Defense Wins Titles? Not If the Offense Chokes First
Not surprisingly, coach Jim Boylen has called for an early-morning practice tomorrow, after his Utes lost to Wyoming 69-64 at the Huntsman Center tonight ... so this is going to be short and sweet.
Clearly, the Utes are doing their best to disprove the theory that defense is the key to winning.
While they have managed to stay close in games by virtue of their vastly improved defense, their frequent impotence on offense has been to blame for their four losses in the last five games.
Not only have the Utes missed potential winning or tying shots in all of those games -- guard Tyler Kepkay did it for the third time in that stretch, by missing a running three-pointer in the waning seconds against the Cowboys -- but they have shot and scored miserably, compared to what they had managed the rest of the time.
For example, the Utes were scoring 70.5 points per game before returning to league play two weeks ago, but have scored only 59.8 points per game in their four losses since. They're also shooting just 43.8 percent (and a miserable 18-for-64 from three-point range) in those losses, after hitting 50.7 percent to lead the league before that.
"We have to shoot the ball well to be good," Boylen said.
You know, like they did against TCU.
Probably the biggest problem against Wyoming, though, wasn't the missed shot at the end of the game, but rather the 10-minute stretch the Utes endured without a basket late in the first half and early in the second. They missed 10 straight shots in that span, allowing the Cowboys to build a lead they never gave back -- and that's a team that had not won back-to-back games all season.
How much do you think Boylen dreams of having some guards who can drive, create and get to the free-throw line like Wyoming's Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones? Those guys absolutely dissected the Utes' backcourt, combining for 38 points, 13 rebounds (all by the diminuitive Jones) and 13-for-13 free-throw shooting.
Clearly, the Utes are doing their best to disprove the theory that defense is the key to winning.
While they have managed to stay close in games by virtue of their vastly improved defense, their frequent impotence on offense has been to blame for their four losses in the last five games.
Not only have the Utes missed potential winning or tying shots in all of those games -- guard Tyler Kepkay did it for the third time in that stretch, by missing a running three-pointer in the waning seconds against the Cowboys -- but they have shot and scored miserably, compared to what they had managed the rest of the time.
For example, the Utes were scoring 70.5 points per game before returning to league play two weeks ago, but have scored only 59.8 points per game in their four losses since. They're also shooting just 43.8 percent (and a miserable 18-for-64 from three-point range) in those losses, after hitting 50.7 percent to lead the league before that.
"We have to shoot the ball well to be good," Boylen said.
You know, like they did against TCU.
Probably the biggest problem against Wyoming, though, wasn't the missed shot at the end of the game, but rather the 10-minute stretch the Utes endured without a basket late in the first half and early in the second. They missed 10 straight shots in that span, allowing the Cowboys to build a lead they never gave back -- and that's a team that had not won back-to-back games all season.
How much do you think Boylen dreams of having some guards who can drive, create and get to the free-throw line like Wyoming's Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones? Those guys absolutely dissected the Utes' backcourt, combining for 38 points, 13 rebounds (all by the diminuitive Jones) and 13-for-13 free-throw shooting.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 11:33 PM |
2 Comments:
Totally agree with that statement. Our offense has been a joke lately.
Amidst all my joy of watching Luke Nevill turn in his best offensive game of the season, I didn't realize Wyoming's strategy, that ultimately won the game. By not double-teaming Nevill, Wyoming was able to smother Utah's perimeter offense, which the Utes rely on more than they should. Utah was 3-13 from long range in the game, and 2-10 at halftime. Besides Nevill, Tyler Kepkay was the only Ute in double figures, and seven of his 11 points came in the final three minutes.
Brad Jones and Brandon Ewing are painful to watch, because they represent what Utah is not: high-flying, high-scoring and athletic. We could definitely use some players like that, and hopefully Boylen is recruiting some.
This team is so frustrating to watch. They're not terrible, but they're not good. They're not hopeless, but they're not encouraging. Just when you think they're on their way up, they have a stupid game like last night where they look like crap.
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