Boylen Still Assessing Point Guards
One of the biggest questions about the Utes this season is how coach Jim Boylen will use his point guards.
Senior Tyler Kepkay was the starter for much of last season, but struggled mightily in league play and ultimately was benched in favor of junior Luka Drca. And while Drca played quite well, he's maybe not quite as fast as the Utes would like in getting the ball up the floor. Meanwhile, freshman Jace Tavita is talented, but still hasn't played a college game.
Boylen said the other day he's still not sure how his rotation will work out. Has Kepkay bounced back from his confidence-shattering junior season (Boylen believes he has)? Will Drca be able to push the pace (presuming his ankle injury last week doesn’t linger)? And will Tavita show the maturity on the floor that would give Boylen the confidence to use him?
So far, at least, Boylen isn't writing anyone off, except probably freshman Chris Hines, whose ankle injury remains at least three weeks from healing enough for him to re-join practice.
Even Tavita, he said, has a chance to play major minutes -- particularly if one of the others is hurt. That's what happened at the team's first scrimmage last week, when Drca was unable to play. In his place, Tavita showed well.
"It just seemed to click for him," Boylen said.
Senior Tyler Kepkay was the starter for much of last season, but struggled mightily in league play and ultimately was benched in favor of junior Luka Drca. And while Drca played quite well, he's maybe not quite as fast as the Utes would like in getting the ball up the floor. Meanwhile, freshman Jace Tavita is talented, but still hasn't played a college game.
Boylen said the other day he's still not sure how his rotation will work out. Has Kepkay bounced back from his confidence-shattering junior season (Boylen believes he has)? Will Drca be able to push the pace (presuming his ankle injury last week doesn’t linger)? And will Tavita show the maturity on the floor that would give Boylen the confidence to use him?
So far, at least, Boylen isn't writing anyone off, except probably freshman Chris Hines, whose ankle injury remains at least three weeks from healing enough for him to re-join practice.
Even Tavita, he said, has a chance to play major minutes -- particularly if one of the others is hurt. That's what happened at the team's first scrimmage last week, when Drca was unable to play. In his place, Tavita showed well.
"It just seemed to click for him," Boylen said.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 7:50 AM |
3 Comments:
I think they should use Kep as a shooting guard, he really just didn't look comfortable playing the point last year.
Tyler has had a great offseason and was able to show some great skills and maturity when he not only tried out for the Canadian National team, but made it and played with and against some NBA players.
If Boylen is able to show confidence in Tyler he will repay it with a great season.
I'm hoping Coach Boylen will come out with a lineup of:
Carlon Brown-1
Lawrence Borha-2
Shaun Green-3
Kim Tillie-4
Luke Nevill-5
Bring Kepkay, Drca and Grim off the bench. He wasted too many games last year experimenting with guys who can't handle the ball or create off the dribble.
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