U. in Great Shape After CSU Escape
Talk about a relief.
Had the Utes lost at Colorado State – the way it appeared they would, before coming on strong in overtime -- they would have entered their weekend off knowing they had created a serious opening for the other contenders in the Mountain West Conference and really kicked their NCAA Tournament at-large hopes in the teeth. The slumping eighth-place Rams, after all, were just 168th in the Ratings Percentage Index before the game, and an upset loss to them would have been lumped unceremoniously with the Southwest Baptist and Idaho State shortcomings.
Instead, the Utes are 19-7 overall and can enjoy their weekend off, knowing that they still control their own destiny, and can even realistically reach 22 victories before the conference tournament.
In fact, with UNLV losing at Wyoming last night, they can all but clinch the regular-season title before they even take the floor again, if New Mexico beats San Diego State on Saturday and UNLV beats Brigham Young at home. In that scenario, the Utes would have a two-game lead with four to play -- including the finale at home against a TCU team that had lost six straight before beating Air Force last night (and whose only road win in the league was against the winless Falcons).
But coach Jim Boylen was relieved enough to escape with the win, especially knowing how poorly the Utes played for much of regulation.
"I don't think my team understands ... you're going to get everybody's best shot," he said. "People are going to get jacked up for you, and we have to start getting that. A lot of my guys haven't been there before. We have to learn how to be there."
Had the Utes lost at Colorado State – the way it appeared they would, before coming on strong in overtime -- they would have entered their weekend off knowing they had created a serious opening for the other contenders in the Mountain West Conference and really kicked their NCAA Tournament at-large hopes in the teeth. The slumping eighth-place Rams, after all, were just 168th in the Ratings Percentage Index before the game, and an upset loss to them would have been lumped unceremoniously with the Southwest Baptist and Idaho State shortcomings.
Instead, the Utes are 19-7 overall and can enjoy their weekend off, knowing that they still control their own destiny, and can even realistically reach 22 victories before the conference tournament.
In fact, with UNLV losing at Wyoming last night, they can all but clinch the regular-season title before they even take the floor again, if New Mexico beats San Diego State on Saturday and UNLV beats Brigham Young at home. In that scenario, the Utes would have a two-game lead with four to play -- including the finale at home against a TCU team that had lost six straight before beating Air Force last night (and whose only road win in the league was against the winless Falcons).
But coach Jim Boylen was relieved enough to escape with the win, especially knowing how poorly the Utes played for much of regulation.
"I don't think my team understands ... you're going to get everybody's best shot," he said. "People are going to get jacked up for you, and we have to start getting that. A lot of my guys haven't been there before. We have to learn how to be there."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 7:02 AM |
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