A long season is over, thoughts for next year...

[Mr. Crimson]

I wonder if Carlon Brown will be back.

Regardless the Utes will win 20 and at least 10 in conference. Book it.

[SeattleUte]

It sucks that per ESPN they were no. 3 among mid-majors recruting year last year and their best player from that class didn't play this year and is going on a mission. Meanwhile, none of the BYU players go. Life aint fair.

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=3727876"]George Mason, Rice lead mid-majors - Insider - ESPN[/ame]

Still, I share your optimism. Boylen has a decent class coming in.

[Guest]

Who will start at point next season?

[SeattleUte]

Who will start at point next season?

Katy told me Hines will. I'm going with that.

[DrumNFeather]

You also have to wonder if Jordan Cyphers will be back. If he's not going to play, he needs to go.

[BoylenOver]

I would be surprised if Cyphers is still around on Monday, nevermind next season.

As for Carlon, I have zero doubt he'll be back, but hopefully an offseason of development and opportunity for other players makes him the 7th or 8th man in the rotation.

I'm just glad it's officially over.

[DrumNFeather]

I would be surprised if Cyphers is still around on Monday, nevermind next season.

As for Carlon, I have zero doubt he'll be back, but hopefully an offseason of development and opportunity for other players makes him the 7th or 8th man in the rotation.

I'm just glad it's officially over.

This team needs leaders. And it appears that the guys that want to step up and do that are both Freshman (Washburn and Henderson). Hopefully this team gets it together.

They should have Josh Sharp back off a mission and Jeremy Olson should play as well so that could bolster the front court. Barret Peery needs to tap into his JC network to bring someone in that can contribute right away, should a scholarship free up.

[Surfah]

This team needs leaders. And it appears that the guys that want to step up and do that are both Freshman (Washburn and Henderson). Hopefully this team gets it together.

They should have Josh Sharp back off a mission and Jeremy Olson should play as well so that could bolster the front court. Barret Peery needs to tap into his JC network to bring someone in that can contribute right away, should a scholarship free up.

Henderson and Washburn are leaders? I am not seeing it. If Marshall turns into a leader of this team you need to be worried. Washburn at times would be better fit in a cheerleading uniform.

[BoylenOver]

Henderson and Washburn are leaders? I am not seeing it. If Marshall turns into a leader of this team you need to be worried. Washburn at times would be better fit in a cheerleading uniform.

Based only on what we see during games, the only display of leadership comes in the form of the energy and "rah-rah" attitudes of Washburn and Henderson. If that's the extent of the leadership this team has next year, we don't improve our win total and Boylen's seat is white-hot.

Since I'm feeling like the glass is 1/5th full this morning, I'll optimistically forecast one of two things will happen: one, both of those players become more skilled and more mature; or two, seniors like Watkins and even Carlon Brown embrace leadership roles.

[byu71]

I don't follow the Utes that closely so I wasn't aware they had a great recruiting class last year. Were these recruits playing this year?

I don't know of any of the Ute freshman I would rather have than Haws or Davies. Not trying to troll or start a fight, just wondering who these top rated recruits were.

[Katy Lied]

Washburn was awful last night against UNLV. T E R R I B L E. And I had such high hopes for him. He has no idea where he is on the court defensively.

Good news: the team has collapsed so extensively that no one will get their positions back by default next year. Everyone will be on short notice. Boylen will have fresh eyes. I hope this means Hines goes to point.

Foster showed great heart last night, but he needs to heal those stretched tendons (ligaments?) and pull out of the hurt locker cycle.

Bye Luca, we love you, don't come back.

Henderson will be Utah's Tavernari. Showing just enough promise that Boylen might bite and build an offense around him. Only to have him vacate the court in big games. Tavernari Redux. That was a courageous move by Rose, realizing that Tavernari was not going to save the team, and sitting him on the bench.

[smokymountainrain]

Henderson will be Utah's Tavernari. Showing just enough promise that Boylen might bite and build an offense around him. Only to have him vacate the court in big games. Tavernari Redux. That was a courageous move by Rose, realizing that Tavernari was not going to save the team, and sitting him on the bench.

I've been one of Tavernari's biggest critics - rarely giving him credit when he plays well, and absolutely killing him when he plays poorly - but, Tavernari found other ways to help the team and he's 6'6".

IMO, the question with Henderson will be whether or not he can find other ways to help when he's jacking up shots and they aint fallin. That might be a bit harder for him to do at only 6'1". Tavernari was able to rebound and play some defense simply because he was tall enough. Can Henderson become a distributor or a good off ball defender? That will be the key to his career. Can't just be a streaky sniper.

[DrumNFeather]

Based only on what we see during games, the only display of leadership comes in the form of the energy and "rah-rah" attitudes of Washburn and Henderson. If that's the extent of the leadership this team has next year, we don't improve our win total and Boylen's seat is white-hot.

Since I'm feeling like the glass is 1/5th full this morning, I'll optimistically forecast one of two things will happen: one, both of those players become more skilled and more mature; or two, seniors like Watkins and even Carlon Brown embrace leadership roles.

Yeah, I wasn't saying they are the leaders, I'm saying they're the only ones who appear to want to be leaders.

Brown and Watkins as leaders for next year would be lovely. Who knows if we'll see it.

[Surfah]

IMO, Watkins is the best player Utah has. It's too bad he can't create more for himself because once he's in the paint he's pretty good. I think Utah needs to find ways to get it into him and have Foster clean up the weak side. If Tavita could/would shoot it'd go a long way. I am convinced that you can't have a PG in D1 that can't/doesn't shoot and be successful. He isn't that great of a facilitator and he's hesitant even when he drives. I have never seen someone get into the paint more and back it out than he does. Or this Utah team in general.

[WashingtonCoug]

IMO, Watkins is the best player Utah has. It's too bad he can't create more for himself because once he's in the paint he's pretty good. I think Utah needs to find ways to get it into him and have Foster clean up the weak side. If Tavita could/would shoot it'd go a long way. I am convinced that you can't have a PG in D1 that can't/doesn't shoot and be successful. He isn't that great of a facilitator and he's hesitant even when he drives. I have never seen someone get into the paint more and back it out than he does. Or this Utah team in general.

I agree I think Watkins is easily Utah's best go to guy. He was under utilized. He also looks to be the same age as Greg Oden.