Not saying we haven’t had any level of success. Just saying the highest level of success in recent years was largely because of Pili. Clearly, it wasn’t only Pili.
The point is some combination of inside presence, athleticism, and size is needed. We don’t need a bunch of or any big unathletic players (have a 6’8" one in the bench), but a couple of more +6’2" athletic, solid 4/5 players would be nice. Fwiw, my definition of “athleticism” is a bit different from the stereotype. It doesn’t only include ability to jump and run fast, but could also include hand-eye coordination, quick feet (doesn’t mean fast), knows how to use one’s body, etc.
BYU’s women’s coach just “stepped down” after replacing Judkins 3 years ago. I have no idea what type of person she is, but her sideline demeanor of screaming at players and referees made me dislike her immediately. Interestingly, her husband, Trent Whiting, who played at Utah for a very short time before transferring to BYU, is the interim head coach. In the Trib article, Judkins is quoted that he did not want to leave when BYU decided that he was going to “step down.”
I hope the Utes make a strong play for Delany Gibb, who was just named BigXII freshman of the year.
Was going to laugh at them appointing an interim coach after their season is over, but i didnt realize they were in the 80s in the net rankings and that the wnit has 48 teams.
But yes, I really hope we go after Gibb hard. I know Gavin mentioned they recruited her a lot out of high school.
This is interesting because earlier in this thread after the first game with BYU I wrote that the fanbase was not liking her much at all. The big complaint was that she came from high school without any real connections in the recruiting world. The reason she was hired is because they wanted her daughter, Amari, who had committed to Oregon.
@Ben_In_Utah It does seem that Whiting is the reason that Gibb is at BYU, and this is the kind of thing that was needed to try to get Gibb to flip. BTW, I read an article that said assistant coach Lee Cummard (ex-BYU player) would be the interim coach.
It made feel ill when Whiting left Utah six games into the season, transferred to BYU, and was on the bench (not dressed and eligible to play) later that season in the MWC Tournament when BYU beat Utah, ending a 12-game losing streak to the Utes. Whiting was a big reason for BYU’s turnaround in 2000-2001,when it got back to the NCAA Tournament.
I know Majerus was hard on players, and I can’t fault a kid for deciding Utah wasn’t a good fit. But Whiting gave it like a month. If I recall, Judkins had recruited him to Utah but then went to BYU. Whiting followed. Tough loss.
This is when, on the old board, the old nickmane “casserole” came from. He was interviewed about the transfer and he said something along the lines that he would be closer to the missus and he liked her casserole. Something like that. Which is why I called her Mrs. Casserole and the daughter Casserole Jr.
An 8 seed going to usc in the latest bracketology, opening with a rematch against south dakota state (last years first round game).
The possibility of making it to the round of 32 for the 4th year in a row is still very much there but ultimately this season will feel like an underachievement in some ways.
Am I thinking of the wrong player? I thought Whiting was the guy who had some sort of chronic leg pain that limited how much he could practice. Majerus was a hard-ball “If you don’t practice, you don’t play” guy. So ultiimately Whiting wasn’t going to see the court in a meaningful way.
Meanwhile, BYU was still digging out of their 1-win season and a kid like Whiting would be an instant infusion of scoring. I seem to remember him having a good game or two against us while at the Y.
Anyway, maybe the leg pain thing s a mis-remembering on my part.
Maybe it was both. I thought the player with the chronic leg pain was Gary Colbert, who left at the end of the 1999–2000 season. Granted, we’re talking 25 years ago now. So many players left the program under Majerus—and this was long before the transfer portal and NIL.
OK, good to refresh my memory on that. I guess I can understand his situation. Who knows the degree to which he was in pain and how hard Rick was on him. I do remember that he was very good for BYU and Utah could have used him for the rest of 1999–2000 and in 2000–2001. I would say in the Majerus era, his transfer was the one that hurt the most. A lot of the guys who left never did much of note. But Whiting was one who did. So did Jimmy Carroll, who went to Nevada. Others?
Well, at least one BB is going dancing. Utah WBB is seeded #8 and will be playing #9 in Indiana. I used to be more excited about this team, but candidly, that excitement has wanted a bit because the team has been so inconsistent.
Nonetheless, Go Utes! I’m hopeful we’ll win the first round, especially how poorly we played in our first round loss of the B12 tourney. That said, won’t be surprised with the outcome, either way.
