His teams have historically fallen apart in the final 5 minutes of games. That happens too often, and over too long a period, to be a coincidence. My $.02.
End of game problems are also caused by players running out of gas. The only play 7-8, so too many minutes for major players. that comes down to recruiting–there is no one to play beyond that limited number. Who on that staff is the recruiting guru?? No one; that is why they end up every year picking up someone that is left over, and never sees a minute on the court.
He needs to teach them how to play basketball. Colorado outrebounded them by like 50! Fundamentals. How many times do they have a decent defensive posession, force a missed shot, then give up an offensive rebound? Undersized, you say? Our center is 7 FEET TALL. When a team loses, you can point to players, but when a program loses - year after year after year, that’s coaching. Even Larry’s best teams lost at least 9 games. Poeltl, Wright, and Kuzma on the same team and they lost 9 times.
Finally, when a coach is 1-19 against another coach (Altman), that’s evidence he’s not a good coach.
So, to answer your question, “What’s Larry supposed to do?”, I think the answer is that Larry is simply not capable of doing more. He’s reached his ceiling. At this point, the real question is, “What’s Harlan going to do?”
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I could be wrong, but it seems it would take a few wealthy boosters to make this move and finding out yesterday that Utah athletics is $35 million in the red, I don’t see it. Especially since Harlan and company squeezed them for the South End Zone project just recently.
Sadly, Utah basketball is way down the priority list of concerns for the Garffs, Huntsmans, etc right now.
I agree with you. I cant imagine anything about Utah basketball is fun anymore for the coaches, players or fans. Larry is the house guest that came for Christmas and is still at your house middle of January.
I would be interested in a study of games under Larry in which his team has been within three points of the opposing team with 3:00 to go in the game. How many of those games did his team win? It may prove me wrong about him, or it may prove me right.
Maybe. Maybe not. If USA Today is to be believed, Larry’s buyout at this time last year was $9.75million. After this year it must be around $6million. In most years maybe the university or certain boosters would be willing to absorb that, but, this isn’t like most years. Harlan is in a real financial pickle with this thing.
Per the locked on Utes podcast his buyout is 7 million this year
Watched the Washington Colorado game tonight. I can’t stand it. Basketball officiating is horrible. Absolutely no consistency at all — at all levels.