Utah Utes basketball: Two unfamiliar foes in Florida
That's because the schedule doesn't get any easier for the Utes. Tonight at 4:30 p.m. they play a Mississippi team that went 24-11 last year and is picked to go to the NCAA Tournament by Sports Illustrated.
Then less than 24 hours later, at 2:15 p.m. MST Saturday, they'll face a Morgan State team that won its conference and went 22-11 last year. Both games will be played at the 8,362-seat Ocean Center as part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic.
The Utes are playing in the tournament-that-really-isn't-a-tournament, along with six other schools. Tuesday night's game against Green Bay also counted in the exempt tournament, which gives schools a chance to play an extra two or three games on their schedule.
"It's good to play on the road and play back-to-back games," said coach Jim Boylen. "We'll be out-athleticized in both games. It will be a contrast in styles."
Ole Miss is 2-0 on the season with victories over Arkansas State and South Alabama. The Rebels, who are picked to finish third in the SEC West, are led by junior guard David Huertas at 25.5 ppg. Another guard, Chris Warren, averages 14.5 ppg.
However the Rebels have been hit hard by injuries, losing two guards, Trevor Gaskins and Eniel Polynice, who both suffered serious knee injuries.
The Utes will have a definite size advantage with 7-foot-2 Luke Nevill and 6-9 Kim Tillie in the starting lineup.
Nevill is off to a great start in his senior season, averaging 24 points and 14 rebounds. He acknowledged he's playing with more urgency this year since it is his final year
Tillie has had a tough time shooting the ball (2-12), but is averaging 8.5 rebounds per game. Among the other starters, Luke Drca is averaging 12.0 ppg, Lawrence Borha 11.0 and Carlon Brown 10.5.
While Boylen was thrilled with his team's effort Tuesday and the way it bounced back from adversity, he also cautioned that it's just as important to handle success.
"We need to keep our edge, even though we had success," he said. "That's the key to playing at this level keeping your edge and playing with maximum effort all the time."
UTE NOTES: The Ute players were given a tour of the famous Daytona International Speedway Thursday morning ... The games here are not televised ... Who is Glenn Wilkes? He coached for 41 years at Stetson University in Florida and won 674 games ... In other games today, Marshall will play Morgan State at noon MST and Green Bay faces Rollins at 2:15 p.m. On Saturday Green Bay and Marshall play at noon before Utah and Morgan State tip off. The Utes were supposed to also play Sunday, but a couple of teams backed out of the event ... This will mark Utah's first-ever games against Ole Miss and Morgan State, which is located in Baltimore ... The Ute coaches and players are planning to have their team dinner at a local sports bar Saturday night where they can watch the Utah-BYU football game, at least the second half of it ... The Utes return Sunday and head back out on the road for a game at Missouri State Friday night.
UTAH BASKETBALL
Utah (1-1) vs. Mississippi (1-1)
Today, 4:30 p.m.
TV: None Radio: 700 AM
E-mail: sor@desnews.com
Recent comments
you ready to eat crow now? ole miss down, next!
re:spanked | Nov. 21, 2008 at 7:45 p.m.
We are going to get spanked big time in these Florida games.
spanked | Nov. 21, 2008 at 6:48 p.m.
- Funds for new courthouse approved 1:48 a.m.
- Godfrey vetoes Ogden budget 1:48 a.m.
- Odd Fellows Hall move 1:47 a.m.
- 2 country groups to perform 1:47 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz in back of line for free agents 1:19 a.m.
- Okur signs two-year extension 1:18 a.m.
- Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz 1:16 a.m.
- Price for redistricting plan challenged 1:04 a.m.
- Basketball campers learn service 1:02 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Jazz rally for OT win at Orlando
- AK will not play for Russia this summer
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
139 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
88 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
74 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70 - Letters: Time for a revolution
69
Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan travelled to Europe over last...
Two California high school receivers have given the University of Utah
The recent Poly camp in Bountiful opened the eyes of recruiters to at...
"Hermione Granger (Emma Watson): .... And she's come to have certain feelings...
Stadium of Smoke - cough, wheeze, cough!
There is so much more to Dave than ever could be told. We've know him as the...
A very realistic, fair assessment D-News. Well done.
California is the poster child of how too many social programs and unions can...
This is normal in the business world, take out several loans on the same...
It is a well know fact that the need for meaningful service practically never...
Americans advanced across a relatively unexploited landscape, and logged old...
My apologies in advance for the violent example I use to make my point below....
It feels like I'm living in the twilight zone. Global warming when the...


