Last year the recruiting was pretty good. I’d have been happy to have that team back intact. The problem, in my opinion, was coaching.
1 Like
And let’s not forget back then when students actually went to the games, the classic chant while brandishing a blow-up doll of, “We’ve got Kenny’s girlfriend!” Even Thomas laughed at that.
4 Likes
Under Majerus, Utah never lost to UNM at home. Never. And many of the games were blowouts over good or even very good UNM teams: 78-45 in 1993, 74-58 in 1996, 78-58 in 1997, 77-47 in 1999, 73-43 in 2004 (I guess Majerus was gone for that one, but his influence was there).
3 Likes
Majerus was by far the best Ute coach in that regard. I felt like LK was also pretty good at that (that might have been Tommy Connor coming up with the game plans) but it never felt like Smith had any sort of gameplan based on the opponent’s strengths & weaknesses. That is exactly what I wanted to see out of Smith’s teams, but I never saw it.
I remember one game against UNM, when they had Kenny Thomas. At one point in the 2nd half the Utes were up 70-29. It was supposed to be a close game. I remember watching UNM on offense and the Utes were so well coached, with a defensive game plan, that the Ute defenders would arrive at the spots the UNM players were supposed to get the ball passed to them. UNM literally had no idea how to attack the Utes offensively.
I’ll be happy if AJ just gets back to decent defense while attempting to take away the opponents best weapon.
4 Likes
One of the best game plans I remember by Majerus is against Arizona in 1998 in the regional final. Zona was 17 for 60 from the field and 4 for 22 from 3.
5 Likes
New commit:
5 Likes
I was at that game. It was senior day for Andre, and there was no way Utah was going to lose. Yes, I remember Utah being up 71-29 at the four-minute timeout. Majerus emptied the bench, and UNM closed the game on a 14-2 run. Incidentally, Utah also held UNM to 39 in the PIT that year and 47 in the WAC Tournament championship. Those were top-15/20 UNM teams too that scored 80-plus points 19 times that year.
4 Likes
Δ&2
7 Likes
I like this one!
5 Likes
4 star kid from the Bronx? This seems to answer the funding question.
2 Likes
This is who we have so far. Add to it if you know of more.
Elijah Moore
Kendyl Sanders
James Okonkwo
Terrence Brown
Keanu Dawes
Ibi Traore
Alvin Jackson
Does anyone know if Ausar is still in the portal?
3 Likes
Yep, Ausar still in the portal. Looks like he has visited nebraska and villanova.
1 Like
Ausar reminds me a little of Walter Watts. Definite potential, motivation varies. Already has kids, too.
I don’t know if the chemistry and situation aligns, but he could benefit from some harder coaching that has his best interests in mind, it seems to me.
4 Likes
Ausar has skills, but passing isn’t one of them. That’s fixable with a coach that demands it. If he’s not willing to do that, though, see ya later and thanks for stopping by.
1 Like
Ezra had some terrific games for us, but I am not losing any sleep over him transferring. Outside of the ability to get to the line (something we will miss), I think just about every aspect of KD’s game is better than EA.
And man, I hate how much EA gave up on defense last year just because he had to whine at the ref instead of hustling back on d.
I even feel like James Okonkwo fits in better with an Alex Jensen team than does EA as a backup 4.
3 Likes
Hopefully we can find someone better than Ezra. Get it? Better Than Ezra?
I’m here all week, folks. Try the veal!
12 Likes
Add Jahki Howard to the list
2 Likes
Well, it seems Coach Jensen’s Utah coaching career is about to start.
5 Likes
Howard for Wahlin would be a positive trade. Much higher up side.
Also Ezra to USC. Good luck
4 Likes
Man, just seeing some of these in the few weeks that Coach Jensen (still sounds odd to my ears) has been here we’ve seen more good profile moves than all of Coach Smith’s tenure. I hope that the trend continues.
6 Likes