Tavita Time Could Pay Big Dividends
Judging by practice, Jace Tavita is still trying to remember every page of the voluminous playbook.
But the freshman point guard said he is appreciating the "big-time learning experience" that he's enjoying as the starter in place of point guard Luka Drca. Tavita will make his third straight start for the Utes when they play host to Weber State at the Huntsman Center on Saturday.
"It's been fun," he said. "It's not often freshmen come in and start, but I've learned a lot."
The 6-foot-3 former Brighton High School star unexpectedly enjoyed his first substantial playing time of the season after Drca sprained his ankle at Idaho State – he had played only 16 minutes, to that point -- and has started against Cal and Oklahoma since then. He will get the nod against the Wildcats and at Utah State on Monday because Drca is suspended for those games.
Coach Jim Boylen said Tavita has been working hard on improving, something the player himself acknowledged he must do.
"It's such an adjustment," Boylen said. "You go from playing at Brighton High School to starting against Oklahoma, in the same year. We all go through it. We all played, we all had our first start, we all had starting to play as a freshman. There's a million things going on in your mind. What we try to do with him is keep it as simple as possible."
Tavita is a good passer who can create open shots for others, his coaches and teammates agree, but also remains prone to getting too anxious or manic when trying to run the offense.
"But when he gets his mind set to what he has to do, when he knows the play and he's comfortable with the play, he really runs it quickly and he really runs it efficiently," center Luke Nevill said. "We just have to get him more comfortable with all the plays."
Boylen said he has not considered using senior point guard Tyler Kepkay as the starter instead, in part because he believes that Tavita can benefit more from the increased reps he enjoys in practice as a starter. "Is it better for Jace to be sitting over there saying, 'When am I going in? When am I going in?'" Boylen said, "or to say, 'I'm starting the game, I have to prepare that way.' And I believe in that, for a freshman."
Coach Boylen points to his experience last season with forward Carlon Brown, who became a starter as a freshman after the injury and subsequent departure of Stephen Weigh. "Look at the dividends that is paying right now, for that guy," Boylen said.
But the freshman point guard said he is appreciating the "big-time learning experience" that he's enjoying as the starter in place of point guard Luka Drca. Tavita will make his third straight start for the Utes when they play host to Weber State at the Huntsman Center on Saturday.
"It's been fun," he said. "It's not often freshmen come in and start, but I've learned a lot."
The 6-foot-3 former Brighton High School star unexpectedly enjoyed his first substantial playing time of the season after Drca sprained his ankle at Idaho State – he had played only 16 minutes, to that point -- and has started against Cal and Oklahoma since then. He will get the nod against the Wildcats and at Utah State on Monday because Drca is suspended for those games.
Coach Jim Boylen said Tavita has been working hard on improving, something the player himself acknowledged he must do.
"It's such an adjustment," Boylen said. "You go from playing at Brighton High School to starting against Oklahoma, in the same year. We all go through it. We all played, we all had our first start, we all had starting to play as a freshman. There's a million things going on in your mind. What we try to do with him is keep it as simple as possible."
Tavita is a good passer who can create open shots for others, his coaches and teammates agree, but also remains prone to getting too anxious or manic when trying to run the offense.
"But when he gets his mind set to what he has to do, when he knows the play and he's comfortable with the play, he really runs it quickly and he really runs it efficiently," center Luke Nevill said. "We just have to get him more comfortable with all the plays."
Boylen said he has not considered using senior point guard Tyler Kepkay as the starter instead, in part because he believes that Tavita can benefit more from the increased reps he enjoys in practice as a starter. "Is it better for Jace to be sitting over there saying, 'When am I going in? When am I going in?'" Boylen said, "or to say, 'I'm starting the game, I have to prepare that way.' And I believe in that, for a freshman."
Coach Boylen points to his experience last season with forward Carlon Brown, who became a starter as a freshman after the injury and subsequent departure of Stephen Weigh. "Look at the dividends that is paying right now, for that guy," Boylen said.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 11:12 AM |
2 Comments:
Won't be long before Swoop is staring at center and Luke is coming off the bench, because this philosphy of excellent coaching is really working. I think maybe in Jr. Jazz somebody might try this, yet to see it at any other level except Boylen ball is a mystery. UGH! Michael Jordan would have been so much better if he had come off the bench instead of starting. Anyone else agree? Except for Bullwinkle.
I have nothing against Tavita, it is a good thing for him and his development.
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