Runnin' Utes host 'better-than-their-record' Washington State on Sunday
Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak continually preaches about not taking anything for granted. One of his frequent comments includes the thought that ?you?re never as good as you think you are and you?re never as bad as you think you are.?
The steady approach also applies to analyzing the Pac-12 standings before all 18 games are in the books.
?I don?t think records are really indicative of anything in this league,? Krystkowiak said in sizing up Sunday?s matchup with Washington State in the Huntsman Center
Krystkowiak noted that there are a lot of close games ? from top to bottom ? in conference play. As such, he wasn?t all that surprised that Colorado needed double overtime to knock off the last-place Cougars 88-81 Thursday in Boulder.
?I don?t put a whole lot of credence into records. I?ve watched enough Washington State film to know they went overtime with Washington (and) double overtime with Colorado. They?ve lost close games,? Krystkowiak said of the Cougars (9-15, 1-11), who come to town with 10 consecutive losses. ?So I don?t really get into record as much as their ability. There?s no doubt they?re better than their record.?
After the loss in Colorado, Washington State coach Ernie Kent said he was proud of his guys.
?We just don?t know how to close yet and that is something we are still learning how to do,? Kent added.
Utah defeated Washington State 92-71 in Pullman last month. Jordan Loveridge and Brandon Taylor led the Utes that night with 22 and 21 points, respectively.
The duo also made significant contributions in Utah?s 90-72 win over Washington on Wednesday. Loveridge finished with 16 points and Taylor added 15. They were among five scorers in double-figures ? joining Jakob Poeltl (23), Lorenzo Bonam (18) and Chris Reyes (10) ? as the Utes shot a season-best 67.3 percent from the field.
Utah snapped a two-game skid with the victory to take a 7-5 record into the final one-third of the conference slate. The Utes are jockeying for position in next month?s Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas. The top four teams in the regular season receive first-round byes.
?We all know the season is coming to an end,? Poeltl said. ?For some of us, for seniors, it is going to be their last season so we want to play for them and finish the season off strong.?
EXTRA STUFF: Utah leads the series with Washington State 18-4 and has won the last four meetings . . . The Utes are 12-1 at home this season . . . Junior forward Josh Hawkinson tops Washington State with 16 points per game . . . Utah is on the road next week. The Utes play at UCLA on Thursday and at USC on Sunday.
Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak continually preaches about not taking anything for granted. One of his frequent comments includes the thought that ?you?re never as good as you think you are and you?re never as bad as you think you are.?
The steady approach also applies to analyzing the Pac-12 standings before all 18 games are in the books.
?I don?t think records are really indicative of anything in this league,? Krystkowiak said in sizing up Sunday?s matchup with Washington State in the Huntsman Center
Krystkowiak noted that there are a lot of close games ? from top to bottom ? in conference play. As such, he wasn?t all that surprised that Colorado needed double overtime to knock off the last-place Cougars 88-81 Thursday in Boulder.
?I don?t put a whole lot of credence into records. I?ve watched enough Washington State film to know they went overtime with Washington (and) double overtime with Colorado. They?ve lost close games,? Krystkowiak said of the Cougars (9-15, 1-11), who come to town with 10 consecutive losses. ?So I don?t really get into record as much as their ability. There?s no doubt they?re better than their record.?
After the loss in Colorado, Washington State coach Ernie Kent said he was proud of his guys.
?We just don?t know how to close yet and that is something we are still learning how to do,? Kent added.
Utah defeated Washington State 92-71 in Pullman last month. Jordan Loveridge and Brandon Taylor led the Utes that night with 22 and 21 points, respectively.
The duo also made significant contributions in Utah?s 90-72 win over Washington on Wednesday. Loveridge finished with 16 points and Taylor added 15. They were among five scorers in double-figures ? joining Jakob Poeltl (23), Lorenzo Bonam (18) and Chris Reyes (10) ? as the Utes shot a season-best 67.3 percent from the field.
Utah snapped a two-game skid with the victory to take a 7-5 record into the final one-third of the conference slate. The Utes are jockeying for position in next month?s Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas. The top four teams in the regular season receive first-round byes.
?We all know the season is coming to an end,? Poeltl said. ?For some of us, for seniors, it is going to be their last season so we want to play for them and finish the season off strong.?
EXTRA STUFF: Utah leads the series with Washington State 18-4 and has won the last four meetings . . . The Utes are 12-1 at home this season . . . Junior forward Josh Hawkinson tops Washington State with 16 points per game . . . Utah is on the road next week. The Utes play at UCLA on Thursday and at USC on Sunday.
