Utah Hoops: Oh Yes, We Don’t Suck Again

Jan 16, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes guard Delon Wright (55) reacts during the second half against the USC Trojans at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won 84-66. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Last week was not a fun week of basketball, losing a game late with a chance to win at Washington is one thing, doing the same in Pullman while only scoring 47 points is quite another.

But the Runnin’ Utes returned home last night and with it, someone’s shot returned as Dakari Tucker went 4-9 from three and Delon put in 22 including 10-11 from the free throw line.  In short the Utes did what they had to do and they looked good doing it.

And that is something we should all be happy about.

But I also think I’ve had a kind of epiphany about this team.  I’ve been looking for what this team is, thinking that the OOC didn’t really tell us anything (and it didn’t), and I think I’ve found it.

They’re a good defensive team, although last year oddly might have been better.  On offense they have no consistency from their outside shooting and no consistent scoring threat from inside. Olsen, thus far hasn’t developed into the player I thought he’d be there.

Therefore, when the Utes get home and the shots are more likely to fall, like they did last night, it opens up things and lets Delon get to the rim.  When we’re on the road and they don’t fall, Utah kind of stands around while the other team zones us and bounces shots off the rim.  And I think that’s what we’re going to see the rest of the year, looking good some nights, looking not good on others.

It’s what you get when you lack consistency.

So it’s prediction time.  Here is what happens from here on out in this humble bloggers opinion.

I think we lose to UCLA.  I don’t think the Utes will break through against the top of the conference.  Then we have the Arizona trip followed by going to Colorado.  Now I think we’ll get swept on the Arizona trip because Arizona is good and we saw last night that talented bigs still give us fits.  I also assumed Colorado was a loss, but with their injuries, that moves to a toss-up.

The Utes come back home against the Washington schools and I think we’ll split those.  I think this Husky team just creates problems for us that we will struggle with.  The Utes then head to LA where we lose to the Bruins and should beat USC, BUT USC hitting shots at home combined with Utah having road issues concerns me.

Then the Arizona schools and Colorado come to town.  Utes lose to the Wildcats but win the other two.  And the Utes finish the season by heading to the Bay Area and getting swept.

That puts Utah at 6-11 in the Pac-12 with the tossup game at Colorado.  If you call that a win, Utes move to 7-11 on the season, if not 6-12.  My feeling is 6-12 but if we were either 5-13 or 7-11 I’d be shocked.

Tweet me @macathoyos or @hoyosrevenge for your thoughts

And as always

Go Utes