Does Utah need to make Basketball fun again?

[Flattop]

From the D-News article on the Pepperdine game:

Freshman Jason Washburn took personal responsibility. The 7-foot center made his first career start for David Foster, who sprained an ankle Saturday against Illinois State.

"It doesn't matter how many points or rebounds I had," said Washburn, who finished with eight points, six rebounds and two blocks in 31 minutes.

"I gave up offensive rebounds when we needed them most," Washburn continued. "I couldn't make my free throws. I didn't do everything I could to help my team win.

"I like to bring the energy on this team and, for some reason, I'm having a hard time getting these guys started. I've got to find a way to do it because we come out flat in every game. It's something we need to fix if we're going to be successful."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...ting-Utah.html

[UtahDan]

Bottom line: winning is fun. No form of losing is.

Just ask LA, he is still trying to wash Rick Majerus' blood off his hands!

[Blueintheface]

Possibly, but I think guys like Henderson and Brown seem to be having fun despite ups and downs. What the program really needs is to get the 7 footers to catch on before their senior years of eligibility. Nevill didn't have it click until then (perhaps midway through his junior year but late nonetheless) and if you're waiting on Foster or Washburn to do the same then Boylen doesn't have the right coach for his big men. Make them realize that they're taller than everyone else out there and demand the damn ball. Also let Drca, Henderson, Brown, et al realize that they're shots will fall playing inside out instead of shooting early or in desperation.

I've watched a few games this year and Boylen has these guys on tilt. Not sure if it's the "fun" factor or not but they aren't playing with any sort of rhthym and are definitely over-thinking things. Maybe it's just getting Foster and Washburn to get up court more quickly and get position. Either way these things aren't incurable with the size in the middle and good outside shooters in Henderson and Drca.

[il Padrino Ute]

Possibly, but I think guys like Henderson and Brown seem to be having fun despite ups and downs. What the program really needs is to get the 7 footers to catch on before their senior years of eligibility. Nevill didn't have it click until then (perhaps midway through his junior year but late nonetheless) and if you're waiting on Foster or Washburn to do the same then Boylen doesn't have the right coach for his big men. Make them realize that they're taller than everyone else out there and demand the damn ball. Also let Drca, Henderson, Brown, et al realize that they're shots will fall playing inside out instead of shooting early or in desperation.

I've watched a few games this year and Boylen has these guys on tilt. Not sure if it's the "fun" factor or not but they aren't playing with any sort of rhthym and are definitely over-thinking things. Maybe it's just getting Foster and Washburn to get up court more quickly and get position. Either way these things aren't incurable with the size in the middle and good outside shooters in Henderson and Drca.

Great post.

[Coastal Ute]

Couldn't have said it better myself Blueintheface.

I find myself being somewhat bipolar in regards to my feelings about this basketball team. I reassure myself the same way I did when Giac was coaching, so that kind of bothers me. The lack of a "rhythm" or a sense of offensive structure is disconcerting to say the least.

However, I have to admit that while I am inconsistent with my faith in this team, I still end up being rather optimistic about the future. How bad can it be with Henderson, Washburn, Foster, Brown, and Watkins at the helm?

[Blueintheface]

Couldn't have said it better myself Blueintheface.

I find myself being somewhat bipolar in regards to my feelings about this basketball team. I reassure myself the same way I did when Giac was coaching, so that kind of bothers me. The lack of a "rhythm" or a sense of offensive structure is disconcerting to say the least.

However, I have to admit that while I am inconsistent with my faith in this team, I still end up being rather optimistic about the future. How bad can it be with Henderson, Washburn, Foster, Brown, and Watkins at the helm?

I like Watkins' game. He has the physical size and athleticism to make an impact but if Boylen continues his love affair with Tillie or even Tavita or Cyphers he may not get the PT he needs. Tillie's played well of late but I still think he's too soft for what he's being asked to do. Also, it may be early but I think Tavita and Cyphers have been busts to this point. I know coaches don't normally give up on sophomores and I'm not necesarily advocating Boylen should do just that but I think minutes need to go to productive players if Utah still has any post season aspirations.

[Coastal Ute]

I agree on the love affair problem. Tillie is French. Need I say more?

Tavita is a great ball handler but thats it. I am amazed at how awful the shot of a D-1 player can actually be. Cyphers? Who's that? Oh yeah....

I can't tell you how many times in the Illinois State game Boylen left me scratching my head. It was basically, "Wait, so we have a 7'3 center and we're not passing him the ball on every possession?".

Watkins brings a lot of energy but certain sources tell me he is a behavioral problem. Hopefully he gets his crap together.

[LA Ute]

Bottom line: winning is fun. No form of losing is.

Just ask LA, he is still trying to wash Rick Majerus' blood off his hands!

This is a defamatory statement, even though I am not sure what it means.

[UteStar]

I like the enthusiasm on this team. Washburn, Brown and Henderson in particular, are out there screaming and running around.

The Utes have two problems right now:
Inside game--the players are not getting them the ball. And, when they finally do get them the ball, the bigs are very hesitant to do much with it. They are raw. They just need to go after it and do something with it. The team relies too much on the outside shot.

Inexperience--I know that this is easy to harp on...but Brown has been thrust into the star role and though he is improving and finally accepting it, he still tries to do too much. Henderson is still too up and down as are Washburn, Glover, etc.

This team needs to set itself around Brown, Henderson and Watkins offensively. Let Tillie and Foster get the clean up points. And defensively, let Foster do his thing. Drca often becomes a key component...if he keeps his head on straight, he does nice things and the Utes look good. But for every 2 good plays that Drca makes, he makes 1 unbelievably terrible play.

I still see the Utes finishing as high as #4 or as low as #5 this year.

[LA Ute]

I like the enthusiasm on this team. Washburn, Brown and Henderson in particular, are out there screaming and running around.

The Utes have two problems right now:
Inside game--the players are not getting them the ball. And, when they finally do get them the ball, the bigs are very hesitant to do much with it. They are raw. They just need to go after it and do something with it. The team relies too much on the outside shot.

Inexperience--I know that this is easy to harp on...but Brown has been thrust into the star role and though he is improving and finally accepting it, he still tries to do too much. Henderson is still too up and down as are Washburn, Glover, etc.

This team needs to set itself around Brown, Henderson and Watkins offensively. Let Tillie and Foster get the clean up points. And defensively, let Foster do his thing. Drca often becomes a key component...if he keeps his head on straight, he does nice things and the Utes look good. But for every 2 good plays that Drca makes, he makes 1 unbelievably terrible play.

I still see the Utes finishing as high as #4 or as low as #5 this year.

I agree, and hereby plagiarize some of my own comments on UF.net last night:

*****

I'm in town for Christmas and went up to the Huntsman Center for my first in-person hoops game this season. Being there allowed me to watch what was going on all over the floor.

First, observations:

I like the talent I see. The prospect of three years of Foster and four years each from Washburn and Henderson makes me very happy. Is Watkins a sophomore? He and Brown are exciting guys to watch too. Talent-wise we are loaded.

Second, questions:

OFFENSE:

• Has Foster been told not to try to score when he gets the ball? He had 8" on his defender and I think I saw him go to the hoop once after getting the ball.

• Why all the perimeter shooting when we have two seven-footers on the team who can play?

• What is Boylen's offense designed to do? I saw a lot of guys standing around tonight, but that appeared to be by design. On several possessions in the second half three Ute players stood on the strong side and almost seemed to be clearing out the other half of the court for Brown to make his own shot. I felt like I was watching the NBA. No intent to be critical, just trying to figure it out.

DEFENSE:

It looked much better in the second half, but in the first UTSA was getting to the hoop almost every possession. They were not able to finish very well and maybe we deserve credit for that, but I was struck by what looked like a pretty porous man-to man defense. Several times one Ute would go to help a teammate, which was great, but then no one helped that Ute and an easy UTSA basket resulted.

Again, not finding fault, just trying to figure out the Boylen system.

All in all, we have talented players. You are right, they look raw and young. If/when the players, the offense and the defense gel we could see some very nice games out of this team and perhaps surprise a few others. I'm hoping for the NIT this year.

[BoylenOver]

I don't know how good TCU is, but that was the best I've seen Utah play this year. They were attacking the ball and clogging passing lanes on defense, and they were moving the ball and finding the open man on offense.

[SeattleUte]

I don't know how good TCU is, but that was the best I've seen Utah play this year. They were attacking the ball and clogging passing lanes on defense, and they were moving the ball and finding the open man on offense.

Let's not make this inane thread the Ute basketball season thread.