The Pre-conference 2019 Basketball season Thread -

[Mormon Red Death]

First game is at Nevada on CBS sports network... be like me and get a two week free trial so you can watch this and LSUvbama game on saturday.


No line for the game until tomorrow. I'm thinking the line will be Nevada -1. Utah has more talent and should win this game. All of their best players are gone.

Some preview
Quick Hits

2018-19 Record: 29-5 (15-3, 1st in Mountain West)
Final KenPom ranking: 27
Offensive efficiency: 114.0 (26th)
Defensive efficiency: 95.9 (35th)
Adjusted tempo: 69.3 (91st)
NCAA Tournament: 7th seed in West Region, lost in first round to Florida, 70-61
Key departees: Coach Eric Musselman (110-34 record in four seasons), F Caleb Martin (19.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.8 apg), G Cody Martin (12.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 119.0 ORTG), F Jordan Caroline (17.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 36.8 3pt%), F Tre’Shawn Thurman (8.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 119.9 ORTG), F Trey Porter (7.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 60.1 fg%), F/C Jordan Brown (3.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 50.6 fg%)
New additions for 2019-20: G Gabe Bansuelo (Bishop Manogue HS), G Desmond Cambridge* (Brown), F K.J. Hymes (Hillcrest Prep), F Zane Meeks (Brewster Academy), G Kane Milling (France), G Eric Parrish (Bossier City CC), F Johncarlos Reyes (Boston College), F Robby Robinson (San Diego CC), F Warren Washington(Oregon State)*
*Cambridge and Washington will sit out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

[DrumNFeather]

KenPom has Nevada at 98 in his preseason rankings (Utah at 114). He projects an 80-75 win for the Wolfpack, but to your point, the have lost a lot of talent and are breaking in a new coach in Steve Alford.

[Scorcho]

KenPom has Nevada at 98 in his preseason rankings (Utah at 114). He projects an 80-75 win for the Wolfpack, but to your point, the have lost a lot of talent and are breaking in a new coach in Steve Alford.

I'll be ecstatic if we can keep this to a 10 point loss or less

[DrumNFeather]

Listened to a little of Steve Alford's presser previewing Utah. It sounds to me like these two teams are very much in the same boat in terms of having players leave, new guys come in, etc. They've got 9 guys on scholarship right now, and from what Alford said, most of those 9 will play.

I expect both teams to really shoot poorly here in the opener with the new 3 point line being what it is. I would hope that would mean we feed it into our bigs early and often to offset some of the risk that may come from launching a bunch of threes.

[UtahsMrSports]

I have now seen the team play against each other and I have seen them smash a Division II team. I am so excited for tonight. I go into this season with no concrete expectations, only hopes. Better than .500 record would be nice. Minimal 1-9 transfers/growth/development would also be nice. It will be great to see how we do against another D1 team in a non-controlled atmosphere.

[Mormon Red Death]

Let's get it on!

[Mormon Red Death]

The hat and januten first in. I'm looking what I see so far.

[jonathanfj69]

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[UtahsMrSports]

What's your prediction? Will this group be a contender in a year or two under his leadership, or will Krsytko fall flat on his face?

Can we place bets on this? Easiest money ever

[Applejack]

Can we place bets on this? Easiest money ever

Which way?

[UtahsMrSports]

Which way?

My bad. That was very non-clear. I want to us all to place bets on what SeattleUte's prediction will be.

[SeattleUte]

My bad. That was very non-clear. I want to us all to place bets on what SeattleUte's prediction will be.

I don't know. It's a proven fact that I'm a strong believer in human redemption.

[chrisrenrut]

I don't know. It's a proven fact that I'm a strong believer in human redemption.

It’s a “fact” that you believe something?

https://youtu.be/DxqIpsYrNQ0

[UTEopia]

Those who follow Utah basketball understood that for the Utes to compete, they needed Gach and Battin to make a jump in their games. The Utes have won every game in which these two have scored in double figures and have lost the two games that they did not.

[sancho]

Those who follow Utah basketball understood that for the Utes to compete, they needed Gach and Battin to make a jump in their games. The Utes have won every game in which these two have scored in double figures and have lost the two games that they did not.

Allen seems to have made the jump we need. Gach seems like he's developed in good ways, but he hasn't been consistent, and his ball handling is still too rough.

Hopefully, Carlson and Jauntunen will develop as the season goes. I think that's a reasonable hope.

[Mormon Red Death]

I thought Eli big ballstead would throw up a trillion tonight but he made a 3

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[Mormon Red Death]

Up 50 at half... Geez mvsu is so bad

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[Mormon Red Death]

Go for the 100 point win!

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[Mormon Red Death]

I've never seen a 94 point win before.

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[sancho]

I've never seen a 94 point win before.

KenPom says it's the largest D1 vs D1 point margin ever.

[sancho]

Two players with a triple double. First time ever for Utah.

[U-Ute]

MVSU was awful. Still, putting up 143 against an awful team is not an easy thing to do.

I'm impressed that they were able to stay focused and execute when the game was out of hand.

Is the Jayce Johnson hand wringing done now?

[Mormon Red Death]

MVSU was awful. Still, putting up 143 against an awful team is not an easy thing to do.

I'm impressed that they were able to stay focused and execute when the game was out of hand.

Is the Jayce Johnson hand wringing done now?

I love that we were diving after loose balls and taking charges up 75 points.

[U-Ute]

I love that we were diving after loose balls and taking charges up 75 points.

I chalk it up to a bunch of freshmen trying to lock up a starting position.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

Gutsy win tonight. Far from pretty. Too many turnovers to start off the second half. Battin missed some open threes that would have really helped. Loved to see Allen put the team on his shoulders down the stretch. Great to see a team that should have gotten tight as Minnesota kept making move after move but they always managed to keep the lead and hold on. I came into the season promising myself to stay neutral, but it’s hard not to get excited for these youngsters.


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[Mormon Red Death]

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/sta...466075649?s=19

[UTEopia]

Went to the game at the Huntsman last night. It was a good crowd and the atmosphere is better with the upper section curtained off. I noticed that the student section filled and there were a number of students standing at the top. The game itself was entertaining and while the Utes cruised to start the game, getting up 16-0, they had to battle to withstand multiple runs by Minn. The Gophers big-man was a load and gave our guys difficulty. Their shooters came alive when the Utes started to double the big guy in the paint.

Center: Carlsen looks like he will turn into a very nice player as he gains strength. He has good athleticism and length. He moves well without the ball and works hard. I think the same can be said about Lahat. His skills are rough and those will improve with experience. MVK is long. He also has a chance to become a pretty good player. I really question whether Larry will be able to keep all of them in the fold. There just are not enough minutes to play 3 centers. Last night the Utes went for long stretches in the 2nd half with none of these guys on the floor even though it gave Minn. a decided inside advantage.

Power: Battin has shown a lot of improvement from last year both defensively and with physicality. He is no Karl Bankowski, but he is much better than he was. He missed some elbow 3's, and my sense is that his sweet spots are from the top of the arc and the corner. Miki is a hard worker. I can understand why some might compare him to Alex Jensen. Both will improve with added strength. Miki needs to work on outside shot.

Wings: Allen is a very good player who does everything except the outside shot, very well. Gach is better off the ball than he is with the ball. He is better in transition than he is in a set offense. Brenchley has been a pleasant surprise. I think he can develop into a taller version of PVK. Surprised that Plummer did not get in the game.

PG: Rylan is the engine that makes this run. There is a notable difference when he leaves the game and Gach runs the point.

While the early returns against Nevada and Minn. are encouraging, those wins are probably comparable to beating Cal and Stanford. I think the Utes struggle to hit .500 in Pac 12 play.

[concerned]

Went to the game at the Huntsman last night. It was a good crowd and the atmosphere is better with the upper section curtained off. I noticed that the student section filled and there were a number of students standing at the top. The game itself was entertaining and while the Utes cruised to start the game, getting up 16-0, they had to battle to withstand multiple runs by Minn. The Gophers big-man was a load and gave our guys difficulty. Their shooters came alive when the Utes started to double the big guy in the paint.

Center: Carlsen looks like he will turn into a very nice player as he gains strength. He has good athleticism and length. He moves well without the ball and works hard. I think the same can be said about Lahat. His skills are rough and those will improve with experience. MVK is long. He also has a chance to become a pretty good player. I really question whether Larry will be able to keep all of them in the fold. There just are not enough minutes to play 3 centers. Last night the Utes went for long stretches in the 2nd half with none of these guys on the floor even though it gave Minn. a decided inside advantage.

Power: Battin has shown a lot of improvement from last year both defensively and with physicality. He is no Karl Bankowski, but he is much better than he was. He missed some elbow 3's, and my sense is that his sweet spots are from the top of the arc and the corner. Miki is a hard worker. I can understand why some might compare him to Alex Jensen. Both will improve with added strength. Miki needs to work on outside shot.

Wings: Allen is a very good player who does everything except the outside shot, very well. Gach is better off the ball than he is with the ball. He is better in transition than he is in a set offense. Brenchley has been a pleasant surprise. I think he can develop into a taller version of PVK. Surprised that Plummer did not get in the game.

PG: Rylan is the engine that makes this run. There is a notable difference when he leaves the game and Gach runs the point.

While the early returns against Nevada and Minn. are encouraging, those wins are probably comparable to beating Cal and Stanford. I think the Utes struggle to hit .500 in Pac 12 play.

I really liked the way we pushed the tempo and the ball up court. Much less swinging the ball around the perimeter for 25 seconds that we have seen in the past. Lots more penetration, which led to a lot of dribbling into traffic turnovers in the second half. Gach in particular when he ran the point, which is a reason Jones rested very little in the 2nd half. I assume the tempo and penetration philosophy results in part b/c we are not a good 3 point team. Gach had that same problem last year, but he can get to the basket.

I have a hard time seeing Battin as Alex Jensen; he is too soft. Mikki is a better defender and likely will end up being a better player. Agree that it will be hard to keep three centers. Van Komen reminds me of Shawn Bradley, except skinnier.

Student section was great. There were abunch of students sitting in the upper bowl, behind the curtain. Wonder what they could see from there (or what they were doing in the dark).

[Old Standing ute]

Carlson had 4 fouls & Lahat & MVK don’t have any offense so he used Mikki & Battin together. Mikki is tough, but Oturo for MN was a load. He will make some $$ maybe next year.

Rylan Jones is already a good player. Diving for loose balls & taking charges. Really smart to take the foul when we were up 3 & under 30 seconds. Forced 2 FTs. He will be one of the best PGs when he leaves. With his size he probably plays all 4 years.

Best thing about MVK last night was no more mustache.

[Diehard Ute]

I really liked the way we pushed the tempo and the ball up court. Much less swinging the ball around the perimeter for 25 seconds that we have seen in the past. Lots more penetration, which led to a lot of dribbling into traffic turnovers in the second half. Gach in particular when he ran the point, which is a reason Jones rested very little in the 2nd half. I assume the tempo and penetration philosophy results in part b/c we are not a good 3 point team. Gach had that same problem last year, but he can get to the basket.

I have a hard time seeing Battin as Alex Jensen; he is too soft. Mikki is a better defender and likely will end up being a better player. Agree that it will be hard to keep three centers. Van Komen reminds me of Shawn Bradley, except skinnier.

Student section was great. There were abunch of students sitting in the upper bowl, behind the curtain. Wonder what they could see from there (or what they were doing in the dark).

I believe the comparison is Mikki and Alex Jensen, not Battin.


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