SBNation.com User Blog: Lance10

Utah Hoops

Lance10 — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 16:46:22 -0000

Well, here's some news...the basketball team is on the rise! Don't believe me? Come and see for yourself and help show that our fan base isn't as embarrassing as it seems (see football attendance decline when the team stinks; see basketball attendance the last 3 years). I've been writing and commenting on here for the last 2 years about the basketball MUSS in particular. At least so far this year, the basketball MUSS has shown up in quadruple numbers (yes, a whole 50 of them).

Well, anyways, sorry that's much more of a rant than I expected. What I really wanted to post about is this:

Did anybody notice that our basketball team just destroyed Central Michigan? Does anybody care? Well here's the news: CMU is currently ranked 18 in the latest RPI poll. Yes, that means we actually have a win against the top 50! We are actually contributing to the league when this happens too. You see, the NCAA tourney selection committee looks at the league wins against top 50 teams when deciding whether or not to take teams like Washington last year. You know, the same Washington team who won the regular season title and didn't get a tourney bid? That's because the league only had one (ONE) top 50 win in the preseason last year.

Now here's the thing I don't know and maybe somebody can clarify this for me. What if CMU drops out of the top 50 (very likely). Does last night's win still count as a top 50 RPI win?

Anyways, I'm excited and optimistic about this team. They are young and show some talent. Especially the big 3 freshmen (Loveridge, Seymour, and Tucker) and big Bachynski along with the transfers Glen Dean and Jarred Dubois (and hopefully Aaron Dotson but we haven't seen him yet). And I think we're going to be happy with Coach K before all is said and done.

Here's to hope!

First of all, I haven't been to the online version of Block U for a while (been using it on my phone) and for the life of me I could barely figure out how to view the fan posts! I've been wondering why there aren't very many lately, I guess that's why? Oh, that and maybe fan interest has been dwindling since our football team is on the decline... Well, here's some news...the basketball team is on the rise! Don't believe me? Come and see for yourself and help show that our fan base isn't as embarrassing as it seems (see football attendance decline when the team stinks; see basketball attendance the last 3 years). I've been writing and commenting on here for the last 2 years about the basketball MUSS in particular. At least so far this year, the basketball MUSS has shown up in quadruple numbers (yes, a whole 50 of them). Well, anyways, sorry that's much more of a rant than I expected. What I really wanted to post about is this: Did anybody notice that our basketball team just destroyed Central Michigan? Does anybody care? Well here's the news: CMU is currently ranked 18 in the latest RPI poll. Yes, that means we actually have a win against the top 50! We are actually contributing to the league when this happens too. You see, the NCAA tourney selection committee looks at the league wins against top 50 teams when deciding whether or not to take teams like Washington last year. You know, the same Washington team who won the regular season title and didn't get a tourney bid? That's because the league only had one (ONE) top 50 win in the preseason last year. Now here's the thing I don't know and maybe somebody can clarify this for me. What if CMU drops out of the top 50 (very likely). Does last night's win still count as a top 50 RPI win? Anyways, I'm excited and optimistic about this team. They are young and show some talent. Especially the big 3 freshmen (Loveridge, Seymour, and Tucker) and big Bachynski along with the transfers Glen Dean and Jarred Dubois (and hopefully Aaron Dotson but we haven't seen him yet). And I think we're going to be happy with Coach K before all is said and done. Here's to hope!

I'm Optimistic

Lance10 — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:24:41 -0000

So I commented on another FanPost about our Runnin' Utes and I got blasted for my perceived pessimism. Hence this post to talk about my optimism for our hoops team.

I am optimistic of the Utes' future. In fact, I think next year, with an apparent infusion of talent, the Utes will win 16 games. I've seen the way Larry K coaches and I am impressed. I hope that next year's team can carry on what this years team began to have a habit of, and that is hard play with a lot of effort. I think Larry K will have our future teams tops in the league in defense. And as evidenced by this year's league champs, defense actually does win championships.

So I commented on another FanPost about our Runnin' Utes and I got blasted for my perceived pessimism. Hence this post to talk about my optimism for our hoops team.

This year's team mostly consisted of players who were apparently passed over in the recruiting process. Usually players who sign after April are the top notch prospects who are either being dramatic or are indecisive. But not our guys this year. Look, I love our guys and I saw first hand how much they cared about Utah basketball and it's fans. But let's face it, they just didn't match up. I say this to emphasize the coaching job Larry K pulled off this year.

With that said, take a look at how the played at home against the regular season league champs, Washington. I remember thinking as I looked at Washington's players during the game that every one of their starting five has an NBA body. I couldn't believe we were hanging with them. Our Utes held them to 18 points under their season average AND outrebounded them. Keep in mind Washington ended up 34th in the country in scoring and 5th in the country in rebounding. That is not even considering how poorly we played offensively (on our home floor). We lost by four points but it was a two point game with 10 seconds left. Tough loss.

That Washington game is just one of many games that was close at the end only to be lost. Yes, there were a lot (A LOT) of blowouts this year, but also a handful of close ones too. Heck, if Foster had been playing, perhaps we come out of 3 or 4 of those close games with a win.

Ok, so this isn't a full blown analysis. But I just wanted to make a point that I am indeed optimistic.

What about you?

Poll

How many games with the Runnin' Utes win next season?

0-6

1 votes

6-10

14 votes

11-14

43 votes

15-18

30 votes

more than 19

2 votes

Who cares? Isn't it football season yet?

6 votes

96 votes | Poll has closed

Basketball MUSS

Lance10 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:34:48 -0000

I was just commenting on another blog post about the basketball MUSS and thought I may as well post my thoughts here.

I mean did you know that our student section only merits cordoning off 12 rows? That is an embarrassment. Heck, it’s a dang good thing we have a student band because they more than double the amount of MUSS that shows up.

I understand that it’s tough to come to two games every other week, especially when your team is as bad as the Utes are this year. But come on, the 8,000 + member football MUSS can’t turn out 10% of those numbers to the basketball games? That’s all it would take to fill Section G (and maybe more) to make it truly a college atmosphere.

The HC is averaging around 8,000 per game this year, which I think is pretty dang good considering how difficult it is to watch bad basketball. But we've been able to see all 5 wins and I'm pretty sure the home crowd is a big push for our guys out there (see how bad they've been on the road?).

Also, our average attendance is pushing the tops of the PAC 12. We have a proud program and proud fans. I know we want to see wins, but we are part of those wins! Here's to calling out the basketball MUSS! Hey MUSS, how about you rally and set a goal to get 10% of your football attendance to at least one game this year. Then next year we'll push for that number as being average. What do you say?

Here's the Utes schedule (note the home games!):

P.S. I've been to every home game except one this year and I've got to say that I'm having a blast taking my kids. The losing part is hard, but the wins will come, I'm sure of it!!!

I was just commenting on another blog post about the basketball MUSS and thought I may as well post my thoughts here.

Here's the Utes schedule (note the home games!):

P.S. I've been to every home game except one this year and I've got to say that I'm having a blast taking my kids. The losing part is hard, but the wins will come, I'm sure of it!!!

Poll

Will the MUSS rally and garner the support of 800 students for at least one game this year?

Yes

1 votes

Maybe

7 votes

No

29 votes

Who cares?

4 votes

41 votes | Poll has closed

Storey thrown under the bus?

Lance10 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:34:48 -0000

So somebody commented about Coach Larry K throwing Storey under the bus in the post game interview. I didn't listen to the post game and I can't find any post game comments in the papers. Anybody care to share what was said?

I did, however, see the game and there was an instance where you could see Storey was pretty unhappy. After a silly foul 85 feet away from the basket, Farr approached Storey and gave him a high five and a pat on the head. Storey pulled a CP3, smacking Farr's hands away and yelling something at him (looked like "Don't touch my head!").

Losing as much and as badly as the Utes have this year has got to be frustrating. Hopefully that episode on the court isn't continuing in the locker room. The coaches have their work cut out for them to try and keep these guys interested and playing hard.

I can tell they lack confidence in just the way they shoot free throws. They are missing way too many and then they are shaking their heads with dejected looks on their faces. Let's hope by being at home this week they feel comfortable and are more competitive.

Poll

How many current Utes will be on the roster next year?

8

9 votes

7

7 votes

6

12 votes

5

25 votes

Other (please comment)

5 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

Pitt’s Chas Alecxih cried about the Utes being dirty

Lance10 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:13:46 -0000

Meanwhile....he's ripping off the helmet of Tony Bergstrom in the first half of last week's game.

Check out this photo sequence from The Salt Lake Tribune's Seeing Red Blog.

I wonder why John Cullen took care of business late in the game when Alecxih was picking on John White IV. By the way, Cullen's hit may have been unnecessary, but it was not late. So tell me this, who is the dirty one? The Utes or Alecxih?

via seeingred.sltrib.com

Meanwhile....he's ripping off the helmet of Tony Bergstrom in the first half of last week's game.

Check out this photo sequence from The Salt Lake Tribune's Seeing Red Blog.

via seeingred.sltrib.com