Big Man Off to a Big Start for Utes
Don't look now, but center Luke Nevill is off to the best start of his career.
The 7-foot-2 senior has dominated the first two games, including the 79-60 victory over Wisconsin-Green Bay last night, which is something he had never done before, regardless of the level of competition. He's averaging 24 points and 14 rebounds with five blocks, and shooting 16-for-25 -- that's 64 percent, up from 53.5 percent last season.
"He's grown as a player," coach Jim Boylen said. "You know I've asked him to rebound, rebound, rebound, and he's doing it. ... He's big, he can run, he can catch. He should be able to rebound, and that's what we talk about him doing."
Nevill averaged 6.7 rebounds last season, but had seven in the first eight minutes or so against the Phoenix. True, he has enjoyed a massive height advantage the past two games, but that hasn't always translated into such strong performances.
"This is my last year, so I have to go out strong," he said. "It just kind of occurred to me. A couple of times, my junior or sophomore year, I just kind of got it into my head that, 'Oh, I have another year to make it up. I have another year to make it up.' Well ... it's is my last year, so every game counts. I'm just going to go at it as hard as I can."
Nevill has not enjoyed three straight 20-point games since early in his sophomore season -- the Utes take on Mississippi on Friday -- and has never enjoyed so much as back-to-back 20-point games with double-digit rebounds in both. Until now.
The 7-foot-2 senior has dominated the first two games, including the 79-60 victory over Wisconsin-Green Bay last night, which is something he had never done before, regardless of the level of competition. He's averaging 24 points and 14 rebounds with five blocks, and shooting 16-for-25 -- that's 64 percent, up from 53.5 percent last season.
"He's grown as a player," coach Jim Boylen said. "You know I've asked him to rebound, rebound, rebound, and he's doing it. ... He's big, he can run, he can catch. He should be able to rebound, and that's what we talk about him doing."
Nevill averaged 6.7 rebounds last season, but had seven in the first eight minutes or so against the Phoenix. True, he has enjoyed a massive height advantage the past two games, but that hasn't always translated into such strong performances.
"This is my last year, so I have to go out strong," he said. "It just kind of occurred to me. A couple of times, my junior or sophomore year, I just kind of got it into my head that, 'Oh, I have another year to make it up. I have another year to make it up.' Well ... it's is my last year, so every game counts. I'm just going to go at it as hard as I can."
Nevill has not enjoyed three straight 20-point games since early in his sophomore season -- the Utes take on Mississippi on Friday -- and has never enjoyed so much as back-to-back 20-point games with double-digit rebounds in both. Until now.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 6:11 AM |
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