducks will severely test the Utah defense, still playing their trademark push-the-pace style even after the departure of star guard Aaron Brooks, who led the team to a 29-8 record and the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season. The Ducks are averaging 91.3 points per game -- that's fourth in the nation -- and twice have scored 100 this season.
Coach Ernie Kent is shooting for his 200th victory at Oregon, by the way, which would pull him within a dozen of Hall of Fame predecessor Howard Hobson, the winningest coach in school history.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 9:52 AM |
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