Okay, Runnin' Utes, you own this town...

by JazzyUte on Nov 14, 2011 3:52 PM MST in Basketball

haha, just kidding...

But seriously, Utah basketball is in prime position to offer up some basketball for this sport-crazed town now that the NBA is most likely headed toward cancellation.

It's not the best season for that honor to be heaped upon the program, since, you know, they're probably not going to be good. But interest should be there, even if only marginally . The added quality of Pac-12 opponents should also offer up more buzz than what we saw last year - especially when you include all the new faces and new coaching staff.

But, and there is always some important caveat, you've got to win.

Not a lot, mind you. But enough to keep interest. Especially against lesser opponents like San Diego Christian College, who play in the lowly NAIA and aren't even very good at it.

This year is going to offer up a great opportunity for Larry Krystkowiak and his coaching staff. With no Jazz five miles west of campus, the basketball-starved community might just look up to The Hill for some action. Now hopefully the product is entertaining, even if they don't win many games.

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College Basketball Should reap rewards

and this is one of the things i’m excited about.

let’s just hope the utes can be somewhat competitive this year

by utahmanami on Nov 14, 2011 4:13 PM MST reply actions

That answer would be no

by UnHoly Ram on Nov 15, 2011 7:44 AM MST up reply actions

we gotta win tonight.

there is no excuse for losing.

[shameless self promotion] You are always welcome to visit my blog @ bigbenstechnicalfoul.blogspot.com, I always try to make it fun and enjoyable. I most often talk teams in Utah, but I also like to talk national stuff. [/shameless self promotion]

by BigBenSportsGuy on Nov 14, 2011 4:20 PM MST reply actions

If we lose tonight...

There will be no hope for Sports in Utah from January to September. What am I supposed to do with all my time? Focus on my classes?

by Mercury on Nov 14, 2011 4:53 PM MST reply actions

Jazzy we know you like the NBA, but......

aren’t you sick and tired of hearing about these over paid babies whining about MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of dollars a year. a 50/50 split sounds pretty fair, considering the owners are not getting paid from nike, reebok, adidas etc….Derrick Fisher is the head of the union i guess, and i thought he was a humble guy. hmm.. maybe 8 million a year can get you awfully complacent. Maybe its my low paying job that’s got me ranting….. anyway don’t hate me Sean ;)

by aUTmanAMi on Nov 14, 2011 6:07 PM MST reply actions

The BRI Split is the least important part of the process

The players had no problem with the 50/50. Last week they even publicly said they are okay with the 50/50.

The system issues is what the players had an issue with, and it was the system issues that caused the deal to fall apart.

The Players and the Owners are both equally responsible for the impending cancellation of the season, the only difference is that the NBA and Stern have played the media so well that it’s got people focusing on 50/50, while it’s proposal was a royal screw job to the players on many other system issues.

by UnHoly Ram on Nov 15, 2011 7:46 AM MST up reply actions

I don't have nearly the sympathy

For basketball players that I did for the NFL players. In the NFL, you’ve got guys who are going to make league minimum for 8 years and hope that they saved a lot, because they will be unable to work most other jobs. In the NBA, your career goes on longer and you don’t leave the league physically destroyed.

It’s a good thing I don’t really like basketball, or I would be piiiiissed

by Joseph Silverzweig on Nov 15, 2011 9:28 AM MST up reply actions

Oh I have absolutely no sympathy for players or owners.

I just get bugged when the 50/50 split is blamed for where we are at.

by UnHoly Ram on Nov 15, 2011 12:53 PM MST up reply actions

I am consistently amazed

At the incredibly poor handling of the media/public perception by the players. The NBA stuff speaks for itself, but even in the NFL… what’s with Tom Brady and Drew Brees being the spokespeople? The very millionaires that no one feels ANY sympathy for? Have an 8 year veteran DT who has been making 250 a year and has no pension be your spokesperson. Better yet, have that same DT who has been out 4 years and needs a cane be your spokesperson.

Not even so much as a right/wrong thing, but just the sheer incompetence of the players and their agents and attorneys… they pay people big bucks to manage their image; they shouldn’t suck at it.

by Joseph Silverzweig on Nov 16, 2011 10:45 AM MST up reply actions

Yea players getting worked in the media

And especially in the NBA where the players had absolutely zero leverage, they needed to have public perception on their side. What they should have done was come back with a counter proposal, putting the ball in Stern’s court to either accept, continue negotiation or walk away.

They’d still be where they are now, and they’d still get a deal that will probably be worse than what was on the table now, but they wouldn’t be the villains.

by UnHoly Ram on Nov 16, 2011 12:09 PM MST up reply actions