Larry Krystkowiak and the 2011-12 Utah Utes

[cougjunkie]

I'd see it as a positive too; a sign of strong leadership. It can't be easy to get rid of the best player on your team as you could very well be ensuring that your team doesn't win again this season.

If you were contending for something then I could see how difficult it would be. But the fact is Jiggly was a senior on a 4 win team. It probably helps the team more down the road by letting the young guys get minutes.

Not really that tough of a decision.

[Top Ute]

Culture change is hard. I like what he is doing.

The departure of good players who are in good standing with regards to eligibility and in the eyes of the law should never be celebrated. Quite frankly, I'm disgusted by your sentiment, L.A.

The last eight years of Utah basketball should spell that out quite clearly that having good players depart the program -- for whatever reason -- has not in any way shape or form been beneficial to the program.

[TripletDaddy]

Coach K on the evening news said Jiggly was late again to practices....and repeatedly sleeping during classes.

I wonder if he had backed himself into a corner. Sleeping during classes? Wo cares. Let's be honest....these coaches want their athletes to be performers on the field or the court, the academics is secondary. But K had already drew a line in the sand on this issue and basically gave himself little choice. Perhaps he prematurely suspended Jiggly the first time around?

You dont hear of many dismissals or suspensions for sleeping in class or late practices. Was this necessary?

[LA Ute]

The departure of good players who are in good standing with regards to eligibility and in the eyes of the law should never be celebrated. Quite frankly, I'm disgusted by your sentiment, L.A.

The last eight years of Utah basketball should spell that out quite clearly that having good players depart the program -- for whatever reason -- has not in any way shape or form been beneficial to the program.

Jiggy went AWOL for 2 days, I understand. Are you saying Krysko should countenance that behavior because Jiggy is a good player? If you are, then we need to have a longer conversation about what's good for the program.

[SeattleUte]

Jiggy went AWOL for 2 days, I understand. Are you saying Krysko should countenance that behavior because Jiggy is a good player? If you are, then we need to have a longer conversation about what's good for the program.

He wasn't actually a very good player anyway.

[SeattleUte]

The departure of good players who are in good standing with regards to eligibility and in the eyes of the law should never be celebrated. Quite frankly, I'm disgusted by your sentiment, L.A.

The last eight years of Utah basketball should spell that out quite clearly that having good players depart the program -- for whatever reason -- has not in any way shape or form been beneficial to the program.

You don't know the facts. Bottom line is this is another Boylen failure. Par for the course with Boylen's people. Also, if a guy's still around days before the recruiting cycle ends and hasn't been much recruited there's usually a reason.

Glass shavings in your sheepskin, TU.

[Top Ute]

Jiggy went AWOL for 2 days, I understand. Are you saying Krysko should countenance that behavior because Jiggy is a good player? If you are, then we need to have a longer conversation about what's good for the program.

You're changing the argument.

I've never said Larry shouldn't have sent Jiggy packing. The questions raised by DDD are another topic entirely, but taken for what we know, Larry had no choice but to send him packing.

I get disgusted with the mindset that what Larry is doing will automatically make us better. Having good players leave/get the boot will not make us better. Recent history has shown that not only does it make us worse, it usually quickens the pace of the snowball that eventually rolls over the head coach.

You want to talk about what's good for the program? Changing the culture? Here's a tip: How about next year Larry is out for blood against all comers, rather than pooh-poohing a home loss to a Division II school, and treating a 3-point win over an NAIA Division II school like we just won a conference game.

Changing the culture starts from Day 1. Not after 40-point road losses in midseason.

[LA Ute]

You're changing the argument.

Nonsense. How am I doing that?

I've never said Larry shouldn't have sent Jiggy packing. The questions raised by DDD are another topic entirely, but taken for what we know, Larry had no choice but to send him packing.

On that we agree.

I get disgusted with the mindset that what Larry is doing will automatically make us better. Having good players leave/get the boot will not make us better. Recent history has shown that not only does it make us worse, it usually quickens the pace of the snowball that eventually rolls over the head coach.

You're swinging pretty hard at a straw man here.

You want to talk about what's good for the program? Changing the culture? Here's a tip: How about next year Larry is out for blood against all comers, rather than pooh-poohing a home loss to a Division II school, and treating a 3-point win over an NAIA Division II school like we just won a conference game.

Changing the culture starts from Day 1. Not after 40-point road losses in midseason.

You're unhappy with those statements by LK. We get that. But what do they have to do with Jiggy or with instilling discipline?

For the record, I am not celebrating anyone's departure. This situation is sad for Jiggy, and I am sorry to see him go, first because of the personal tragedy for him, and second because Utah has probably won its last game this season as a result. But discipline and accountability, missing for too long, are good for the program.

I still want you to autograph my copy of your book.

[TripletDaddy]

Why aren't people asking why K didn't command enough respect from Jiggly? Has Watkins always been a disciplinary problem or has it been more this season? If Ks account is completely accurate, then Jiggly simply had a death wish? Doesn't make much sense.

[Jarid in Cedar]

He wasn't late for practice, etc this time. He was completely awol from everything, meetings, practice, class, for 2 days. No one is aware of what happened.

[myboynoah]

He's a senior, right? Has he been at the UofUtah for four years already? Sounds totally weird.

[Jarid in Cedar]

He's a senior, right? Has he been at the UofUtah for four years already? Sounds totally weird.

Second year. He was a juco

[TripletDaddy]

He wasn't late for practice, etc this time. He was completely awol from everything, meetings, practice, class, for 2 days. No one is aware of what happened.

On KSL tonight they showed an interview (looked like from practice today) in which he cited practice and sleeping in class. He didn't mention a total disappearance but if true, that would obviously be problematic.

[myboynoah]

Second year. He was a juco

I don't understand some people. An opportunity to play D-1 BBall, and he throws it away. Plus the free education. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

[Top Ute]

Nonsense. How am I doing that?




On that we agree.



You're swinging pretty hard at a straw man here.



You're unhappy with those statements by LK. We get that. But what do they have to do with Jiggy or with instilling discipline?

For the record, I am not celebrating anyone's departure. This situation is sad for Jiggy, and I am sorry to see him go, first because of the personal tragedy for him, and second because Utah has probably won its last game this season as a result. But discipline and accountability, missing for too long, are good for the program.

I still want you to autograph my copy of your book.

I'd be more than happy to sign it.

Why does "discipline" and "establishing a culture" have to come in the form of good players leaving? Why are coaches given so much leeway in this, that they're immune from the possibility that they handled it badly?

We've seen coach after coach after coach defended for this. And it hasn't worked out for any of them. With Ray, it was Hawkins. Maybe Cheney. With Jimmy, it was Brown. Almost happened with Hines. Henderson and Cyphers, for various reasons, might or might not fit here. At least when Majerus ran off Jackson, he had the trophy case stacked full to warrant such a defense.

I know many celebrated Brown's departure. And Carlon appears to be having the last laugh. He's certainly entitled to it. What do we say if we're floundering next year, and O'Brien and Glover are tearing it up elsewhere?

Were accountability and discipline really missing from the program under Boylen? I think there are mixed signs here. On one side, we have the inconsistent results on the court. Ultimately, the bad losses have to start with the coach (especially when there are several good wins mixed in).

But he preemptively suspended Luka Drca for two games for kicking Blake Griffin, when you've got a freeroll from the MWC that it would be only one game (certainly the MWC wasn't going to suspend Drca three games for that). He hung Marshall out to dry for the Emery flop. He sat players (although probably not the right players) for huge stretches.

And Boylen was lauded for getting the APR in tip-top shape. I was sounding my dissatisfaction with Boylen long before most, but even I couldn't deny that he helped the program tremendously in that regard.

To paraphrase one of your heroes, are we really better off now than we were four years ago? Kicking people off the team, telling them to leave, drawing lines in the sand publicly -- that shit is all window dressing if you're not winning games. It's red meat for a fan base that hasn't had a lot to cheer about in the last seven years, but pardon me if I roll my eyes at how Jiggy getting the boot is something that needs to happen, or is a step toward Utah hoops being good again.