Utes Show How Good They Can Be With Win Over UNLV
Well, how about that?
Looks like the oddsmakers were onto something, when they made the Utes a 3-point favorite against UNLV tonight. And the Utes might be onto something, too, having proven the gamblers right by hanging on for an impressive 81-73 victory over the Rebels at the Huntsman Center.
"It's a real big win for us," guard Johnnie Bryant said.
No kidding.
Of course, the standard caution applies -- that the Utes have to "handle success" after a big victory and not let down at Air Force on Saturday. But snapping a five-game losing streak to the defending tournament champions shows just how good they can be when they play well.
"It's a sign of growing," coach Jim Boylen said, not wanting to label the victory a "signature" win. "We didn't win the Super Bowl, but it's a game we can refer to" down the line.
The thing that stuck out to me was how well the Utes were able to keep the Rebels from running. Neither team officially registered a fast-break point, and the Rebels made a season-low two steals and forced only nine turnovers. That's exactly the opposite of what they prefer.
It's a sign of good coaching, too, that Boylen could recognize that the Rebels really are not a very good shooting team, and that they derive much of their offense from that pressure defense. If you can avoid that, then, you have a pretty good chance.
"They turn you over, and lay it up," Boylen said. "They turn you over and get free throws from transition situations, and I think we did a good job" not allowing that to happen.
The Utes were fortunate that both Bryant and center Luke Nevill had big nights, too, with a season-high 26 points apiece, because nobody else did anything offensively. While Bryant and Nevill combined to shoot 19-for-27 for 52 points, the rest of the Utes were 7-for-26 for 29 points. But that just goes to show that opposing teams can survive allowing one Ute to erupt, but not two.
Two can get you beat.
Among other tidbits worth mentioning:
-- Center Luke Nevill compiled 26 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks, and "played pretty well with this [size] 13 up his ass," Boylen said, lifting his foot. "That's what turned it around. I thought he responded to coaching tonight, to put it softly. He responded to coaching."
-- The Utes improved to 13-1 this season when leading at halftime, having led 37-35 at the break. Good thing, too, because they're 0-7 when they trail at halftime.
-- Riverton's Joe Darger led the Rebels with 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including four three-pointers. He also grabbed three rebounds, but had a tough time guarding Nevill in the post.
-- The Utes impressively held UNLV's Wink Adams to 11 points, all in the second half. Adams is their leading scorer at nearly 16 points per game, but shot only 3-for-11 and uncharacteristically committed four turnovers with only one assist. "We've been doing that all year to everybody, haven't we?" Boylen said. "That's what we do. I think you have to take the best guy out, make him work for it, make somebody else beat you."
Looks like the oddsmakers were onto something, when they made the Utes a 3-point favorite against UNLV tonight. And the Utes might be onto something, too, having proven the gamblers right by hanging on for an impressive 81-73 victory over the Rebels at the Huntsman Center.
"It's a real big win for us," guard Johnnie Bryant said.
No kidding.
Of course, the standard caution applies -- that the Utes have to "handle success" after a big victory and not let down at Air Force on Saturday. But snapping a five-game losing streak to the defending tournament champions shows just how good they can be when they play well.
"It's a sign of growing," coach Jim Boylen said, not wanting to label the victory a "signature" win. "We didn't win the Super Bowl, but it's a game we can refer to" down the line.
The thing that stuck out to me was how well the Utes were able to keep the Rebels from running. Neither team officially registered a fast-break point, and the Rebels made a season-low two steals and forced only nine turnovers. That's exactly the opposite of what they prefer.
It's a sign of good coaching, too, that Boylen could recognize that the Rebels really are not a very good shooting team, and that they derive much of their offense from that pressure defense. If you can avoid that, then, you have a pretty good chance.
"They turn you over, and lay it up," Boylen said. "They turn you over and get free throws from transition situations, and I think we did a good job" not allowing that to happen.
The Utes were fortunate that both Bryant and center Luke Nevill had big nights, too, with a season-high 26 points apiece, because nobody else did anything offensively. While Bryant and Nevill combined to shoot 19-for-27 for 52 points, the rest of the Utes were 7-for-26 for 29 points. But that just goes to show that opposing teams can survive allowing one Ute to erupt, but not two.
Two can get you beat.
Among other tidbits worth mentioning:
-- Center Luke Nevill compiled 26 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks, and "played pretty well with this [size] 13 up his ass," Boylen said, lifting his foot. "That's what turned it around. I thought he responded to coaching tonight, to put it softly. He responded to coaching."
-- The Utes improved to 13-1 this season when leading at halftime, having led 37-35 at the break. Good thing, too, because they're 0-7 when they trail at halftime.
-- Riverton's Joe Darger led the Rebels with 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including four three-pointers. He also grabbed three rebounds, but had a tough time guarding Nevill in the post.
-- The Utes impressively held UNLV's Wink Adams to 11 points, all in the second half. Adams is their leading scorer at nearly 16 points per game, but shot only 3-for-11 and uncharacteristically committed four turnovers with only one assist. "We've been doing that all year to everybody, haven't we?" Boylen said. "That's what we do. I think you have to take the best guy out, make him work for it, make somebody else beat you."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 10:29 PM |
2 Comments:
As much as everyone makes out of Luke's consistant offensive play the last few games, to me his biggest improvement has come on the defensive end. His help defense is much better, he blocks shots on players that take him off of the dribble, he is just light years better at that end of the floor. When exactly was the last time Utah had more blocks than the Rebels in a game between the to?? 5 to 1 last night. Impressive.
Good call, Jeromy. Coach Boylen has talked a lot about how defense is the area in which he has asked Nevill to improve the most. In fact, after getting his three big blocks last night, Nevill already has 36 for the season with at least nine games to go ... eclipsing the 33 he had for all of last season. That's a good sign.
Thanks,
Mike
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