Runnin' Utes royally bucked by Broncos

I think my focus might be on recruiting then

by PanchoUte on Nov 16, 2011 8:06 PM MST reply actions

during the football offseason

by PanchoUte on Nov 16, 2011 8:07 PM MST up reply actions

My how times have changed, eh?

Once upon a time, Utah football was just a way to kill time to basketball season.

Now basketball is there solely to kill time until football starts up again.

by JazzyUte on Nov 16, 2011 8:10 PM MST up reply actions

for some of us maybe...

by luey123 on Nov 17, 2011 9:37 AM MST up reply actions

Hey, I'll always love basketball...

But damn it can be tough watching the team you love get its teeth kicked in on a weekly basis. I hope to see improvement, but right now, it’s tough.

by JazzyUte on Nov 18, 2011 11:53 AM MST up reply actions

Right you are pancho. Sit back and enjoy the previously unattainable recruiting markets. Hopefully things will pan out in time.

by Accdb on Nov 16, 2011 8:27 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

The defensive rotations were generally terrible, especially against the drive. Given that this team is with a few exceptions young that should improve as the season goes along but the shooting is so bad that even if they get it together defensively they will still be terrible. A lot of these guys not only can’t hit decent shots many of them can’t hit the ocean if they were standing in a boat. Say what you will about Jiggy and Hines but they can score and on this offensive black hole of a team that makes them valuable. Odunsi had a nice night and Farr showed flashes of being a player tonight (unfortunately he is pretty hit and miss thus far). Storey has looked good for the most part and Martin can make plays defensively. Aside from that there isn’t much to be optimistic about. Washburn is still talented but pillow soft, Mathews should have been redshirted on any other team, I thought Dawson could bring something but he’s not shown anything that exceeds Wilkinson, who isn’t even on a scholly. Ugh, just Ugh…

by PlannerUte on Nov 16, 2011 8:38 PM MST reply actions

I watched the game on Monday night

and they didn’t hit an outside shot for most of the second half. I ask the same question every frickin year. Why don’t we recruit gym rats that can actually shoot instead of ‘athletes’ and I use the last term loosely.

And tonight they had a lot of turnovers again. Pathetic.

by Utah-UCLA alum on Nov 16, 2011 9:45 PM MST up reply actions

Double yikes...

I went to the game last night and yes the rotation was putrid. Boise just sat their Aussie guys behind the 3 point line and they sank ‘em all night. With the half court offense and milking the clock down to 3-4 seconds, by halftime I was thinking they didn’t miss much because they shoot much. Looking back at the box score I was wrong. Second half was more of the same. They did battle back from 30 down to 20, bright spot of the game. It’s going to be a long long season my friends. Now I’m really bumbed out about no NBA season.

by Damage Inc. on Nov 17, 2011 10:02 AM MST up reply actions

You had to twist the knife by mentioning Aussies, didn’t you?

by 100ThingsUtah on Nov 17, 2011 1:29 PM MST up reply actions

Washburn

I’m missing the talent on Washburn. What exactly does he do well?

by jrj84105 on Nov 16, 2011 9:38 PM MST reply actions

He's tall?!?

by JazzyUte on Nov 16, 2011 9:41 PM MST up reply actions

And to think he was a 4 star recruit. The rating agency should have their license revoked.

by Utah-UCLA alum on Nov 16, 2011 9:46 PM MST up reply actions

Boylen's only 4 star recruit

and he’s looking like a 2 star recruit or worse

damn that jolly fat man for setting this program back

by utahmanami on Nov 16, 2011 11:23 PM MST up reply actions

it went beyond that

he was a “top 100” recruit. ugh……..

[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 17, 2011 8:48 AM MST up reply actions

So much for recruit ratings...

A friend followed the paths of some very highly rated and totally unrated players for a several year span and discovered they would be an essentially useless evaluation tool. Recruiting is hands on and intense. Boots on the ground, eyeball to eyeball not by looking up the kid in a “subscription” reporting service.

by luey123 on Nov 17, 2011 9:23 AM MST up reply actions

Wow. I didn't realize he was a high recruit.

He’s possibly the worst PF/C I’ve ever seen play for Utah.

He’s slow and lazy, a bad ball handler, a bad passer, bad shooter, doesn’t box out, doesn’t play solid defense.

Sadly he’s what we got down low with Foster gone, not that Foster was an amazing alternative, but he at least knew how to play defense.

by jim2 on Nov 17, 2011 10:57 AM MST up reply actions

He was a huge get in Boylen's first season...

One of the best players out of Michigan. Coupled with Boylen’s supposed greatness with bigs and I was extremely optimistic about Washburn.

:/

by JazzyUte on Nov 17, 2011 12:35 PM MST up reply actions

I remember

Boylen touting him as one of the best recruits in the history of the U of U. I always thought the kid had potential to be great but he never makes any significant progress.

so there

by Steamboat Billy on Nov 17, 2011 12:37 PM MST up reply actions

this is in response to you and Jazzy

I remember thinking at the time how cool it was that we would go right from the Nevill era to the Washburn era. I also knew we had David Foster coming back from his mission to provide some depth.

I was at Washburn’s first real game (against Idaho in 2009) and he DOMINATED. He got a ton of points on fast breaks. Unfortunately, that was probably his best game for us. Shouldn’t be like that……should be the complete opposite actually.

[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 17, 2011 1:05 PM MST up reply actions

Being at the game last night...

it seems Washburn has a major case of jock itch. He spent most of the 1st half rubbing his crotch and playing with his shorts.

by Damage Inc. on Nov 17, 2011 10:05 AM MST up reply actions

Maybe he has crabs.

by JazzyUte on Nov 17, 2011 12:35 PM MST up reply actions

I think that's Boise State's secret weapon...

Infestation.

by ConfofChamps on Nov 18, 2011 9:15 AM MST up reply actions

Boise State might’ve been the easiest opponent left on Utah’s schedule and they soundly beat the Utes.

Nah, you still have UCLA on you’re schedule!!! AHAHAHA!

by Skeptical Dawg on Nov 17, 2011 12:00 AM MST reply actions

Bruins looking awful this year, indeed

by scotty256 on Nov 17, 2011 4:04 AM MST up reply actions

ugh

I just want to close my eyes and pretend it isn’t happening.

by uteswim1988 on Nov 17, 2011 8:33 AM MST reply actions

player by player breakdown

Wilkinson: more or less roster fill.

Washburn: After a decent game against SDCC, Washburn went back to his old ways. I like washburn. I really do. But man, when is he going to figure out that he is the biggest player on the court? And he has decent touch around the hoop to boot! I don’t get it…..

Odunsi: Love this kid. Keep him a starter and play him 25-30 minutes. A building block for the future. He is aggressive, he looks to be a pretty good shooter. Just needs more experience.

Watkins: The term “freelancer” comes to mind. He will keep us more than a few games this year, but to what end?

Martin: On even mediocre teams, Martin would be a designated defender that gets 10-15 minutes a night. Next year, he will be on the bench as Aaron Dotson comes back.

Hines: showed some toughness by playing, but looked rusty. I look for bigger things from him next game.

Storey: Had a down game, but I still love the kid’s ability to penetrate. Another solid building block going forward.

Farr: Had a great shooting game. He seems more comfortable coming off the bench. Hopefully, he can provide a spark. in that role. I don’t see his Utah career becoming anything more than bench help.

Mortenson: 4 fouls in 3 minutes. #takinglessonsfromRafaelAraujo

Perkins: Just came in, made his only shot.

Dawson: I want him to be more aggressive. He has some potential IMO.

Matthews: The potential is there….but he isn’t ready to play big minutes. I anticipate that he won’t be ready to contribute until his junior year, but any playing time now will pay dividends later.

[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 17, 2011 9:00 AM MST reply actions

Nice evaluation, Benster!

It’s all baby steps now and for quite some time to come. We all knew it was gonna be long schlog thru the muck, right? Boise will not be the last place team in their conference. I thought we’d get beat by more than 21. First road game for a fledging team looking for an identity… losing big Dave already…. blatant immaturity that comes only with experience? It all will work out over time and as long as some improvement is shown of ANY sort, we ALL can’t be throwing them under the bus. I plan to be a fan throughout the process.

by luey123 on Nov 17, 2011 9:36 AM MST up reply actions

No doubt you have to stick with them anyway...

They’re our team after all and I’m hoping to see growth over the course of the year. Boise probably won’t finish last, in fact I suspect they will finish slightly higher than we did last year given that the MWC will likely not be quite as strong this year as last. I didn’t necessarily think we would win but I thought we might be competitive, though in hindsight BSU is much better than I expected.
In talking to my brother in September we were debating if we could get to double digit wins, he thought we might have a similar record to last year, I thought we would be close to 10 wins. After the night with the Runnin’ Utes I thought there was talent to maybe get over double digits and not finish last but with Foster going down it looks like double digits will be a really big stretch even if there is big improvement. I really liked what Dawson brought in the scrimmage in terms of footwork and toughness but that has not translated to anything worth noting on the court in real games yet, unfortunately. Washburn is talented in that he has good footwork, nice touch and moves very well for a 6’ 10" guy, problem is he is so soft that I sincerely believe I could box him out well enough in a game to keep him out of double digit rebounds just by bodying him up church ball style and I’m 5’ 10", 240…

by PlannerUte on Nov 17, 2011 10:38 AM MST up reply actions

appreciate that

luey!

[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 17, 2011 1:03 PM MST up reply actions

yeah good job.

We need Loveridge!

by Utah-UCLA alum on Nov 18, 2011 11:48 AM MST up reply actions

I was hoping for 10 wins this year.

May have been a lofty ambition.

That said, if we can get 2 wins, then we at least beat BYU’s worst season ever the year they went 1-25 in 1996-97.

So that’s something to go for I guess.

by jim2 on Nov 17, 2011 11:01 AM MST reply actions

Rock bottom. That's where Utah hoops is at

The only thing that makes Utah basketball worse is death or probation. And there’s nothing to suggest we won’t be here for quite some time. It was clearly evident after Adams State and SDCC, but now that we’re playing real teams, hopefully people will stop deluding themselves into thinking this is anything more than a 3-win team. And I might be delusional in suggesting this team can win two more games as well.

by 100ThingsUtah on Nov 17, 2011 11:17 AM MST reply actions

Don't take it too hard

Boise State might’ve been the easiest opponent left on Utah’s schedule and they soundly beat the Utes.

That’s scary.

Truckers are pretty tall.

(hides from Bronco fans)

by scotty256 on Nov 17, 2011 5:50 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

Jerseys?

What in the heck happened to our sharp under armour jerseys? Oh well. Can’t wait for J-Love (Jordan Loveridge) to join next year. I actually attend the same high school and the guy is a man amongst boys…

I live and die on Saturday's

by P-NutUte on Nov 17, 2011 10:51 PM MST via iPhone app reply actions

That photo was from last season...

haha, I’m stuck using old photos because the database doesn’t have any newer ones and since Washburn was on last year’s team, I’m forced to use him in all my recaps.

by JazzyUte on Nov 18, 2011 12:34 AM MST up reply actions

Oh ok haha

I live and die on Saturday's

by P-NutUte on Nov 18, 2011 7:24 AM MST reply actions

I don't really follow college basketball.

I follow it more than the NBA when Utah is decent, but I don’t have any knowledge. That said, I know Boise is generally awful, but are they really the worst team on the schedule that still includes the following teams:

Montana State
Harvard
CS Fullerton
Idaho State
Portland

I know they’re bad, but isn’t there a win or two for Utah in those 5?

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Nov 18, 2011 1:22 PM MST reply actions

Sagarin agrees with me.

His rankings have the following opponents below Boise (91):

Montana State (250)
Harvard (103)
Fresno (139)
CS Fullerton (257)
Idaho State (307)
Portland (141)
Weber (93)

And he has us at 151, so if he’s right we should beat MSU, CSF, and ISU, and have a puncher’s chance against Portland and Fresno.

The PAC 12 rates as follows:
1- Arizona (11)
2- Wash (28)
3- Cal (30)
4- Stanford (36)
5- WSU (75)
6- CU (87)
7- OSU (88)
8- USC (96)
9- Oregon (121)
10- ASU (144)
11- Utah (151)
12- UCLA (167)

So apparently we’re also better than UCLA and have a puncher’s chance against ASU and Oregon.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Nov 18, 2011 1:40 PM MST up reply actions