Utah?s bid to earn a bye in next week?s Pac-12 Tournament may literally come down to the last game of the season with a victory over California Thursday (9 p.m., ESPNU) in the Huntsman Center.
The Utes (18-10, 8-7) can secure the coveted No. 4 spot only with wins over the Golden Bears (19-9, 0-6) and then Stanford (14-14, 6-10) on Saturday (2 p.m., P12N). They also need some help in the form of Cal losing at Colorado.
?Things are somewhat clear. Up until this point, there hasn?t been a lot of clarity,? said Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak, who noted the various scenarios that existed before the final week of conference contests. ?Obviously we have to win both of our games, and then some outside factors need to come into play, which aren?t impossible. So it?s that time of year.?
Krystkowiak added that it?s all about execution and a sense of urgency on the next play.
?There?s far less room for error, and you?re playing for a little higher price stakes and it?s all kind of coming together under a microscope,? he continued.
Considering what?s on the line, both teams are focused on the task at hand.
?Right now, we have to put all of our eggs in the basket of Utah,? said Cal coach Cuonzo Martin.
The Bears defeated the Utes 77-75 in double overtime on Feb. 2. The game in Berkeley was ultimately decided by a dunk off an alley-oop pass with 2.1 seconds remaining. Senior guard Jabari Bird, who finished with a game-high 26 points, threw down the game-winning slam.
?That was a hard way to lose,? acknowledged Utah guard Lorenzo Bonam, who had 15 points in the setback.
Kyle Kuzma led the Utes with 23 points and 14 rebounds that night. David Collette contributed 14 points.
Besides Bird, Cal had strong showings from freshman guard Charlie Moore (17 points) and sophomore forward Ivan Rabb (12 points, 14 rebounds).
This time around, Krystkowiak said his squad has to come out with ?reckless abandon.? That was the case, he explained, in last week?s 86-81 win at Colorado. Utah played that game without starter Devon Daniels, who has been suspended indefinitely for undisclosed conduct detrimental to the team.
?We?ve gone through a lot of adversity with our team, and I think everybody in the room knows there aren?t going to be any easy nights and don?t expect there to be easy nights,? Krystkowiak said.
The Utes, he continued, have to ?earn what they get and get what they earn? out on the court.
EXTRA STUFF: Cal holds a 14-13 lead in the all-time series with Utah. The Utes are 7-5 and have won two straight against the Bears in Salt Lake City. ? Utah defeated Cal 82-78 in last year?s Pac-12 Tournament semifinals. ? It?s a ?blackout? game and fans are encouraged to wear dark attire to the game.
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The Utes (18-10, 8-7) can secure the coveted No. 4 spot only with wins over the Golden Bears (19-9, 0-6) and then Stanford (14-14, 6-10) on Saturday (2 p.m., P12N). They also need some help in the form of Cal losing at Colorado.
?Things are somewhat clear. Up until this point, there hasn?t been a lot of clarity,? said Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak, who noted the various scenarios that existed before the final week of conference contests. ?Obviously we have to win both of our games, and then some outside factors need to come into play, which aren?t impossible. So it?s that time of year.?
Krystkowiak added that it?s all about execution and a sense of urgency on the next play.
?There?s far less room for error, and you?re playing for a little higher price stakes and it?s all kind of coming together under a microscope,? he continued.
Considering what?s on the line, both teams are focused on the task at hand.
?Right now, we have to put all of our eggs in the basket of Utah,? said Cal coach Cuonzo Martin.
The Bears defeated the Utes 77-75 in double overtime on Feb. 2. The game in Berkeley was ultimately decided by a dunk off an alley-oop pass with 2.1 seconds remaining. Senior guard Jabari Bird, who finished with a game-high 26 points, threw down the game-winning slam.
?That was a hard way to lose,? acknowledged Utah guard Lorenzo Bonam, who had 15 points in the setback.
Kyle Kuzma led the Utes with 23 points and 14 rebounds that night. David Collette contributed 14 points.
Besides Bird, Cal had strong showings from freshman guard Charlie Moore (17 points) and sophomore forward Ivan Rabb (12 points, 14 rebounds).
This time around, Krystkowiak said his squad has to come out with ?reckless abandon.? That was the case, he explained, in last week?s 86-81 win at Colorado. Utah played that game without starter Devon Daniels, who has been suspended indefinitely for undisclosed conduct detrimental to the team.
?We?ve gone through a lot of adversity with our team, and I think everybody in the room knows there aren?t going to be any easy nights and don?t expect there to be easy nights,? Krystkowiak said.
The Utes, he continued, have to ?earn what they get and get what they earn? out on the court.
EXTRA STUFF: Cal holds a 14-13 lead in the all-time series with Utah. The Utes are 7-5 and have won two straight against the Bears in Salt Lake City. ? Utah defeated Cal 82-78 in last year?s Pac-12 Tournament semifinals. ? It?s a ?blackout? game and fans are encouraged to wear dark attire to the game.
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