To take a break here and discuss Utah hoops...

[SeattleUte]

mpfunk, tell me honestly. Were one of the Utefans banging on Majerus during his last years? Were you singing a chorus with SoCalPat and LAUte? I honestly can't remember.

[Flattop]

So Kansas State has aleady had a bigger year than Kansas?

Yes. They avoided an embarrassing 2nd round loss.

[Goatnapper'96]

Winning in the tournament is more important than a conference championship. Conference championships are nice, but the NCAA tournament success is most important. Give me a 2nd or 3rd place conference finish with a tournament win any day over a 1 and done with a conference championship.

Since I have experienced both in the past few years, I think I like the OCC better. The first round win was nice but the reality is that for both Utah and BYU the season is going to end in a loss. Let it be 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or NC game. I personally enjoy coming out on top of the conference grind than watching BYU win a game in the NCAA tourney. In a perfect world I would have both, but I got more euphoria out of Trent Plaisted canning those free throws against UNM or when BYU broke AFA's streak en route to an OCC than I did beating Florida.

Someday I will let you know how I feel about getting to the Sweet 16 or beyond, but my guess is I won't change how I feel.

[Blueintheface]

Yes. They avoided an embarrassing 2nd round loss.

I agree it would have been embarrassing for KSU to have lost that game. They had a more successful season in a much more difficult conference.

[Blueintheface]

Since I have experienced both in the past few years, I think I like the OCC better. The first round win was nice but the reality is that for both Utah and BYU the season is going to end in a loss. Let it be 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or NC game. I personally enjoy coming out on top of the conference grind than watching BYU win a game in the NCAA tourney. In a perfect world I would have both, but I got more euphoria out of Trent Plaisted canning those free throws against UNM or when BYU broke AFA's streak en route to an OCC than I did beating Florida.

Someday I will let you know how I feel about getting to the Sweet 16 or beyond, but my guess is I won't change how I feel.

Only for the fact that it removed the stigma of one and done did I find more enjoyment than last season's conference championship. I may or may not feel the same way next year, that is unless we reach the sweet 16 and don't again win the conference. (I think BYU finishes 3rd next year but is a better team. Yes, that means the conference is much better.)

[UteStar]

I enjoy Boylen's enthusiasm...I like his defensive approach. I hate his offense and I am frustrated with the lack of improvement of the team from beginning of the season till the end of the season. With that said, he obviously should get another season to show his stuff.

I do not want to lose the following players: Watkins, Henderson, Foster, Washburn, Carlon and Glover. I think it is a good core. Yes, they all have weaknesses, but they have a lot of positives. The Utes need to bring in a scorer. This is kind of like Carlon, but Carlon disappears too often. The Utes need someone who can create his own shot and get it done with the offense is going down the crapper...which it often did last year. I actually am excited for next season...but it is frustrating to see an offense that pales in comparison to Majerus' old offensive scheme.

[Blueintheface]

I hate his offense and I am frustrated with the lack of improvement of the team from beginning of the season till the end of the season.

A new true PG in Guilot (sp?) and perhaps an improved Foster or Washburn will go along way in Boylen's center-oriented offense. Neville was the one capable last year of getting off a shot late in the clock or passing out of the double team. Get Foshburn to do the same, and Henderson will be that guy.

[MartyFunkhouser]

mpfunk, tell me honestly. Were one of the Utefans banging on Majerus during his last years? Were you singing a chorus with SoCalPat and LAUte? I honestly can't remember.

I was not a Majerus basher. I never thought we could get an X and Os coach that was as good as Majerus. I was naive and thought that we could get a coach that could make up for being a lesser coach with better recruiting than Majerus. I was wrong because not only was Majerus our best X and Os coach he was also our best recruiter. Boylen and Giacoletti have not been able to match Majerus' recruiting ability or coaching ability. I would kill to have Majerus back at Utah, his "down" years look amazing compared to anything that Boylen and Giac have given us.

[Goatnapper'96]

I was not a Majerus basher. I never thought we could get an X and Os coach that was as good as Majerus. I was naive and thought that we could get a coach that could make up for being a lesser coach with better recruiting than Majerus. I was wrong because not only was Majerus our best X and Os coach he was also our best recruiter. Boylen and Giacoletti have not been able to match Majerus' recruiting ability or coaching ability. I would kill to have Majerus back at Utah, his "down" years look amazing compared to anything that Boylen and Giac have given us.

I once warned my good friend Portland Ute of what was awaiting Utenation wrt their hoops program once Majerus was gone. I can't recall what belittling word I used, but I think it was mediocre. He probably would be happier if I had been right!

[UteStar]

I was not a Majerus basher. I never thought we could get an X and Os coach that was as good as Majerus. I was naive and thought that we could get a coach that could make up for being a lesser coach with better recruiting than Majerus. I was wrong because not only was Majerus our best X and Os coach he was also our best recruiter. Boylen and Giacoletti have not been able to match Majerus' recruiting ability or coaching ability. I would kill to have Majerus back at Utah, his "down" years look amazing compared to anything that Boylen and Giac have given us.

I truly believe that part of the problem that Giac had and Boylen is having is their inability or lack of interest in recruiting the state of Utah. There have been quality kids coming out of the state, but none are looking Utah's way. Majerus made sure that he got at least 1 every single year. Besides Tavita, what other Utah recruit has Utah gotten in the past 5 years. I guess Green was on the list but that was over 5 years ago.

[Goatnapper'96]

I truly believe that part of the problem that Giac had and Boylen is having is their inability or lack of interest in recruiting the state of Utah. There have been quality kids coming out of the state, but none are looking Utah's way. Majerus made sure that he got at least 1 every single year. Besides Tavita, what other Utah recruit has Utah gotten in the past 5 years. I guess Green was on the list but that was over 5 years ago.

Some kid named Sharp. I think he was the 3rd best player at Lone Peak behind Haws and someone else.

[Mr. Crimson]

I truly believe that part of the problem that Giac had and Boylen is having is their inability or lack of interest in recruiting the state of Utah. There have been quality kids coming out of the state, but none are looking Utah's way. Majerus made sure that he got at least 1 every single year. Besides Tavita, what other Utah recruit has Utah gotten in the past 5 years. I guess Green was on the list but that was over 5 years ago.

The two things that need to be said, but who has Utah missed on that would have made any sort of difference, that we actually had a shot at?

Second, Majerus and his multiple misses in 1999 and beyond is what started the mess we're just digging out of.

[SeattleUte]

I truly believe that part of the problem that Giac had and Boylen is having is their inability or lack of interest in recruiting the state of Utah. There have been quality kids coming out of the state, but none are looking Utah's way. Majerus made sure that he got at least 1 every single year. Besides Tavita, what other Utah recruit has Utah gotten in the past 5 years. I guess Green was on the list but that was over 5 years ago.

Please tell me the quality kids outside of Utah Countly that Boylen has missed on, because clear back to Jack Gardner no Utah coach has ever recruited out of Utah county anyone who's worth a tinker's damn (tinker's dam?). There is no exception to this, literally. The best we can hope for is that they go out of state and not to BYU, as they have done on occasion.

[Blueintheface]

Second, Majerus and his multiple misses in 1999 and beyond is what started the mess we're just digging out of.

11 years? Even us delusional Cougar fans don't blame Roger Reid still.

[UteStar]

Please tell me the quality kids outside of Utah Countly that Boylen has missed on, because clear back to Jack Gardner no Utah coach has ever recruited out of Utah county anyone who's worth a tinker's damn (tinker's dam?). There is no exception to this, literally. The best we can hope for is that they go out of state and not to BYU, as they have done on occasion.

There are a few players that I would have loved to have seen in a Utah uniform and Utah State has two of the recent ones in Tyler Newbold and Jared Quayle. Both would have been big players in the program.

There is also the big kid that signed on with a Big-12 school last year, though I can't remember his name.

I hope that the Utes are recruiting Tyrrell Corbin out of West High right now. Besides Collinsworth (who signed with BYU), this is the best player in the state. He is just finishing up his Junior year, but he has a real shot at being a terrific college player.