Do you all (I should say y'all considering where I live) remember a year or two ago how everyone was saying that since Utah seemed to choke away games on ESPN (I remember the Wyoming game in particular) that they were jinxed. Seems no one is saying that nowdays. Three in a row.
Talk about a down year for the WAC. In the Mountain, UNLV with a good WAC record, but their preseason will hurt them, plus they have several road games left. A four-way tie for second (5-4) and TCU in third at 3-5. Jeez. In the Pacific, UNM is toast. Hopefully Fresno finishes strong (other than against Utah) and gets in the NCAA. They still have the UNM-UTEP road trip and Utah at home, so nothing's easy. If Utah runs the table (and this is still a big IF), then the WAC could conceivably get only one team in (if everybody else folded down the stretch). Imagine.
Who amoung you would have thought that Jensen, Mottola, and Althoff would be a combined 5-13 FG (19 pts), 11 rebs, and 14 fouls, and Utah would still kick the holy crap out of the Y?
After watching the first half, I couldn't help but think "what would the score be if Utah was playing well on offense?" Utah shot 37% while BYU shot 40%, but BYU had only 15 shots compared to 30 for Utah. And Utah couldn't hit a three in the first half (I think they were 2-13 or something). That is the problem with teams that are going to use the zone against the Utes; you'd better rebound very well.
Thoughts on seeding. If Utah gets into a tough bracket (such as Duke's) I think that a 4 seed might be a good thing. That gives Rick 4-6 days to prepare a game plan, whereas, if the Utes get by a sweet 16 game as a 2-3, then they have to play the 1 with two days preparation. But then again, they did it last year.
Anybody else see Phil Cullen coming along like Britton did late last year? With him, Utah has a very good eight man rotation.
In reference to Andre's comments below that he screws up in BYU games, his line was pretty damn good. I don't think he messed up last night.
About Killion breaking out of his slump; I think that he will always have cold games, but you leave him open at your own risk. I liked the two plays where he drove to the basket and pulled up for the short jumper, ala Andre.
I feel really good about this team.
Go Utes!
NC Ute
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