Utah Utes Basketball Brings It On Home…

Year two of the the Larry Krystkowiak era of Utah Utes Basketball begins to come to a close tomorrow night.  With Washington St.’s upset of UCLA, unless Utah finds a way to win this weekend, it will mean last place in the Pac-12.  It would also mean not improving on last season’s win total and failing to win 10 Division-I games.  There will be LOTS of time to debate what that means, but no one can be thrilled about that.

As for this weekend Utah faces the Oregon schools.  In Oregon St. we have a team that has absolutely given the Utes fits over the past two seasons.  Last year the Beavers beat us by 18 and 10, and neither game was close.  This year saw another 18 point loss to the Beavers.  To say the system of the First Brother In Law creates a mismatch is an understatement.  Utah has lost four straight, six of seven and don’t seem to be heading in a direction where they might suddenly solve the riddle that is the Beavers.

Then on Saturday the Utes draw the Oregon Ducks.  While Oregon creates a better matchup for the Utes, Oregon is playing for the title and NCAA seeding and this week will see the return of Dominic Artis.  Thinking the Utes would pull that upset against the Ducks and likely Pac-12 coach of the year Dana Altman, well it’s difficult to see.

Barring something freakish happening, Larry Ball Year Two will end much like Larry Ball Year One, not with a bang, but with a whimper.