This game will be a serious test for the Utes.
http://butlersports.com/news/2016/11...8-arizona.aspx
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This game will be a serious test for the Utes.
http://butlersports.com/news/2016/11...8-arizona.aspx
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
It's hard to know much about the team after watching 4 fairly meaningless games. Here are some facts and opinions:
As a team, we are at 33% from behind the 3 point line. Connor is the only Ute above 40%, though Zamora is at 39%. Kuzma will keep shooting threes. He's at 31% so far. I would love to see this at 35% by season's end, but I'm not optimistic with his shooting.
For FG% in general, we are at 50%, with Bonam, Rawson, Daniels, and Connor all north of 50%. Lots of layups so far.
We are at 71% from the line as a team, and Kuzma is at 77%. That is significant if it continues. We can inbound to Bonam, Kuzma, Daniels or Rawson at the end of close games and feel pretty good about our FT chances.
Bonam is turning the ball over a lot - 3.5 per game. Kuzma at 2.3. Rawson leading the team in assists since we are putting him at the FT line against the zone.
Kuzma, Bonam, Zamora, Rawson, PVD, and Daniels are averaging more than 20 minutes per game. Add Johnson, Barefield, and Collette, and that's our 9 man rotation. I think we'll end up using mainly 8, and PVD/Zamora are battling for minutes.
Johnson is getting 9 rebounds in 17 minutes so far. Obviously, the competition will get stronger. I am hoping he can be a Bachynski type for us. He seems less explosive than Dalin though.
Kuzma is averaging a double double so far.
I'm not sure who can play defense on this team. I guess we'll find out. I have to hope that Daniels can turn into a defensive stopper. If he can, he'd be able to guard 2's and 3's. Bonam and Kuzma didn't really play great defense last season. Maybe Zamora has it in him to pester opposing PGs.Originally Posted by sancho
When Barefield is up to speed---hopefully when conference starts he will have the ball in his hands most of the time. He can break down defenders & is probably the best 3 point shooter.
Bonam may be better as a "2" guard--posting up & also attacking off a wing.
The closer I look at this Butler team, the more I think Utah comes away with the win. I think we dust 'em.
Butler Bulldogs.jpg
Honestly I'm pretty surprised the line opened at just -1 for Butler (currently at -2). I was very impressed with what I saw from Butler the other night. They remind me of a Wichita St... not a ton of size, but a bunch of 6-7 type bigs who are skilled and can bang. A VERY well coached team, on both sides of the ball. I worry we'll have a hard time scoring against these guys. We're going to need to be hitting the 3-ball.
I agree. Butler is coming off a road tournament in Vegas, though. They played on Thursday and Friday, and now they are coming to elevation in SLC. If we had any players who had played more than 25 minutes in a game this season, we could run 'em out of SLC.
Regardless a win here for Utah will be huge and in my opinion very unexpected.
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We had some Chris reyes disease early but we can beat this team
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"Be a philosopher. A man can compromise to gain a point. It has become apparent that a man can, within limits, follow his inclinations within the arms of the Church if he does so discreetly." - The Walking Drum
"And here’s what life comes down to—not how many years you live, but how many of those years are filled with bullshit that doesn’t amount to anything to satisfy the requirements of some dickhead you’ll never get the pleasure of punching in the face." – Adam Carolla
We need to shoot better
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"Be a philosopher. A man can compromise to gain a point. It has become apparent that a man can, within limits, follow his inclinations within the arms of the Church if he does so discreetly." - The Walking Drum
"And here’s what life comes down to—not how many years you live, but how many of those years are filled with bullshit that doesn’t amount to anything to satisfy the requirements of some dickhead you’ll never get the pleasure of punching in the face." – Adam Carolla
It'd be nice if we shot better than 28%
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"Be a philosopher. A man can compromise to gain a point. It has become apparent that a man can, within limits, follow his inclinations within the arms of the Church if he does so discreetly." - The Walking Drum
"And here’s what life comes down to—not how many years you live, but how many of those years are filled with bullshit that doesn’t amount to anything to satisfy the requirements of some dickhead you’ll never get the pleasure of punching in the face." – Adam Carolla
They upped the defensive intensity towards the end of the half, and we peed our pants.
Looks like a winnable game to me, though.
I'm not in a place where I can watch but I see on ESPN.com that in the first half Butler shot 51.7% from the field, 37.5% from trey range, and 50% from the line. Utah was in the 33% in FG shooting and even worse from 3-point range -- 14%? It's a wonder we are not getting beaten badly. Just based on those stats the game seems winnable if the Utes can produce at a decent level.
Last edited by LA Ute; 11-28-2016 at 08:19 PM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Lucky
This game has gone about how is hoped. We hung in there early but our guys are not used to a team like this.
I'm encouraged by the rebounding and effort. I'm disappointed in a number of things.
Turnovers are tough to overcome.
σοφῷ ἀνδρὶ Ἑλλὰς πάντα.
-- Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.35.2.
So is not playing any interior defense.
Win or lose, playing preseason games against tough opponents does pay off as the season wears on. So there's that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
We have 20 points sitting on the bench. Add that in & the fact that Barefield handles the point & thus turnovers are reduced by half & it may be a different result.
Bonam is not a point guard---he is a scorer, will be better not trying to be in charge. He is great driving off a pick & roll---but his first & basically only move is to drive---he does not hit the pick who slides to the hoop. Rawson is very good at that, but does not get the ball.
Rawson did get a lesson tonight---he finally slowed down & played well down the stretch.
2 Freshmen---Jayce & Daniels showed their potential. Daniels is fearless & Jayce battled some big experienced guys down low. He had some nice rebounds & hustle plays.
JoJo looked overmatched---by the Butler point guard--who the Muss rightly named "Frodo". Ouch.
And Bealer still looks clueless half the time. Welcome to the bench when the rotation gets tight.
No way this was a Butler by 1 game----should have bet the house on that.
Forgot
Donnie Tillman was in the crowd.
Muss kept chanting "we want Donnie & we want Tillman".
He & his mother both seemed to enjoy the attention.
4 assists, 18 TO's and 3-20 from deep. I have no idea how we kept it as close as we did. Thought our guys battled, played really hard. I agree 100%, the addition of Barefield (true PG and another perimeter scoring threat) and Collette (a scoring presence in the post) will be a god send.
Gotta get at least some production from Zamora and PVD. This team needs outside shooters and those two can provide that. But they were both non-existent and hesitant on the offensive end last night.
Good news is we have just 3 more games without Barefield and Collette. Bad news is one of those games is in Cincy vs Xavier.
Maybe having Kuzma shoot 3's is like having Troy Williams run the read option. It would be wonderful and powerful if it could work, and it's super tempting because of that, but it's just not in the wheelhouse.
I don't know what goes into PER, but I bet Kuzma could improve his more by attacking the basket than by shooting 3's. Of course, he has NBA aspirations, and he'll never make it without that outside shot.
Through 5 games I see a lack of raw athletic ability and no pure shooters. The only offensive play in which I have any confidence is Bonham going to the hole with his left hand.
True Barefield and Collette could pick up some scoring (never seen either play, however), but, it will dig into Kuzma and Bonham. Offensive threats off the bench is bare minimum.
Much can be improved between now and conference, including interior defense, turnovers, and better offensive looks. I don't know how you address lack of athleticism.
“Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the railroads.” -- Harry S. Truman
"You never soar so high as when you stoop down to help a child or an animal." -- Jewish Proverb
"Three-time Pro Bowler Eric Weddle the most versatile, and maybe most intelligent, safety in the game." -- SI, 9/7/15, p. 107.
The impact of Barefield and Collette goes deeper than them being able to shoulder some of the scoring load, though that will certainly be a welcome addition. It allows bonam to play more off the ball (hes been bad as a full time offense initiator, putting up a 1-2 assist to turnover ratio when last year he was almost 2-1 with brandon taylor to help shoulder that load. Barefield is a guy who can create for others, he has that knack. That alone will help with rhythm and flow. Having a legit post up scorer will bring defenders inside and give the outside guys more space.
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