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SALT LAKE CITY — With its No. 13 national ranking, the Runnin’ Utes are slowly making a case for a run in the NCAA tournament in March. While it’s still early to definitively say Utah has passed the so-called eye test, it’s the little things Utah is doing that are proving its legitimacy in the national conversation.
The Runnin’ Utes are 7-1 with wins over then-No. 8 Wichita State at home and a win on the road at BYU — a volatile environment in any season. Utah’s only loss was a close, grind-it-out battle on the road against then-No. 16 San Diego State by four points.
By all accounts, Utah hasn’t been perfect in its wins — turned the ball over 15 times against BYU, which accounted for 24 points — but the team is finding ways to win.
“I’m pleased with our young kids and their ability to focus. I think some of our veteran leadership down the stretch probably saved us. We just need to make some plays,” Utah head basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak said following Utah’s 65-61 win at BYU. “Everybody wants to know how we’re winning some close games: Sometimes it’s a little bit of luck, sometimes it’s having some maturing with guys being back for another year. Either way we go we’re thrilled to be where we are.”
As the popular saying in "The Fast and Furious" goes, “It don’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning’s winning.”
It may seem petty and an avoidance of the underlying issues of winning a game, but at the end of the day it’s another win in the column despite how hard it was to achieve.
Everybody wants to know how we're winning some close games: Sometimes it's a little bit of luck, sometimes it's having some maturing with guys being back for another year. Either way we go we're thrilled to be where we are.
–Larry Krystkowiak
Utah is now set to take on No. 10 Kansas in another hostile environment against one of the best college basketball programs in the nation’s history. And Utah will once again have to do it without junior Jordan Loveridge.
The loss of Loveridge until conference play is a tough pill to swallow, but freshmen Brekkott Chapman and Kyle Kuzma are two players who have stepped up to provide immediate relief for the Utes.
“You look at both kids and they’re thoroughbreds, just young colts with a lot of energy. They always try and do the right thing and so right now it’s about consistency. Those kids are getting more mature and we can lean on them some more,” Krystkowiak said. “The length Kyle and Brekkott provided was good. I was worried about the physical nature of the game but they rose to the challenge.”
“With Jordan out we need a team effort in order to score points,” senior guard Delon Wright said. “A lot of guys need to step up and have so far.”
Although the younger players are providing an added lift to Utah’s game, the Utes continues to struggle with turnovers and shooting free throws — two areas of concern in any close game. Utah was 19-of-30 from the free-throw line, including two missed shots from a normally high-percentage shooting Brandon Taylor late in the game against the Cougars.
“Transition defense was good, but the turnovers were bad,” Krystkowiak said. “We were sloppy at the end. Both teams kept turning it over, but we will take it.”
To Krystkowiak, the defense and the ability to make “enough plays” was the difference against BYU and has been all season in close games.
“Defensively, we were fantastic. BYU played really hard and it was a physical game. They were aggressive but we made enough plays,” Krystkowiak said. “We shot poorly at the line again, and from 3, but our defense was terrific.”
Whether Utah is able to make enough plays against Kansas is yet to be seen, but it’s certain that Utah has to clean up its mistakes before it will have an opportunity to stay competitive in tough games.
