Hoop Utes preseason thread

I can’t believe none of you slackers are talking about the MBB team on a Tues. (Queens is not a B12 team, granted.)

The interesting basketball laboratory this year continues. 96-65, 3-0, on the road at Miss St next.

  • Mongolia Mike is probably our best player, followed by Gabe. Shooter, passer… just a polished player.
  • Miro Little is getting better. We often have 2 points on the floor at the same time, when he’s playing with Mike.
  • the Madsen twins are solid + consistently good shooters.
  • Keanu Dawes continues to evolve. 6-9, plays a littler bigger, decent shooter. Could be a respectable 4.
  • Ausar was a rebounding machine tonight, double-double. It looked like they intended for him to develop his inside game, struggled a little bit against vs a serious rim protector, but he’s progressing.
  • I’ll be damned if there’s not yet another Pollard from Utah we went up against, maybe the brother of the kid at Wazzu. Pearl Pollard must have had 10 kids.
  • We need the bigs to heal up, but expectations are still modest. It’s all gravy.

Go Utes!!!

I love me some hoops. Thanks

This team will be or maybe is better already than last year’s team.
Point guard hard to be Devion, but with depth there is not a drop off —which also means Hunter does not need to handle the ball.
Mongolian Mike is a huge upgrade at 2 guard. He is really good.
Gabe is better than last year. It is surprising when he misses a 3 & he finally missed his first FT last night.
Ausar & Dawes & Wahlin are not the shooters & shot blockers like Branden Carlson, but they defend & rebound better & there is depth.
Lovering is still injured, but it makes sense he is better than last year.

Plus they have depth with Mason Madsen—who is a shooter.

Keller had a serious illness & lost 30 lbs—so he is at least a month away, which is too bad as he can play.

Unlike the FB team they are an uptempo team that is entertaining to watch.

They are beating up on teams they should beat up on—but they are improving with each game.

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I finally was able to get to a game. I don’t disagree with some of the optimism after what I saw, especially with respect to Mongolian Mike. He’s got great skills. Liked Ausar’s athleticism, too.

Sadly, a trip to the JMHC is like a visit to a mausoleum. There couldn’t have been 2000 people there. The MUSS numbered 27 at the 12:00 minute TO in the first half, but by half their numbers had swelled to 32. I was also more than pissed that I’ve also had my parking relegated to a half mile away (I measured it) while the area I used to be able to park in remains empty. It’s hard not to come away feeling like they just don’t give a ■■■■ about long term season ticket holders. My wife made it clear I need to work harder at taking someone else along to the games with me.

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Nice to have last night to get my mind off last weekend and the aftermath.

Shark is going to fun to watch and Ezra, Wahlin, and Dawes are looking good. Nice to see a bit more offense in the paint. Madsen back looking strong along with his sibling. Wish we’d kept Worster. Need our bigs back (getting tired of athletes losing time for injuries and illness)

Will see how we do against a quality opponent Sunday when we head to Mississippi.

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I’m hoping the team does well, but I just can’t generate any enthusiasm for basketball at all. It’s just not a very interesting sport to me.

I pay a little bit of attention around March Madness, but that’s it. Haven’t watched a full basketball game outside of the tourney (NBA or college) in probably over a decade now.

Who is shark?

So far, Utah has played three awful teams. OK, it’s hard to tell, but there were times last night when Queens College looked pretty decent. Anyway, I do think the Utes could surprise some folks this season. Looking at the schedule, it’s hard to see too many conference victories, and I expect some rough games on the road. But there is some talent on the squad. Gabe can shoot. When he’s on, he’s as good a shooter from deep as Utah has had since … I don’t know, maybe Nick Jacobson, or maybe he’s even better than him. I will enjoy whatever victories this team gets.

Mike Sharavjamts twitter handle is mongolshark and he has adopted the nickname, as His father Sharavjamts Tserenjankhar aka The Mongolian Shark was the first Asian Harlem Globetrotter

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Latest on Lovering?

Without Lovering & Keller, we’re going to struggle against Miss St today (2p ESPN2) but I want to see how we attack, how we adjust.

What’s in the bag of tricks, how we adjust to a jump up in competition?

Go Utes!!!

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This is the first road game against the first decent opponent Utah has faced. I am expecting a fairly decisive loss, but hopefully the team will play hard, limit turnovers, and not shoot ice-cold. If Gabe can get on fire, Utah might keep it close and have a shot.

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39-28 Utes at half

I fully real8lize this could all come crashing down in the 2nd, but good start

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I don’t expect a win, but we’re getting some good experience against the kind of length and athleticism seen throughout the Big-12.

Every team of - let’s say - “modest” length and athleticism needs to figure out how to deal with that. It’s been done, many times.

Just learn.

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Less than 9 minutes left in the 2nd half and we’re up? This is a great game for development.

EDIT: Under 7, tied & we’re shooting?

Keep it up!!!

We have no legit 5s, and this game is close?

tied at 71, but couldn’t get the win

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Where is this game being played?

In MS.

On Mississippi States home court?

Memphis, for some reason.

Ausar left some easy points out there, Mike had foul trouble, Little is getting better.

A lot to learn from this one. Can’t get Keller and Lovering back quick enough.

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