Rocky Mountain High - Utah vs. Colorado 2018

[DrumNFeather]

Only one game this week, but it is a biggie as the Utes head to Boulder to take on Colorado. The Buffs stunned the basketball world when they swept Arizona and ASU at home earlier in the year, but for the most part they've had an up and down year. They sit at 12-10 and 4-6 in the league. They've got an RPI of 60, with an SOS of 23 and are lead by George King (feels like he's been there forever) and McKinley Wright, who both average 14 points per game. Namon Wright, a once upon a time Utah recruit also averages in double figures at 11 per game.

Our Utes counter with a record of 13-8 and 5-5 in league play, coming off of a road split in Arizona, where some inspired basketball was played. We currently have and RPI of 47, with an SOS of 30. We also have four guys averaging double figures, with Donnie Tillman on the cusp and Jayce Johnson playing some of his best basketball during his career at Utah.

Utah has won the last 3 in Boulder, and a win this week would put us at 6-5 in league play, with 5 of 7 remaining at home and a chance to do some serious damage down the stretch. ESPN's matchup predictor gives us a 53.9% chance to walk into Boulder and pick up the win.

This is a big one.

[Mormon Red Death]

Only one game this week, but it is a biggie as the Utes head to Boulder to take on Colorado. The Buffs stunned the basketball world when they swept Arizona and ASU at home earlier in the year, but for the most part they've had an up and down year. They sit at 12-10 and 4-6 in the league. They've got an RPI of 60, with an SOS of 23 and are lead by George King (feels like he's been there forever) and McKinley Wright, who both average 14 points per game. Namon Wright, a once upon a time Utah recruit also averages in double figures at 11 per game.

Our Utes counter with a record of 13-8 and 5-5 in league play, coming off of a road split in Arizona, where some inspired basketball was played. We currently have and RPI of 47, with an SOS of 30. We also have four guys averaging double figures, with Donnie Tillman on the cusp and Jayce Johnson playing some of his best basketball during his career at Utah.

Utah has won the last 3 in Boulder, and a win this week would put us at 6-5 in league play, with 5 of 7 remaining at home and a chance to do some serious damage down the stretch. ESPN's matchup predictor gives us a 53.9% chance to walk into Boulder and pick up the win.

This is a big one.

Also if Utah wins Seattle Ute will pay me $100.

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[Applejack]

Also if Utah wins Seattle Ute will pay me $100.

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#metoo

[DrumNFeather]

Also if Utah wins Seattle Ute will pay me $100.

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#metoo

What was the bet? 6 wins?

[Mormon Red Death]

What was the bet? 6 wins?

Yes sir!

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[Applejack]

I just want $

[UtahsMrSports]

Yes sir!

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SeattleUte really thought we would win less than six conference games this year?

[Mormon Red Death]

screen shot

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[Mormon Red Death]

Utes a pickem in boulder tonight

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[Ma'ake]

I thought our game vs Arizona was our best game of the year, even if we came up just short. The talent mismatch was impressively negated by execution of a really, really good game plan.

Part of me thinks Sean Miller got out-coached, and there's only so much you can do coaching one-and-dones like Ayton. The other part thinks maybe our Utes are discovering what they're capable of, if they execute the plan and let the coaches make them look good. Barefield in particular seems to have turned a corner, but outside shooting can vary more than any other ingredient.

Tonight isn't make-or-break, but we may be able to see if the AZ game was unique, or if our guys are really coming together.

[UtahsMrSports]

This kind of thinking with Barefield will drive you crazy. He's up and down. I think that's part of the package.

Maybe I am off here, but it seems like Sedrick has been given the freedom to freelance a little more in the last few games. I don't know if that is a conscious move by the coaches, but it seems to have helped a little. While I certainly dont expect him to play like he did versus Arizona all the time, I do hope he finds some consistency.

[Diehard Ute]

Maybe I am off here, but it seems like Sedrick has been given the freedom to freelance a little more in the last few games. I don't know if that is a conscious move by the coaches, but it seems to have helped a little. While I certainly dont expect him to play like he did versus Arizona all the time, I do hope he finds some consistency.

Krystkowiak talked about Sed in a Trib article before it went behind the pay wall.

He said they’ve worked with Sed on making things more simple. He said Sed often tries to make things more complicated. They’ve shown him film of gaps he should attack and how to get his shots and he’s responded to it.

Basically said Sed is a strong athletic kid who needs to just take the simple things that come.


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[chrisrenrut]

Just seems odd to see PVD starting.

[Mormon Red Death]

I can't tell if Larry's coat is mauve, red or pink

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[chrisrenrut]

Heh heh. I keep hearing the announcers call the Colorado player C-Word.

[chrisrenrut]

We seem to be giving up. We need 2 or 3 guys to step it up if we are going to make this a game.

[justaute]

No heart. No brain. Very disappointing given the number of upper classmen.

[Mormon Red Death]

Why not try Caldwell earlier? He can brick them just as well as the others

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[DrumNFeather]

Just got back from boulder. What a lousy game.

7 remaining. Need to go 4-3 and finish .500. Not sure we can do it.

I think we can hold serve at home, and pick up at least one on the Washington trip. 6-2 remains a possibility in my mind.

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[UtahsMrSports]

This team is so maddeningly up and down. At times we have looked like not only a tournament team but a team that could make some noise. At other times, we look like a team that will have no postseason opportunities.

An at large bid is all but gone (I think at this point it would take 7-0 and some luck and that ain't happening) .

[DrumNFeather]

This team is so maddeningly up and down. At times we have looked like not only a tournament team but a team that could make some noise. At other times, we look like a team that will have no postseason opportunities.

An at large bid is all but gone (I think at this point it would take 7-0 and some luck and that ain't happening) .

I think that probably all depends on how soft the bubble is. Let's assume for a second that the Utes can finish 6-2 (dropping one to either StanFord, one of the SoCal Schools, or Washington - I know, we're leaping here).

That would put them at 11-7 in the league and 19-10 overall. They may still be very much in play for a first round bye, and if not, would probably be the 5th seed, which would give them a shot at winning 2 games in Vegas, and playing Arizona for a shot to go to the Pac 12 title game. So that then potentially gives them 3 wins in Vegas (22-10) and almost certainly an RPI top 25 win, plus the win earlier in the year over Missouri, which continues to look good (current RPI of 33). Again, we're stretching, but it isn't impossible.

Look at what everyone else around us in the standings has as well:

USC (@UCLA, @Arizona, @ASU, vs. OSU, vs. Oregon, @Utah, @Colorado, vs. UCLA)
UCLA (vs. USC, @ASU, @Arizona, vs. Oregon, vs. OSU, @Colorado, @Utah, @USC)
Wash (vs. Arizona, @Oregon, @ OSU, vs. Utah, vs. Colorado, @Stanford, @Cal, vs. OSU, vs. Oregon)
Stanford (vs. Oregon, @Utah @Colorado, @Cala, vs. Wash, vs. Wazzu, @Arizona, @ASU)
Oregon (@Stanford, vs. Wash, vs. Wazzu, @UCLA, @USC, vs. ASU, vs. Arizona, @ Wazzu, @Wash)
ASU (@Wazzu, vs. USC, vs. UCLA, vs. Arizona, @Oregon, @OSU, vs. Cal, Vs. Stanford)
Colorado (vs. Cal, vs. Stanford, @Wazzu, @Washington, vs. USC, vs. UCLA, @Utah)

All of this is a long way of saying that pretty much everyone we're bunched up with has a challenging path down the stretch. Arizona is the only lock. Even USC, who looks good right now has 3 games they could drop on the road. Even so, they'll probably be the 2 seed unless they fall apart. If they were to only lose their remaining road games, they too would finish 11-7.

Keep hope alive!

[Mormon Red Death]

At this point, it's more likely we get lucky and win 3-4 in a row in Vegas.

We have 7 games left. Three are against teams that have already routed us. Two others are against teams ahead of us in the standings. We'll be lucky to finish 4-3.

so we really have to win 6 of 7 if we want the first round bye. Thankfully 5 of the 7 are at go home and the road games are 2 teams we have beaten. Yeah we were routed by 3 teams but they were all on the road.

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[DrumNFeather]

so we really have to win 6 of 7 if we want the first round bye. Thankfully 5 of the 7 are at go home and the road games are 2 teams we have beaten. Yeah we were routed by 3 teams but they were all on the road.

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I think (hope) it will be to our benefit to get Stanford first, coming off their big win and us having to sit on our poor shooting performance in Boulder. That game will be very telling as to where this team is at mentally. They have to know they've got an opportunity here.

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[DrumNFeather]

Looks like the Pac 12 hasn't announced what channel the games will be on this weekend outside of USC/UCLA. I would imagine this goes on the Pac 12 network given the timing, etc., but who knows.

[Rocker Ute]

If I missed this already discussed I apologize but I think sancho made a cromulent point a bit back, in that if you really are a top 75 RPI team, which the Utes should be from now on without exception, that beating a team in the 200s should be just as probable as beating the 300s, but has a dramatic effect on your overall rating. So at least when they are scheduling they should consider that and pass on the Geoducks or whatever.


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[Mormon Red Death]

That injury looked bad

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[Mormon Red Death]

any update on Collette?

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[Mormon Red Death]

Jayce get reinjured?

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[sancho]

Jayce get reinjured?

I think (hope) they are just trying to keep him at low minutes for his foot recovery. And with Seeley playing well, why not?

[Scorcho]

clearly Colorado is having trouble with the altitude