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SALT LAKE CITY - After a nice winter slumber and some shoveling I am hung up on something Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak said in his postgame comments after the UCLA game.
"We're not going to a gun fight with knives anymore, we got a chance to win some games and now it's time for guys to step up," Krystkowiak said confidently.
It is the last part of his quote that needs to be addressed because the Utes are in every single game. They have lost their seven games by a combined 27 points.
We're not going to a gun fight with knives anymore, we got a chance to win some games and now it's time for guys to step up.
–Larry Krystkowiak
It's now time for guys to step up. I am now convinced that the Utes will be in every game this season. They do not get blown out. They force teams to play at their pace.
Against Arizona State, Jason Washburn had a late look and missed. Jordan Loveridge had a tough tip off of Washburn's miss, he also missed.
The Utes had another chance against Arizona two days later. With the Wildcats up one, Jarred Dubois shot a three and missed. It was a clean look.
Thursday night against UCLA, it was Glen Dean who had three chances to take the lead under two minutes. They were all clean looks. The final look was a wide open.
"Now it's time for guys to step up," Krystkowiak added.
If there are any question marks about this Utah coaching staff, they can be put to bed. This is a well-coached team that is prepared.
Krystkowiak also used one of the most frustrating cliché's possibly of all time when he said "we're close." This time I actually believe it.
The Utes have learned how to be in every game, now they need to learn to make the big shot.
