Focus on Next Step, Not Standings
Everything seems to be going right for the Utes -- they're riding a seven-game winning streak, close to breaking into the national rankings for the first time in four years and fresh from a weekend off with a two-game cushion atop the Mountain West Conference with only four games to play.
But coach Jim Boylen has not deviated from the script he has used with his players all season.
"I haven't talked to my team about the cushion," Boylen said at his weekly press conference Monday. "I really haven't. I've just talked to them about getting better and winning games. Taking care of our business at home this week and then going on the road and playing unselfish team basketball. ... I've talked about hanging a banner, and I've talked about doing the things necessary to hang a banner."
With center Luke Nevill having won his fifth league player of the week award, the 19-7 Utes begin what Boylen has called the "gauntlet" to finish the regular-season against UNLV at the Huntsman Center on Wednesday night, followed by back-to-back trips to Brigham Young and New Mexico -- two of the three teams trailing the Utes by two games in the league standings.
In other words, in about eight days, the Utes will have a real good idea whether they're going to win the regular-season championship.
"Big week for our program," Boylen said.
While Nevill shared his weekly league award with Wyoming's Brandon Ewing after scoring 23 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking a school-record seven shots (though one was erroneously credited to him, instead of forward Shaun Green) in an 89-79 overtime win at Colorado State last week, the Utes moved up to 26th in both the AP Top 25 and ESPN/USA Today coaches poll.
They also rank 11th in the Ratings Percentage Index, according to RealTimeRPI.com, with the 19th most-difficult schedule in the nation. ESPN's latest “Bracketology” is projecting them as a sixth seed in the NCAA Tournament.
"Excited about that," Boylen said. "Maybe a little disappointed we weren't ranked in the top 25. Don't really understand it. Don't really get into it much, but thankful to be 26th. ... Our RPI and our schedule strength are both in the top 25, but we're 26th, so who knows?"
Against the Rebels, the Utes will try to avenge a meltdown loss on the road earlier this season, when they blew a 12-point first-half lead and lost 75-65 at the Thomas & Mack Center -- site of the annual league tournament in about two weeks. The 20-7 Rebels are coming off a one-point home win over BYU last weekend, and three games behind the Utes in the loss column.
"We've won some big road games," Boylen said, "and we need to continue to do that, play well on the road. And then, we've taken care of our home floor, which we need to continue to do that. So, to me, it's how it's got to be -- take care of your home, and go on the road and play the best you can and give yourself a chance to win."
But coach Jim Boylen has not deviated from the script he has used with his players all season.
"I haven't talked to my team about the cushion," Boylen said at his weekly press conference Monday. "I really haven't. I've just talked to them about getting better and winning games. Taking care of our business at home this week and then going on the road and playing unselfish team basketball. ... I've talked about hanging a banner, and I've talked about doing the things necessary to hang a banner."
With center Luke Nevill having won his fifth league player of the week award, the 19-7 Utes begin what Boylen has called the "gauntlet" to finish the regular-season against UNLV at the Huntsman Center on Wednesday night, followed by back-to-back trips to Brigham Young and New Mexico -- two of the three teams trailing the Utes by two games in the league standings.
In other words, in about eight days, the Utes will have a real good idea whether they're going to win the regular-season championship.
"Big week for our program," Boylen said.
While Nevill shared his weekly league award with Wyoming's Brandon Ewing after scoring 23 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking a school-record seven shots (though one was erroneously credited to him, instead of forward Shaun Green) in an 89-79 overtime win at Colorado State last week, the Utes moved up to 26th in both the AP Top 25 and ESPN/USA Today coaches poll.
They also rank 11th in the Ratings Percentage Index, according to RealTimeRPI.com, with the 19th most-difficult schedule in the nation. ESPN's latest “Bracketology” is projecting them as a sixth seed in the NCAA Tournament.
"Excited about that," Boylen said. "Maybe a little disappointed we weren't ranked in the top 25. Don't really understand it. Don't really get into it much, but thankful to be 26th. ... Our RPI and our schedule strength are both in the top 25, but we're 26th, so who knows?"
Against the Rebels, the Utes will try to avenge a meltdown loss on the road earlier this season, when they blew a 12-point first-half lead and lost 75-65 at the Thomas & Mack Center -- site of the annual league tournament in about two weeks. The 20-7 Rebels are coming off a one-point home win over BYU last weekend, and three games behind the Utes in the loss column.
"We've won some big road games," Boylen said, "and we need to continue to do that, play well on the road. And then, we've taken care of our home floor, which we need to continue to do that. So, to me, it's how it's got to be -- take care of your home, and go on the road and play the best you can and give yourself a chance to win."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 2:41 PM |
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home