U. Big Man at Center of Big Victory
Everybody agreed they were surprised to not encounter a defense doubling-down on center Luke Nevill, just as they were surprised at how badly the Utes blasted the LSU Tigers at the Huntsman Center tonight.
But the first thing definitely led to the second.
It was almost embarrassing, watching the Tigers try to contain the 7-foot-2 Nevill -- who's been on quite a roll lately -- with only 6-11 Chris Johnson, who looked as if he weighed even less than the 210 pounds at which he's listed. Nevill had no problem backing him down in the post, time after time, and jumping over the top of him for dunks and easy hook shots.
"Seeing him dunk on the guy, getting the hooks going, it was real nice," teammate Carlon Brown said. "Real fun."
Nevill scored 17 points by halftime on 8-for-10 shooting, kick-starting the offense while at the same time helping set the tone on defense. By the end, he scored 23 points -- all in the game's first 25 minutes or so -- and grabbed six rebounds with three blocks, while his teammates erupted in similar fashion against a shockingly porous defense. Brown had 17 points and seven rebounds after his near triple-double against Wyoming, and guard Luka Drca and forward Shaun Green added 13 points apiece.
The Utes shot nearly 64 percent, and held the Tigers to just seven baskets in the second half.
"Utah beat the living tarnation out of us, in all phases," LSU coach Trent Johnson said. "They are a good basketball team and they are going to have a chance to do a lot of special things during the course of the year."
Coach Jim Boylen could hardly disagree after the game, praising his team's defensive and rebounding effort, and saying that its dangerous outside shooting is why the Tigers were willing to take their chances one-on-one against Nevill.
"When you have shooting out there and you have the offense that we have ... I think we do a good job," Boylen said. "I have to give my staff credit. The system that we have, if they take this away, we're going to do something else. If they take Luke away, we're going to use him in a different way. My guys are starting to understand that."
It was such a good win -- the Tigers had been 12-1, and beating them boosted the Utes to No. 21 in the Ratings Percentage Index -- that there was room for some post-game levity. Brown joked that the dunk he was planning before he got fouled hard from behind in the second half might have turned out to be his best one yet, and I quickly followed that answer with a question about whether he had any predictions about where the Utes will be sent for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Sadly, he didn't bite.
But the first thing definitely led to the second.
It was almost embarrassing, watching the Tigers try to contain the 7-foot-2 Nevill -- who's been on quite a roll lately -- with only 6-11 Chris Johnson, who looked as if he weighed even less than the 210 pounds at which he's listed. Nevill had no problem backing him down in the post, time after time, and jumping over the top of him for dunks and easy hook shots.
"Seeing him dunk on the guy, getting the hooks going, it was real nice," teammate Carlon Brown said. "Real fun."
Nevill scored 17 points by halftime on 8-for-10 shooting, kick-starting the offense while at the same time helping set the tone on defense. By the end, he scored 23 points -- all in the game's first 25 minutes or so -- and grabbed six rebounds with three blocks, while his teammates erupted in similar fashion against a shockingly porous defense. Brown had 17 points and seven rebounds after his near triple-double against Wyoming, and guard Luka Drca and forward Shaun Green added 13 points apiece.
The Utes shot nearly 64 percent, and held the Tigers to just seven baskets in the second half.
"Utah beat the living tarnation out of us, in all phases," LSU coach Trent Johnson said. "They are a good basketball team and they are going to have a chance to do a lot of special things during the course of the year."
Coach Jim Boylen could hardly disagree after the game, praising his team's defensive and rebounding effort, and saying that its dangerous outside shooting is why the Tigers were willing to take their chances one-on-one against Nevill.
"When you have shooting out there and you have the offense that we have ... I think we do a good job," Boylen said. "I have to give my staff credit. The system that we have, if they take this away, we're going to do something else. If they take Luke away, we're going to use him in a different way. My guys are starting to understand that."
It was such a good win -- the Tigers had been 12-1, and beating them boosted the Utes to No. 21 in the Ratings Percentage Index -- that there was room for some post-game levity. Brown joked that the dunk he was planning before he got fouled hard from behind in the second half might have turned out to be his best one yet, and I quickly followed that answer with a question about whether he had any predictions about where the Utes will be sent for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Sadly, he didn't bite.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 11:43 PM |
6 Comments:
Michael,
Did you get a chance to get any of the scouts take on Utahs team?
Please. Utah has nothing this year. I am surprised by all the tourney talk. Gonzaga has lost 4 straight games and is not a great team by any stretch. LSU was a paper tiger and have beaten no one and lost both of their road games this year. With losses to ISU and SW Baptist, the Utes will have to have a great run in the MWC to even sniff the tourney (CBI anyone?) While they may have thought they scheduled good teams, those teams have not been good. Oregon is terrible, Mississippi lost to New Mexico by 30. Who else have they beaten?
Something the PRI will not notice is that Mississippi lost their best player and leading scorer to injury for the season after they played Utah.
Hi All ...
First, no, I'm afraid I didn't have a chance to hit up the scouts for their thoughts on the Utes. My apologies. Secondly, I wouldn't say the Utes have "nothing" -- though it's fair to view their results so far with some skepticism, noting the points that W&J have made. I do think Gonzaga is better than its recent slide (amid some rough scheduling) suggests, though, and Cal might wind up pretty well (though obviously, the Utes lost to them). In short, I'd say the Utes have enough ability that I would not definitively rule them out of the NCAA's just yet. And thirdly, Jefe is right that Ole Miss lost Chris Warren after they played the Utes, but they also had lost starter Eniel Polynice and backup Trevor Gaskins (I think I have his name right) before the Utes beat them.
For what it's worth ...
Thanks!
Michael
Luke was amazing last night. We have been waiting three years for dominance from him.
And for my haters, I will try to lay off Boylen as my New Year's resolution but I will NEVER like the guy, and I most likely will always think he is a HORRIBLE coach. The Gonzaga win was a fluke, the inbounds plays he called at the end were ridiculous and should have cost us another game. I love the UTES and want them to win, but it will take a REAL coach to get them back to supremacy. GO UTES! Keep up the great work Michael!
bigutefan - you don't have to like Boylen, you can hate him if you want. The fact of the matter is that you'll just have to deal with him when he's bringing us far into the Tournament year in and year out. Have fun being frustrated while the rest of us REAL fans enjoy great basketball.
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