Utes Take Care of Business at Home
Forward Carlon Brown said it just as well as anybody could -- the Utes knew they needed to win at least two of their three games against UNLV, Brigham Young and New Mexico to stay in the thick of the hunt for a regular-season Mountain West Conference championship.
Check, aaaand check.
So here are the Utes, still sitting in a tie for first place in the league, with a relatively easy road trip coming up at TCU and Wyoming. Just as good, they took another step ahead of last year's pace by beating the Lobos 69-68 today on an impossible baseline jumper by guard Lawrence Borha with 11.2 seconds left at the Huntsman Center.
That's something they couldn't do last season -- just like beating BYU at home -- and showed that this team is indeed growing. In fact, they managed to beat the Lobos despite not having a great defensive game (the Lobos shot 54 percent), not getting a big night out of center Luke Nevill (11 points, six rebounds four blocks and three assists) and not winning the rebound battle (it was tied, 29-29).
"I thought we were pretty tough at the end," coach Jim Boylen said.
Indeed, that's when the Utes shined -- again, when they usually did not, last season. Even earlier this season they didn't look so good in crunch time, but Boylen said he feels as if the Utes learned from their could-easily-have-lost-the-game stretch run against Gonzaga a month ago. It has certainly looked like it lately, with the Utes pulling out close victories over the Cougars and Lobos.
Against the Lobos, the Utes did not allow a point in the final 2:56, after the Lobos had taken a 68-65 lead. The Utes forced three missed shots and two turnovers, spoiling New Mexico's hope of winning back-to-back games at the Huntsman Center for the first time since 1972-73.
"We just did all the little when it came down to it, at the end," Nevill said. "We didn't play that well, but guys stepped up at clutch moments and we did what we had to do."
Check, aaaand check.
So here are the Utes, still sitting in a tie for first place in the league, with a relatively easy road trip coming up at TCU and Wyoming. Just as good, they took another step ahead of last year's pace by beating the Lobos 69-68 today on an impossible baseline jumper by guard Lawrence Borha with 11.2 seconds left at the Huntsman Center.
That's something they couldn't do last season -- just like beating BYU at home -- and showed that this team is indeed growing. In fact, they managed to beat the Lobos despite not having a great defensive game (the Lobos shot 54 percent), not getting a big night out of center Luke Nevill (11 points, six rebounds four blocks and three assists) and not winning the rebound battle (it was tied, 29-29).
"I thought we were pretty tough at the end," coach Jim Boylen said.
Indeed, that's when the Utes shined -- again, when they usually did not, last season. Even earlier this season they didn't look so good in crunch time, but Boylen said he feels as if the Utes learned from their could-easily-have-lost-the-game stretch run against Gonzaga a month ago. It has certainly looked like it lately, with the Utes pulling out close victories over the Cougars and Lobos.
Against the Lobos, the Utes did not allow a point in the final 2:56, after the Lobos had taken a 68-65 lead. The Utes forced three missed shots and two turnovers, spoiling New Mexico's hope of winning back-to-back games at the Huntsman Center for the first time since 1972-73.
"We just did all the little when it came down to it, at the end," Nevill said. "We didn't play that well, but guys stepped up at clutch moments and we did what we had to do."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 5:23 PM |
6 Comments:
Great shot by Borha to win the game. It certainly wasn't by design or coaching, just pure luck. When will Boylen coach a team to victory during the final seconds of the game? Why is Luke not the one with the ball in his hand? At least he wasn't 25 feet away from the basket like the end of regulation against BYU. If Jimmer had made his free throw, the Utes would have been down by one in the final seconds of regulation and Drca would have been blamed for missing the shot, when it is COACHING situations that teach teams how to finish a game. C'mon Boylen, step it up and prove your worth, we have yet to see you become a mastermind.
BigZOOBfan,
You do realize that coach Boylen doesn't actually check these blogs and search for your approval right? In any sport, professional or college, if there is a terrible coach like you suggest Boylen is, then there is commotion caused by many fans and the media. In Boylen's case, YOU are the only one clamoring for his demise. You'd think if he was really as bad of a coach as you say, then that's something that would be readily discussed on sports radio, newspapers, and social circles. Maybe I live in a bubble, but outside of your ridiculous posts on this blog, I don't hear bad things about Boylen. Now I realize that Boylen isn't going to win National Coach of the year but he's doing a great job. The Utes are tied for 1st in the Mtn West. Accept it. Go away. No one wants you here.
GO UTES
The wins the Utes had this week don't just happen. Boylen is turning out to be a great coach and I expect him to be here for quite a while.
Fakeutefan wanted to run Coach Wittingham out of Utah a few years back too... what a stupid fool.
Here are some of the things that Fakeutefan don't get:
Don't understand Coach Boylen has gotten the players in shape;
don't understand we've a bunch of medicore players that Coach Boylen has gotten to play above their head;
don't understand that we are finally playing team defense;
don't understand that we have more than 6 plays in the play book.
Well Fakeutefan you're either really stupid or you're Giacoletti's B-arch... What a loser.
On a separate note... Mike, Thank you for the much improved quality and quantity of Blogging.
Kin
I second Kin's comment on Mike's blogging. Keep up the good work!
And what a fun couple of games this past week!
bigcougarfan has hated Boylen from the beginning, I agree with Steve, no one wants you here, go away, you wet blanket.
The Utes have improved a ton from last season. They came from behind in the closing minutes to WIN two consecutive games this week against two tough teams. Boylen has got this group to buy in and refuse to lose.
I hope they can bring that same intensity and will to win to their upcoming road trip this week.
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