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SALT LAKE CITY — The Runnin’ Utes have already eclipsed last seasons win mark of 15 with seven games left in the regular season. And while the possibility of being invited to the NCAA tournament is still up in air, Utah must focus on the road for any chance of a postseason.
While an invite to the National Invitation Tournament would not be a bad consolation prize for a Utah program that hasn’t seen a postseason game since the 2008-09 season, an invite to the NCAA tournament is the obvious end goal — a goal that is still obtainable.
Although Utah could guarantee a berth into the tournament by winning the Pac-12 tournament, the odds are stacked against them, particularly with No. 2 Arizona standing in its way.
Currently, the Runnin' Utes’ are projected to be an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament, according to ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index, which measures several statistical categories to determine tournament teams. If everything stayed the same in the landscape of college basketball, Utah is projected to be a No. 10 seed.
We need to focus on the things we can control. I can tell the kids, 'If we win this game, we're in the tournament.' That's a bit of rubbish. If we win seven of our last eight games, we probably still couldn't control our destiny.
–Larry Krystkowiak
However, the Ratings Percentage Index — a similar model to the BPI used by the NCAA committee to determine tournament teams — has the Utes clearly out of the NCAA tournament, ranking the team No. 101 in the nation because of its poor non-conference schedule.
So what does this all mean?
Utah needs to win games. But even then, an NCAA berth is not certain. And because of the uncertainty hanging in the balance, head coach Larry Krystkowiak said he’s only worried about each game as it comes to the team.
“We had a meeting at my house at the kickoff for the season and touched on it,” Krystkowiak said, speaking about the team’s goal of making it to the NCAA tournament. “Realistically, five or six Pac-12 teams are going to get in. We need to do well with the games remaining and in Vegas.
“We need to focus on the things we can control,” he added. “I can tell the kids, ‘If we win this game, we’re in the tournament.’ That’s a bit of rubbish. If we win seven of our last eight games, we probably still couldn’t control our destiny.”
Pac-12 BPI/RPI Rankings
| Team | BPI Rank | Bid Prediction | RPI Rank | Bid Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | Yes | 2 | Yes |
| Arizona State | 31 | Yes | 38 | Yes |
| California | 54 | No | 50 | Yes |
| Colorado | 44 | Yes | 25 | Yes |
| Oregon | 23 | Yes | 41 | No |
| Oregon State | 85 | No | 83 | No |
| Stanford | 36 | Yes | 42 | Yes |
| UCLA | 15 | Yes | 19 | Yes |
| USC | 137 | No | 127 | No |
| <b>Utah</b> | <b>37</b> | <b>Yes</b> | <b>101</b> | <b>No</b> |
| Washington | 115 | No | 81 | No |
| Washington State | 166 | No | 151 | No |
Utah is still winless on the road and have a two-game road trip against USC and UCLA before returning home to take on No. 2 Arizona. That does not bode well for a team hoping to improve its stock heading into March.
Thursday’s game against the Trojans is the easiest game on paper for the Utes, with the Trojans losing nine of its 10 conference games — one of which was to Utah at home. However, the figurative monkey on the back of Utah has yet to be shaken and the road woes continue.
“We have seven ball games before Vegas and our mission statement won’t change,” Krystkowiak said. “We keep trying to improve and not make the same mistakes. We have a bunch of guys jelling at the right time. We need everyone chipping in with four road games left to play. We can’t have just one or two players playing well; we need everyone to play well.”
Utah is on a two-game win streak after beating Washington and Washington State last week in a balanced effort from the team. Against the Cougars, Utah had six players in double figures in scoring, lead by the hot hand of Brandon Taylor, who had 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Runnin’ Utes will play the Trojans in Los Angeles Thursday at 8:30 p.m. They will then face UCLA Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
