PLAYER PER +/- PLAYER PER RANK
Tyler Rawson 25 +8.8 Tanner Krebs 19 #24
Sedrick Barefield 15 +5.9 Jock Landale 17 #30
David Collette 11 -3.6 Calvin Hermanson 10
Jayce Johnson 11 +2.3 Emmett Naar 2
Justin Bibbins 7 -2.5 Jordan Hunter 2
Gabe Bealer 3 -2.6 Jordan Ford 1
Donnie Tillman 2 -6.8 Evan Fitzner 1
Kolbe Caldwell -1 -2.5 Elijah Thomas 0
Parker Van Dyke -2 -6.1 Tommy Kuhse 0

Cullen Neal -1

Utes depth won this game. The Gaels only went 5 deep and their bench had a total of 16 minutes and 4 points
The Utes bench went 58 minutes. They only had 9 points but a game this close every little bit counts.
The extra minutes gave invaluable experience to Johnson, Tillman and VanDyke. Granted, some of that was due to Collette having a back issue.
Overall, a team win.

Utah slowed down Landale but he still got his. 2/7 from the line was huge. Utah free throw defense comes up clutch.
Utah got killed on the offensive glass. 16 boards which was 47.1% of their opportunities. Remember 25% or lower is the goal for a defense.
That kept St Marys in the game, otherwise Utah really owned this game.
Utah defense held St Marys to 40.4% shooting and 31.8% from three. On the season they're 52% from the floor and 41% from deep.

Utah forced 15 turnovers which was huge (4th most this season for Utah opponent) and the Gaels only average 10 per game.
On the flip side Utah only had 8 turnovers (4th least this season for Utah game) and only 11.8% of possessions resulted in a turnover, season average is 18.5%

Utah was -14 on rebounds but +7 on turnovers, wash. It was the little things and Barefield getting hot that sealed the victory for Utah.

The turning point was 4:05 into overtime when Naar missed a jumper and Bealer grabbed the rebound. It was 54-54 and Sed came down and made a three. 57-54.
The dagger was 2:11 into overtime when Barefield hit a three to put Utah up 60-57. Utah finished the game on a 10-1 run to win by 9.

Next up.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 27-10 - Best win over Purdue 77-73. Lost to Villanova by 8
They have some bad losses on their resume, at Ohio by 5 at UTSA by 11.
They're 12-3 at home but 7-5 on the road and 4-2 neutral
Top 40 RPI. 3-2 vs tournament teams. (3 games vs Marshall 2-1)

Really a deep team that goes 8 deep with 3 seniors, 1 junior and 4 freshman. Young team.
They aren't big and they don't shoot great from three but their mid range game is really good.
They were only 5/13 from three vs OK State, Hollingsworth is their only threat from deep, 6'2" freshman PG
Their best passer is Darius Thompson 6'4" shooting guard who gets open, draws the D and then finds the open guy, usually Justin Johnson
Johnson is a 6'7" senior forward who is a lot like Rawson and does everything.
52% from the field, 42% from three (only 3 attempts per game), 9 rebounds a block, assist and a steal per game.
Rawson is a better passer but Johnson is a better rebounder.

Utes match up well vs the Hilltoppers, with Collette, because they aren't very big. But they're athletic and they move so Utah needs to have that zone on point.

Western Kentucky is an early 1pt favorite.

Go Utes!