Victory Felt Good, But Doesn't Reveal Much About Utes
Yes, it was nice to see Johnnie Bryant enjoy a good game in his senior send-off against Colorado State at the Huntsman Center on Tuesday night. It was fun for Chris Grant to hit that falling-down three-pointer, and for Sayre Brennan to grab a rebound in his career-high three-minute stint.
But seriously, it's almost impossible to take much from the 82-61 victory over the Rams.
They're just that bad.
It's not that the Rams aren't trying. They just don't have anybody. They started the season with only eight scholarship players, and have suffered all kinds of injury problems since. Against the Utes, they were without 7-foot centers Stuart Creason and Ronnie Aguilar, forcing them to start a small lineup -- only 6-foot-6 forward Andre McFarland was taller than 6-4 -- and jack up a season-high 32 three-pointers.
It wasn't nearly enough.
Nor was it enough of a test for the Utes to get much out of it.
Probably the best you can say is the Utes enjoyed a positive finish for the first time in awhile, something that can give them a break from the drudgery of their losing streak and perhaps give them a breath of fresh air for the end of the season. It did also hint that bringing center Luke Nevill off the bench really is a good idea -- he dominated again, and forced the Rams to help off the Utah shooters -- or that making guard Luka Drca the starting point guard was an astute (if overdue) move.
But we just can't be sure.
Not yet.
Not when the big victory you enjoy comes at the expense of an catastrophically overmatched team that has lost 16 straight games, the longest losing streak in school history. Let's wait until the Utes play the season finale at UNLV on Saturday to get a better read on them going into the Mountain West Conference tournament next week.
But seriously, it's almost impossible to take much from the 82-61 victory over the Rams.
They're just that bad.
It's not that the Rams aren't trying. They just don't have anybody. They started the season with only eight scholarship players, and have suffered all kinds of injury problems since. Against the Utes, they were without 7-foot centers Stuart Creason and Ronnie Aguilar, forcing them to start a small lineup -- only 6-foot-6 forward Andre McFarland was taller than 6-4 -- and jack up a season-high 32 three-pointers.
It wasn't nearly enough.
Nor was it enough of a test for the Utes to get much out of it.
Probably the best you can say is the Utes enjoyed a positive finish for the first time in awhile, something that can give them a break from the drudgery of their losing streak and perhaps give them a breath of fresh air for the end of the season. It did also hint that bringing center Luke Nevill off the bench really is a good idea -- he dominated again, and forced the Rams to help off the Utah shooters -- or that making guard Luka Drca the starting point guard was an astute (if overdue) move.
But we just can't be sure.
Not yet.
Not when the big victory you enjoy comes at the expense of an catastrophically overmatched team that has lost 16 straight games, the longest losing streak in school history. Let's wait until the Utes play the season finale at UNLV on Saturday to get a better read on them going into the Mountain West Conference tournament next week.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 11:01 PM |
5 Comments:
One thing the win does is keep utethunder and ranwithaute off of this board for a while. They only show up to complain when we lose.
I guess you think I should 'complain' when the team wins as well? Ridiculous. FYI: there is a difference between complaining and voicing concerns about the program/coach. There is also a difference between complaining and voicing frustrations about all of the losses.
You're kidding me, we beat the last place team at home, nothing to mention. I give congratulations and criticism when warranted. The only bright spots last night Luka though turnover prone is better at the point than anyone else right now, congratulations to the coaching staff for making the move the last two games of the regular season, should have tried it before the Washington Game. Glad Chris Grant got to get some time.
Hopefully, Coach Boylen will have an off season program in place to work on our weaknesses before next season begins. Like the Pete Newell camp for Luke or the camp Kiki Vandeweghe has for forwards, hint..hint...
We have the talent to run through the MWC Tourney, will we? Depends on what team hits the floor next week. The Utes that beat UNLV or the Utes that lost to TCU last week?
GO UTES!!!
Great comments ranwithaute!! Couldn't have said it better myself. Go Utes!
UTETHUNDER and RANWITHAUTE ROCK!!!
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