I love watching our Majerus coached team play. If you're a basketball junkie, there's nothing in the game of college basketball that compares. I've been going out of my way to watch UNC, Duke, Maryland, UConn, Syracuse, St. John's (I *really* like these guys BTW), Michigan State, Indiana, a little bit of the UCLA/Washington game on sunday (had another game with a Ute to watch), and still, I have yet to see a team that compares to the Utes in the way they play.

That game last night was the 3rd clinic I have seen them put on this year (Wake Forest and Fresno State being the other two). When they play like they did last night, I'm hard pressed to find any team in the country that could beat them 3 out of 5 times. The Utes play a brand of defense the likes of which I've never seen before. They crash the boards hard, plus, with the way they screen on the offensive end, you'd probably feel like you're driving one of those carnival bumper cars. It's insane.

Last night's game was as physical game as I have ever seen. Considering that the opponent was New Mexico (a notoriously "finesse" team), that was suprising. There were probably a dozen questionable no-calls, so the refs were letting them play.

The Utes held the combination of Walker/Henry/Robinson to a combined 3-18 from the field (2-10 from 3) for a grand total of 8 points. This is a trio that has a combined scoring average of 35 ppg. That's 75% below their average. Judkins said on the post-game that Killion told him that he planned on not letting Henry even get any shots off. The guy got 3 shots. Kudos to Killion on the defensive end. I'll overlook those 2 bricks just because of that.

I thought Hanno played his best defensive game last night. He got as physical as I've ever seen him. His defensive effort on Thomas was phenomenol. He kept Thomas off of the boards and challenged each and every of his shots. I think his experience kept him from getting into the foul trouble that Nate got into (made 2 really dumb fouls). Plus, I was very impressed with the effort of Johnston in the 2 minutes that we saw him.

Then there's the Iron Man Alex Jensen. 79 minutes in two games. Plus, it looked like he was the only one not running out of gas last night (except for Miller, but he doesn't count since he only played 29 minutes). Mottola and Althoff were both begging to come out with about 7 minutes left. They were just dying out there. Not Alex. He probably ran laps during time-outs just to keep from tightening up.
I can't believe this line:

39 minutes, 14 points on 5-7 shooting (0-1 from 3), 4-7 FT, 13 rebounds (4 offensive), 3 steals, our only blocked shot. He held Damain Walker to 2 points on the defensive end. I also heard that he led the concessions in popcorn sales and had 3 baptisms after the game was over.

Raftery said that Jensen could play in the NBA. I'm still not sold on that, but it seems like there should be a spot in the NBA for a 6-7" guy who is the ultimate "blender".

This team is amazing. I'm still hard pressed to believe that this team could get past the Sweet-16 without some sort of pretty big luck in seeding or the way the ball bounces. We just don't have the kind of experienced depth that it takes to go far in the tournament. But 4 straight years of a Sweet-16 appearance is something that *very* few teams have accomplished.

Go Utes!

Matt Smith
 

1-) I have to say, that each new game I see the Utes play, they continue to get better defensively. That is a scary thought for anyone that plays the Utes in the future. Right now, I really think that Utah could play with and beat EVERY team in the West, including Stanford and Arizona.

2-) Alex Jensen IS THE MAN!!!! After playing 40 minUTES against UTEP, he comes back with 39 minUTES against the Lobos. He not only is his normal AGRESSIVE self on the boards and defensively, but he has been VERY active offensively, actually taking some open outside shots and his low post game has been very big and aggressive for the Utes. I would have to give Team MVP honors right now to both Miller and Jensen. Also, can anyone count on 2 hands the number of 3 point plays Alex has had in the past 3 games. He is a GREAT finisher after the foul.

3-) Tyson Johnston played a big role last night. Although he only played 3 (I think) minUTES last night, he didn't give up ANYTHING to Kenny Thomas and he NEARLY made an impressive follow put back dunk over Thomas. I am sticking by my prediction that one day (sooner than later) Tyson will be a Star in Ute Gear.

4-) Adam Sharp continues to improve and impress. It has been said on this board before that Sharp is a more athletic version of Drew Hansen and I agree. He has been an important bench player for the Utes this year.

5-) Nate Althoff played a GREAT game last night. If he could have avoided foul trouble, he may have had an even bigger role. In 12 minUTES, he had 5 rebounds (2 offensive) and 6 points. He also did a GREAT job on Kenny Thomas. Nate is beginning to blossom.

6-) Earlier this year, based on his performance in several early games, I declared that Hanno Mottola was NOT a go-to guy in the Utes system. I stand corrected. He is quickly becomming a very solid player who CAN be counted on to hit a big shot.

I LOVE THIS UTE TEAM!!!! I think that 14-0 in the wac is definetly NOT out of the question now.

Rule
 

Yesterday at work, I was trying to kill time all day thinking about the big game tonight, and I was reading in my Blue Ribbon College Yearbook about the Lobos and Utes. In the section about the Lobos, they say that Kenny Thomas and Damien Walker may be the best inside scoring combo in America. WHAT A CROCK!!!!! Walker is EASILY the most overrated player in the entire WAC, and although Thomas is a pretty good player, he is NEVER big in the big game.

Rule
 

the utes administered a severe spanking to los lobos last night. you can call it whatever you want to, but it was a manhandle job. thus far in WAC, the utes are completely dominating.

i thought alot of the officiating was horrible last night. did anyone else notice that thomas seems to take several steps each time he posts up under the bucket? maybe he should be re-named walker and walker re-named thomas. last night thomas took 7 shots total. that's as many shots as the utes have victories in the WAC.

al jensen is really looking great. that guy knows how to play defense. if i were an nba scout, i'd be all over al.

the other thing i really like about this team is the bench play. they are all beginning to contribute to our wins. even tyson johnston got into it last night. WOW!

the utes are really looking good. if the utes can continue to play their game, the way their playing right now, going unbeaten in the WAC is not out of the question.
 

Dave Bliss has to be one of the worst coaches in college basketball. He can't win the big games (his NCAA tourney and WAC tourney records are good evidence...), and can't win consistently on the road.

Most damning is that his players don't improve from year to year. Kenny Thomas looked as frustrated and undisciplined last night as his did against Doleac as a Freshman. Bliss just plain can't TEACH; Majerus, on the other hand improves his players on a game-by-game basis.

If I'm a Lobo fan, I'd be ready for a change. I actually feel sort of sorry for the thug Kenny - he'll never win a WAC regular season title and will always play second fiddle to his Ute counterparts. Imagine this guy if he'd have played for Maj.

As a Ute fan, I hope Bliss stays for awhile. Its great to have UNM burdened wit that achilles heel...
 

Yeah, I agree 100,000% with you about Bliss. He is absolUTEly a terrible coach. For some unknown reason, UNM re-upped with Bliss over the summer with something like a 6 year extension on his current contract (which I believe still has a couple of years left).

UNM is NOT, and NEVER will be Utah in basketball, but they have had unmatched success under Bliss (2 NCAA's in 82 years before Bliss arrived), and that is why he will remain at UNM for a while to come. He will more than likely never advance past the Sweet Sixteen (if he couldn't even get there last year), and will always be Utah's favorite team to toy with.

Also, did you hear the boo birds last night, especially when it was 19-4 for Utah??? My wife asked me why they were booing, and I told her (half joking and half serious) that it was because they (the fans) are sick and tired of Utah dominating them and the WAC. Is it true....I THINK SO. Utah, with it's smothering defense last night, coupled with their 82-50 win a few years back in the WAC tourney, have now handed UNM their worst, most humiliating losses EVER!!! And UNM always goes into the season with high expectations to win the WAC and go far in the Tourney and Utah always beats them and does far better in the NCAA's.

EVERYONE IN THE WAC HATES THE UTES....and I LOVE THAT!!!!

Rule

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