In Utah basketball history, has anyone been more inappropriately used by a coach than Britton Johnsen?

[HoopUte]

@Wingnut

Britton was ahead of his time and he would have flourished in today’s basketball. It’s a tragedy that Rick Majerus would not allow him to play to his abilities and forced him to play the game with his back to the basket.

So he would have done better in today’s game, 20 years later, and that’s his coach’s fault circa 1997 - 2002?

That may be one of the dumbest hypotheticals of all time.

[Daedalus]

It was not Britton Johnsen’s program. It was Rick’s. Love it or hate it, we all knew what it was.

Successful.

[Mormon_Red_Death]

@Wingnut

Britton was ahead of his time and he would have flourished in today’s basketball. It’s a tragedy that Rick Majerus would not allow him to play to his abilities and forced him to play the game with his back to the basket.

Well he was 1st team all conference for 3 years and was player of the year once. seems to me like he was used appropriately.

[Redblood]

@sweetgrass

Kuzma is an interesting example. I don’t believe Krysko mismanaged Kuzma as much as Kuzma’s game is geared more towards the open fast paced style of the NBA. I think you could also argue that Kyle figured some things out and finally came into his own as a basketball player.

I think other examples of this (guys who didn’t blossom until the next level) are Tim Patrick and Steve Smith (different sport though)

Kuzma made huge strides each year with Utah. Had had stayed he would have dominated that year. Wouldn’t have been shooting from 3 quite as often as in the league but his trajectory was great here

[77ute]

@Mormon_Red_Death

Well he was 1st team all conference for 3 years and was player of the year once. seems to me like he was used appropriately.

If I recall, he also battled injuries throughout his career. He sat out the 2003 NCAA tournament for example. He also missed half of his freshman year in '97-'98.