Larry Krystkowiak and the 2011-12 Utah Utes

[Flystripper]

Yes, it is. But we have no choice but to get through it. He's got a 4-year contract and it is comically early to be making judgments about whether or not he can coach, 9 games into his first season with the players he's got. Just my opinion.

I am not saying he should be fired. I am saying that I am not too encouraged by what I see out of his coaching so far. His recruiting appears to be so far so good. All I am saying is that what I see on the floor would worry me. He has to find a way to get more out of what he has, and he has to get the players to play with more effort.

[LA Ute]

I agree it is too early to make judgments, but I am surprised you find comedy in the conclusion.

I was searching for the right adverb. "Ridiculously" seemed overused. "Obscenely" seemed over the top. How about "It is simply too early to be making judgments about whether or not he can coach?"

[TripletDaddy]

I was searching for the right adverb. "Ridiculously" seemed overused. "Obscenely" seemed over the top. How about "It is simply too early to be making judgments about whether or not he can coach?"

You don't need an adverb. Just say that it is early to make judgments. The adverb adds nothing.

[Blueintheface]

Not to deviate from the topic directly but the fact that Loveridge is solidly committed to K speaks volumes I think. I'm not sure if it's an indictment of BYU (or any other school which recruited him) or if K truly was the guy Loveridge wanted to play for.

[hostile]

I am not saying he should be fired. I am saying that I am not too encouraged by what I see out of his coaching so far. His recruiting appears to be so far so good. All I am saying is that what I see on the floor would worry me. He has to find a way to get more out of what he has, and he has to get the players to play with more effort.

In speaking with folks who have pretty close ties to the program, one of Krystko's biggest strengths is his patience. It can also be one of his biggest weaknesses in that he may be willing to allow simple mistakes over and over. Krystko was saying on the radio the other day that he is coaching effort and hustle, particularly when playing from behind - something that he hasn't had to do previously. I agree that the measuring stick for the next couple of seasons needs to be how the kids play on the floor, regardless of the outcome.

[UteStar]

Last night, I sat in my seat, with tears in my eyes and wondered how this was happening. The Utes were running a decent offensive set...but they struggle with that because they have ZERO inside game. There is nothing there. Washburn is a garbage player - he hustles, gets put backs, beats guys down the floor...but if you are relying him to post up often, you will come away very sad. So, they can't establish anything inside. Their outside game is bad as well. Hines is the best we got out there, and that is sub 40%. Cedric Martin is OK out there, but not when he is pressured. So, our outside game is a complete mess. Slashers? Nope. Not a one. Jiggy is the only one that can consistently get to the rim. George Matthews is a slasher but he is currently get a sore butt sitting somewhere on the end of the bench.

What does that leave? Well, yesterday, late in the first half, it was a 7-point game and the Utes proceeded to burn 33 seconds off the shot clock before taking a terrible shot. They have no go to guy...they have really, no guy.

The defense? The defense is solid for a bit. Most teams break down defensively every possession in some form. Maybe a guy gets an extra couple of feet to get off a shot. Maybe the post player gets the ball a bit too easily. The problem with Utah is that they not only break down on every possession...but they REALLY REALLY break down. Like a guy open with nobody there within 10 feet. Or a post player gets the ball under the rim. When the Utes defense breaks down, they basically just give up easy baskets. Mental breakdowns.

In bounds plays are joked about...but I will say - our inbounds plays are atrocious. I am shocked we are able to even in bound the ball half of the time.

In regards to players - there aint much there:
Odunsi and Storey are legit D1 players. But as freshmen, they are still learning. They should absolutely not be playing more than 20 minutes a game right now, let alone 30 minutes a game. Yet they have to. I would be very comfortable with them as 10 minute a game backups.

Javon Dawson has lost 30 pounds. He is a beast. He is a huge load. Seriously. And he is not a D1 player. Blake Wilkinson was an offensive threat last night. Holy crap! Blake is the kind of guy that would have played 10 minutes a game under Majerus because he is a hustler and he has Andre Miller and Al Jensen and Hanno M playing next to him. Without those guys, he is just a liability out there.

I like Dijon Farr's hustle. But that is about it. He should be playing 5-10 minutes a game. I love George Matthews game...but his head is somewhere else and he is not seeing the floor. That is brutal. So to sum it all up...all of the players that are playing 20+ minutes a game should either not be playing at all or 10 minutes or less for a D1 team this year.

Really there is nothing there. There is hope and I really believe it. I think a roster with LSU transfer Dotson and Big Sky all conference player Dean and Jordan Loveridge...along with Storey and Odunsi and hopefully a solid Jeremy Olsen could really begin to turn it around. Add in Washburn and Hines and it is not a super bad team and I think they will pull off 6-8 wins next year.

The thing I like about Krystko is he seems to be just taking baby steps with this team. Moving them along. It will be interesting to see if what happens with the players. Washburn and Hines aren't leaving. And really, the only guys that I really care to have stick around are: Storey, Martin, Odunsi and Matthews. The off season will be fascinating. Now, if I can just make it thru this season.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Not to deviate from the topic directly but the fact that Loveridge is solidly committed to K speaks volumes I think. I'm not sure if it's an indictment of BYU (or any other school which recruited him) or if K truly was the guy Loveridge wanted to play for.

Keep in mind that he committed before this season started. I can't help but wonder if he is regretting his decision. We knew the Utes would be bad, but I am not sure anyone anticipated this trainwreck.

[TripletDaddy]

Last night, I sat in my seat, with tears in my eyes and wondered how this was happening. The Utes were running a decent offensive set...but they struggle with that because they have ZERO inside game. There is nothing there. Washburn is a garbage player - he hustles, gets put backs, beats guys down the floor...but if you are relying him to post up often, you will come away very sad. So, they can't establish anything inside. Their outside game is bad as well. Hines is the best we got out there, and that is sub 40%. Cedric Martin is OK out there, but not when he is pressured. So, our outside game is a complete mess. Slashers? Nope. Not a one. Jiggy is the only one that can consistently get to the rim. George Matthews is a slasher but he is currently get a sore butt sitting somewhere on the end of the bench.

What does that leave? Well, yesterday, late in the first half, it was a 7-point game and the Utes proceeded to burn 33 seconds off the shot clock before taking a terrible shot. They have no go to guy...they have really, no guy.

The defense? The defense is solid for a bit. Most teams break down defensively every possession in some form. Maybe a guy gets an extra couple of feet to get off a shot. Maybe the post player gets the ball a bit too easily. The problem with Utah is that they not only break down on every possession...but they REALLY REALLY break down. Like a guy open with nobody there within 10 feet. Or a post player gets the ball under the rim. When the Utes defense breaks down, they basically just give up easy baskets. Mental breakdowns.

In bounds plays are joked about...but I will say - our inbounds plays are atrocious. I am shocked we are able to even in bound the ball half of the time.

In regards to players - there aint much there:
Odunsi and Storey are legit D1 players. But as freshmen, they are still learning. They should absolutely not be playing more than 20 minutes a game right now, let alone 30 minutes a game. Yet they have to. I would be very comfortable with them as 10 minute a game backups.

Javon Dawson has lost 30 pounds. He is a beast. He is a huge load. Seriously. And he is not a D1 player. Blake Wilkinson was an offensive threat last night. Holy crap! Blake is the kind of guy that would have played 10 minutes a game under Majerus because he is a hustler and he has Andre Miller and Al Jensen and Hanno M playing next to him. Without those guys, he is just a liability out there.

I like Dijon Farr's hustle. But that is about it. He should be playing 5-10 minutes a game. I love George Matthews game...but his head is somewhere else and he is not seeing the floor. That is brutal. So to sum it all up...all of the players that are playing 20+ minutes a game should either not be playing at all or 10 minutes or less for a D1 team this year.

Really there is nothing there. There is hope and I really believe it. I think a roster with LSU transfer Dotson and Big Sky all conference player Dean and Jordan Loveridge...along with Storey and Odunsi and hopefully a solid Jeremy Olsen could really begin to turn it around. Add in Washburn and Hines and it is not a super bad team and I think they will pull off 6-8 wins next year.

The thing I like about Krystko is he seems to be just taking baby steps with this team. Moving them along. It will be interesting to see if what happens with the players. Washburn and Hines aren't leaving. And really, the only guys that I really care to have stick around are: Storey, Martin, Odunsi and Matthews. The off season will be fascinating. Now, if I can just make it thru this season.

I'm so sorry to hear this. You don't deserve it.

[UteStar]

I'm so sorry to hear this. You don't deserve it.

You are right. I don't deserve it. Neither did that puppy and homeless man that I kicked last night deserve that either. I long for the playing days of Luka Drca, he would have fixed this.

[TripletDaddy]

You are right. I don't deserve it. Neither did that puppy and homeless man that I kicked last night deserve that either. I long for the playing days of Luka Drca, he would have fixed this.

homeless people at the Hunstman Center? I see the U is taking a page out of the Occupy movement playbook.

[LA Ute]

You don't need an adverb. Just say that it is early to make judgments. The adverb adds nothing.

Your advice is laughably unhelpful.

[kccougar]

Keep in mind that he committed before this season started. I can't help but wonder if he is regretting his decision. We knew the Utes would be bad, but I am not sure anyone anticipated this trainwreck.

From what I understand Loveridge wanted to stay close to home, his girlfriend is going to the U and he's not interested in the BYU lifestyle. Unless one or more of those things were to change, the U is the place for him.

[Blueintheface]

Your advice is laughably unhelpful.

I see what you did therely.

[Top Ute]

I don't care who he has out there he has to get more out of his players than he is currently getting. They ar not even competing for him right now. If I am a Ute I am not worriedabout the losses, I am worried about how they are losing. How a team loses speaks to coaching. This is not a troll and I don't care at all about which teams lowest point is lower. This is a scary time for a Ute fan.

I couldn't agree with you more.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

That was some severe punishment. Watkins back with the team today.