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20 good minutes likely won't be enough for BYU today, as the Cougars welcome the Runnin' Utes of Utah to the Marriott Center.
In each of BYU's last three games, BYU has played a dismal first half, followed by a breakout second half. Witness:
Averages for the last 3 games--
1st Half:
23.3 pts
31% fg
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2nd Half:
48.7 pts
58% fg
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Wow, right?
Credit the coaches for the halftime adjustments and credit the players for picking up their game, but clearly, the Cougars need to get the first half figured out. BYU is 18-4 when leading at halftime--on the flipside, the Utes have won five of six conference games when trailing at the break. BYU led the Utes on the hill at the half, 40-39.
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Free throws have been a key determinant in the last two rivalry games played on the respective home floors. Last year in Provo, BYU 22 of 32 from the free throw line, while Utah was 9 for 10. This year on the hill, Utah was 31 for 40, while BYU was 13 for 22.
A comparison of averages in conference play--
Utah: 16.1 ftm/20.2 fta (team percentage: 79.5%)
BYU: 11.9 ftm/16.8 fta (team percentage: 70.8%)
Also note that Utah is 4th nationally in free throw percentage, while BYU is 86th.
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A little FYI: the officials in today's game have called a combined three conference games involving BYU this season. In those three games, BYU has taken an average of 13 free throws per game--four fewer than the Cougars' conference average. BYU's opponents have taken an average of 19 free throws per game--also four fewer than BYU's conference opponent average. So, today's crew actually might "let the guys play" more than the typical group of officials--we'll see.
Interesting fact, Part 1: in non-conference play, BYU actually took an average of three more free throws per game than its opponents, but in conference play, BYU has taken an average of 6.2 fewer free throws per game than its opponents--that's a significant statistical swing.
Interesting fact, Part 2: In Utah's two conference losses, the opponents were called for 23 total fouls--that's 23 fouls in two games, combined--for an average of 11.5 fouls/game. In Utah's 11 conference wins, the opposition has been whistled for 19.5 fouls/game.
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BYU has slipped to #2 nationally in field goal percentage after its 41% outing at San Diego State.
#1 UCLA: .5034
#2 BYU: .5028
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BYU Associate Head Coach Dave Rice got some good family news last night. His brother Grant's Bishop Gorman High School team won the Nevada 4A state title last night. Jonathan Tavernari attended Gorman, while Mike Loyd's little brother Johnathan hit the game-winning free throw for Gorman last night. Ironically, Mike Loyd played his high school ball for Palo Verde--the team Gorman beat in the final.
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More updated NCAA stats--
BYU is also in the top 20 in:
assist/turnover ratio (4)
scoring margin (8)
assists (9)
three point fg% defense (10)
scoring offense (15)
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Among individuals in the national top 50 rankings, Jackson Emery is 10th in assist/turnover ratio, while Lee Cummard is 40th in ft%.
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Today's opponent Utah is in the top 20 in:
free throw percentage (4)
field goal percentage (9)
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Individually, Luke Nevill is 9th in blocked shots and 13th in field goal percentage.
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