Utah vs. Boise State - Back To The Mtn.

[SeattleUte]

That kid has huge personal problems. I hope he figures them out. Otherwise he'll be living on the street someday. I exaggerate not.

Maybe so, but when he split that was the end of Boylen. He needed to be Boylen's cornerstone, his Van Horn. With the other departures, when he left, that it for Boylen as far as I was concerned.

[LA Ute]

Maybe so, but when he split that was the end of Boylen. He needed to be Boylen's cornerstone, his Van Horn. With the other departures, when he left, that if for Boylen as far as I was concerned.

Henderson is Exhibit A for the charge that Boylen let the animals run the zoo.

[DrumNFeather]

I hope this loss doesn't hurt our RPI.

[myboynoah]

I hope this loss doesn't hurt our RPI.

It will hurt ours.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Holy freaking cow, that was awesome. I will personally bring you Coke and BBQ beef sandwiches at home games so you won't have to leave your seat and miss reporting on any of the action. I'll even throw in those freshly made doughnuts - man, I hope they are selling those this year.

I'd be happy to chip in to the Senioritis Retention Fund. The reports are supernal. I'll probably just send a check so that he'll have to produce his drivers license photo to cash it.

[TripletDaddy]

It is interesting to note that most of our resident Ute fans agree that the road back will be a long one. Hoping for 10 wins next season, 12-14 the next. This means that guys like Loveridge are willingly signing on to spend the majority of their career floundering around at sub .500. I suppose these recruits all feel that they might be the ones to change things, and you want that mentality in a recruit. It is a testament to whomever is currently recruiting for the U. That is a tough sell right now to parents. Even when BYU won 1 game, it could always fall back on the Church school angle.

It is weird to see Utah basketball be so awful for this long. Something funky is going down on the hill.

[Cutty]

Loveridge was certainly a coup. I'm glad he's signed.

Updating KenPom's numbers after the loss. Utes are 84% vs Montana St, 76% vs Fullerton, and 88% vs Idaho St. Projected record: 11-17, 5-13. He's still way off.

[Eddie]

Loveridge was on the radio last night with Monson. Gordo asked him about how the U is playing and his thoughts on that.

Basically his response was that once they get him and a few more guys up on the hill, they are going to be good - especially with the guys there now that are getting some experience. I don't think he sees it as a long process. And honestly, bball can turn around much more quickly than football - you just have to get a handful of guys who can make some plays and a year or two later you are there (assuming good coaching).

It was kind of a weird interview. The thing he liked most about coach K was that he felt coach K would be honest with - then he went on to talk about how coach K would really coach him and tell him the things he needed to work on.

I was thinking - yeah. Most coaches who want to win games are NEVER going to tell you (a player on their team) what to do in order to improve.

Don't get me wrong - I think he was a good get. I think he'll do well at the U. I'm glad he feels so at home with the coaches and comfortable with where he will be. I just thought that was weird.

[hostile]

It is interesting to note that most of our resident Ute fans agree that the road back will be a long one. Hoping for 10 wins next season, 12-14 the next. This means that guys like Loveridge are willingly signing on to spend the majority of their career floundering around at sub .500. I suppose these recruits all feel that they might be the ones to change things, and you want that mentality in a recruit. It is a testament to whomever is currently recruiting for the U. That is a tough sell right now to parents. Even when BYU won 1 game, it could always fall back on the Church school angle.

It is weird to see Utah basketball be so awful for this long. Something funky is going down on the hill.

Strategic pessimism vs. acquired/learned behavior from the past several seasons.

Thas being said, basketball is the one team sport where a single, exceptional individual can have significant impact. Is Loveridge that guy? I don't know but hoping that is doesn't feel too crazy.

[Flystripper]

Strategic pessimism vs. acquired/learned behavior from the past several seasons.

Thas being said, basketball is the one team sport where a single, exceptional individual can have significant impact. Is Loveridge that guy? I don't know but hoping that is doesn't feel too crazy.

This is true it only take a player or two to pick a team up off the floor...Freshman Mekeli Wesley and Ron "puff-puff-pass" Seleaze (until he was kicked off the team) improved 1-25 BYU to a 9 win team in one year in 97-98. In 98-99 Freshman Mark Bigelow and Mekeli Wesley (until he was kicked off the team) slightlly improved on 97-98 season with 12 wins. The rebuilding to middle of the road is quicker in basketball than in football. It only takes a couple of recruits and Loveridge might be that guy for you.

[SeattleUte]

It is interesting to note that most of our resident Ute fans agree that the road back will be a long one. Hoping for 10 wins next season, 12-14 the next. This means that guys like Loveridge are willingly signing on to spend the majority of their career floundering around at sub .500. I suppose these recruits all feel that they might be the ones to change things, and you want that mentality in a recruit. It is a testament to whomever is currently recruiting for the U. That is a tough sell right now to parents. Even when BYU won 1 game, it could always fall back on the Church school angle.

It is weird to see Utah basketball be so awful for this long. Something funky is going down on the hill.

Actually, there's not much in this post I agree with. Utah can be pretty good next year. Much depends on how the three freshmen develop this year, whether Dotson lives up to his promise next season, and whether Olsen (a promising recruit in 2009) is better or worse as a freshman three years after HS than he otherwise would have been.

On paper, our pipeline looks better than yours.

[Tone Loc]

This is true it only take a player or two to pick a team up off the floor...Freshman Mekeli Wesley and Ron "puff-puff-pass" Seleaze (until he was kicked off the team) improved 1-25 BYU to a 9 win team in one year in 97-98. In 98-99 Freshman Mark Bigelow and Mekeli Wesley (until he was kicked off the team) slightlly improved on 97-98 season with 12 wins. The rebuilding to middle of the road is quicker in basketball than in football. It only takes a couple of recruits and Loveridge might be that guy for you.

Wow, that might be more depressing for utah fans than encouraging. Hey look, in two years you may actually win 12 games! Also, how funny is it that the only reason that game was on tv was because of the mountain.

[LA Ute]

Wow, that might be more depressing for utah fans than encouraging. Hey look, in two years you may actually win 12 games! Also, how funny is it that the only reason that game was on tv was because of the mountain.

I guess you guys can enjoy this while it lasts. I would be enjoying it, if the tables were turned. I'd probably do that privately, but that's just me.

Sooner or later (I'm hoping sooner) Utah basketball will arise from the ashes.

[Donuthole]

I guess you guys can enjoy this while it lasts. I would be enjoying it, if the tables were turned. I'd probably do that privately, but that's just me.

If by "privately" you mean public expressions of faux concern and sympathy for CUF's BYU fans, then I agree, that is exactly how you'd enjoy it.

[LA Ute]

If by "privately" you mean public expressions of faux concern and sympathy for CUF's BYU fans, then I agree, that is exactly how you'd enjoy it.

They wouldn't be faux. It's possible to feel schadenfreude for many (who deserve it) and sympathy for some (who don't) simultaneously. My guess is that you know this feeling and may even have experienced it once or twice.