The Official Ute Basketball Thread

[LA Ute]

Seems like some bad coaching to me. Maybe they don't lose to ORU or USU if he runs some plays for his best offensive option.

You won't find many Ute fans here who think JB has shown great coaching chops so far.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

You won't find many Ute fans here who think JB has shown great coaching chops so far.

Unfortunately for those that share those sentiments, it certainly looks like Boylen bought himself another year when he went all in with his JC recruiting. The Utes are improved this year, but not enough to really be relevant. But I doubt they fire him when next year they should take another step forward...only to then lose Kupets, Watkins, Clyburn, Foster, DiMaria, and Tavita and have to start over with a huge team overall for the 2nd time in 3 years.

[SeattleUte]

Unfortunately for those that share those sentiments, it certainly looks like Boylen bought himself another year when he went all in with his JC recruiting. The Utes are improved this year, but not enough to really be relevant. But I doubt they fire him when next year they should take another step forward...only to then lose Kupets, Watkins, Clyburn, Foster, DiMaria, and Tavita and have to start over with a huge team overall for the 2nd time in 3 years.

I still want Boylen to succeed. He has a chance. He pulled off a minor miracle getting Clyburn and Jiggy Watkins after the program seemed to have imploded and his only option was sepuku. Maybe Kupets was a good find. I'm sure Utah only competed with Boise types for Jimmy Soto and Mark Jackson. In Jason Washburn, he has one player, a big man, who is showing signs of great improvement since he came to Utah and by the time he's a senior could be a force. These are pieces that could come together into something significant and redeeming. We'll see. I'm still pulling for Boylen, though I don't have a tremendous amount of confidence in him. But what do I know? Coaching isn't my field.

[LA Ute]

I still want Boylen to succeed. He has a chance. He pulled off a minor miracle getting Clyburn and Jiggy Watkins after the program seemed to have imploded and his only option was sepuku. Maybe Kupets was a good find. I'm sure Utah only competed with Boise types for Jimmy Soto and Mark Jackson. In Jason Washburn, he has one player, a big man, who is showing signs of great improvement since he came to Utah and by the time he's a senior could be a force. These are pieces that could come together into something significant and redeeming. We'll see. I'm still pulling for Boylen, though I don't have a tremendous amount of confidence in him. But what do I know? Coaching isn't my field.

I'd be thrilled to see JB succeed.

[UteStar]

A few thoughts on last nights game as well as on the season for a couple of players:

The Ute offense is a mess. There appears to be some kind of structure every other 2-3 plays. Otherwise, it is driving to the hoop. It is one on one play. Nonstop. The bonus is that the Utes have some real good one on one players...the downside is that there is very little structure and it is a hodgepodge of running around. I am hoping that it is like this because there are so many new players, but I have a feeling that this is the offense we will see all year.

Clyburn - He is the 2nd best player in the state behind Jimmer. Wesley and others are very good, but Clyburn is fabulous to watch. He is effortless in what he is doing, whether it is driving to the hoop, shooting a three pointer or slamming home a dunk. He is a terrific rebounder and a solid passer as well.

Jiggy Watkins has yet to see a play where he shouldn't be driving the ball. He is driving hard to the basket 50% of the time that he touches it. The bonus is that he is good at it...but the problem is that he often forces it leading to some bad shots and bad turnovers. He is built like a tank and he is athletic, but he has to realize that he doesn't have to attack the basket every single time.

Foster. Foster. Foster. He really does intimidate on defense. He alters shots, he forces turnovers when players realize that they are running into him...he blocks shots. But that man cannot hold a position down low if his life depended on it. Yesterday, he caught the hoop on the low block (5 feet away from the hoop). He proceeded to dribble and try to back in even closer to the rim...the guy that was 5 inches shorter just kept pushing him away from the hoop. No lie, Foster settled for a turnaround 12 footer. He was pushed out 7 feet and he shot a bizarre turnaround jumper that airballed. Egads.

This team is athletic with Clyburn, Watkins, O'Brien (hopefully he gets back soon), Glover and others and much more athletic than last year. I also think that this team is much more talented than last year. I am willing to give Boylen the benefit of the doubt because these guys are learning to play with each other...it will be interesting to see how they progress. Last years team regressed as the season went on (chemistry issues, lack of talent, etc.)...hopefully this team can, and it should, improve over the course of the year.

[LA Ute]

A few thoughts on last nights game as well as on the season for a couple of players:

The Ute offense is a mess. There appears to be some kind of structure every other 2-3 plays. Otherwise, it is driving to the hoop. It is one on one play. Nonstop. The bonus is that the Utes have some real good one on one players...the downside is that there is very little structure and it is a hodgepodge of running around. I am hoping that it is like this because there are so many new players, but I have a feeling that this is the offense we will see all year.

This sounds like last year, but with more talented personnel. I can think of only two explanations for this, neither of them good. One is that Boylen can't or won't control his players. The other is that Boylen actually wants this to be the offense. Maybe it's some combination of the two. I am not encouraged but will wait and hope.

[SeattleUte]

A few thoughts on last nights game as well as on the season for a couple of players:

The Ute offense is a mess. There appears to be some kind of structure every other 2-3 plays. Otherwise, it is driving to the hoop. It is one on one play. Nonstop. The bonus is that the Utes have some real good one on one players...the downside is that there is very little structure and it is a hodgepodge of running around. I am hoping that it is like this because there are so many new players, but I have a feeling that this is the offense we will see all year.

This type of offense can work depending on the talent. See North Carolina and Washington at times.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

This type of offense can work depending on the talent. See North Carolina and Washington at times.

That is far from any system UNC currently or ever has run, definitely not under Dean Smith and not currently with Roy Williams.

Their offensive MO is to score on the break, or the secondary break, and if a half court set has to be run the priority is to get the ball into the post for a short shot or to kick it back out for a perimeter jumper if the post player can't get a clean look. One of the reasons the team has struggled so much the past two years is because the roster is full of guys who would do well in a less restrictive system but Williams refuses to adapt to his roster.

As far as what it means for Utah I have no idea. I haven't been able to see their new players yet. Based on the stats for PG Watkins, I'm guessing something needs to change or they're not going to beat many decent teams this year.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Listen up, MVC guy. Utah is going to have to do better than Tyler Haws to compete in the PAC 12. Tyler Haws would maybe get them out of 12th place. Damarcus Harrison-level is the new minimum.

Tyler Haws is actually a better recruit than Damarcus Harrison.

[MartyFunkhouser]

As much as it hurts me to say this why would Rose not at least consider it?

Like you said you get Tyler Haws, but you also get a guy that has proven to be a very successful coach and one that has owned the state of Utah since he got here. He also coaches an exciting brand of basketball and has shown that he can build a program.

He would certainly consider it, but in the end he would likely turn it down. I don't care if it gets us Tyler Haws out of the deal, I would make that trade in a second. The only real concern that you have with Rose is his health and how much longer he wants to coach, but those are really minor concerns. He would be a fantastic get for Utah. You get the best coach in the state and you cripple your primary rival for local recruits in the process.

[SeattleUte]

Tyler Haws is actually a better recruit than Damarcus Harrison.

You know better than these people?

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/252/class/2011/page/onthetrail

[Top Ute]

You won't find many Ute fans here who think JB has shown great coaching chops so far.

No doubt. Boylen touted structure on offense in his opening presser, bragging about having hundreds of set plays. Those set plays mean jack squat without bombers on the perimeter, and it really showed last year. We had those our first two years with JB, Kepkay, Green, Borha, etc. Clyburn is the only 3-point shooter we have that's anywhere close to their league. Maybe Kupets, but I'm not holding my breath on anyone else.

Freelancing is probably this team's best option right now, given the lack of true outside threats. Especially at home, where we'll get calls and outshoot teams from the line. Honestly, it's the first calculated move Jimmy's made in two years on the scoring side that I think will work out. Purists will cringe (and I've never met a purist who could dunk, much less dribble), but I'd rather lose 85-80 than 70-50. Or even better, win 85-82 than win 55-50.

Getting Tavita out of the lineup was something I called for a year ago. Jimmy banked on playing 4-on-5 offense for nearly a year before he realized he needed a huge upgrade at the position on the scoring end. That should also be a reminder that while coaches stress defense, it's ultimately the team with the better offensive players that will win. What makes defense so crucial is getting talented offensive players to buy in to playing defense.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Funny how a coach will make the decisions that they should have made last year when they feel their job may be on the line.

Tavita considers transfer

[DrumNFeather]

Funny how a coach will make the decisions that they should have made last year when they feel their job may be on the line.

Tavita considers transfer

I guess we know whose scholly the new kid will be taking.

[Katy Lied]

Lya twittered: Jace Tavita is gone.

It's official now, Jace Tavita has decided to leave Utah basketball program, said he wants more playing time, more coming soon.

Ouch, he was voted co-captain this year.