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SALT LAKE CITY — Since joining the Pac-12, Utah has started off conference play in the losing column. For the No. 10 Runnin’ Utes, all that changed Friday by beating USC, 79-55, behind junior Jordan Loveridge’s 14 points.
Utah took control of the game early on a Loveridge 3-pointer and quickly jumped to a 14-7 lead before cruising to the victory.
“It was a solid game from everybody — everyone contributed. We’re happy with our win,” senior guard Delon Wright said. “When we’re hitting shots it opens up everything. The bigs did a good job of posting up and kicking it out. We just played really good basketball.”
The Utes finished with four players in double figures, including Loveridge (14), Wright (11), Brandon Taylor (11) and Dakarai Tucker (10). Freshman Brekkott Chapman added eight of the team’s 33 bench points and was a vital member of a bench unit that helped give Utah a comfortable win.
“Offensively, I don’t think there’s any question a lot of the guys on our bench can help us,” Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak said. “It’s just the defensive mindset right now that often takes a little bit of time for freshmen to figure out (and) that’s probably slowing them down a little bit.”
With Loveridge back in the starting lineup, Krystkowiak said he believes he’s found a lineup and rotation that he’s comfortable with for the time being. Krystkowiak will start Taylor, Wright, Loveridge, Chris Reyes and Jakob Poeltl, with Chapman as the most common sixth man. Other players in the set rotation include Tucker, Kenneth Ogbe and Dallin Bachynski.
Offensively, I don't think there's any question a lot of the guys on our bench can help us. It's just the defensive mindset right now that often takes a little bit of time for freshmen to figure out (and) that's probably slowing them down a little bit.
–Larry Krystkowiak
“I like our squad as far as the versatility and some of the depth,” Krystkowiak added. “Assuming we don’t have any shake-ups for any reason that’s probably going to be the routine for the immediate future anyway.”
Despite shooting 57 percent from the field, the Utes only shot 50 percent from the free-throw line (10 of 20). As has been a question all season: What’s to be done to improve the free throws? Krystkowiak said the team is close and that he trusts his players, but they need to find a way to finish in game situations.
“I know there’s going to be plenty of people out there that think we don’t shoot free throws in practice. I don’t think I’ve ever shot more free throws in practice for the last week,” Krystkowiak said. “I have a lot of faith in our guys shooting them. It was ironic, I thought, with how much time we put in.
“Obviously in close games it’s going to be a big thing,” he added. “Free throws would be considered a little thing, but we’ve got to capitalize on it and try to figure something out.”
Utah will continue its home stretch in a quick turnaround with UCLA Bruins Sunday. Tipoff will be at 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.
