Similarities abound with '98, '05 Utes

Now that the formalities are over, and the NCAA tournament awaits, I have just one question for the Utes: Why not just go ahead and book tickets to St. Louis?

Nothing wrong with a little positive thinking.

Thus, in the spirit of the (post)season, I offer this Irish prayer to help speed the Utes on their way:

May road to the Final Four rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at you back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

May the spirit of Big Rick hover throughout the playoffs, reminding you of the bonny day the Utes played for all the potatoes.

I know it's a little cheesy, but so is all of this NCAA tournament stuff, right?

Premature Final Four talk, of course, makes coaches crazy. They don't like 10 p.m. games or meddlesome parents, and they especially don't like columnists looking too far ahead.

But I'm going to do it anyway.

It's been seven years since the Utes reached the Final Four. But guess what? It could happen again.

There, I've said it.

Everyone can thank me for the tip after they win their office NCAA pool.

I know saying the Utes COULD make the Final Four isn't exactly going out on a limb. I mean, Andorra COULD win the Olympics. French fries COULD prevent heart disease. I COULD win the Powerball Lottery.

But there's actually data to support similarities between the 1998 Utes — who played in the national championship game — and this year's. For example, wins. The '98 team was 25-3, coming out of the conference tournament. This year's team is 27-4 (prior to Saturday's game).

The '98 Utes went on an 18-game win streak. This year's Utes won 18 straight, as well. Both teams had their streaks ended at New Mexico.

The '98 Utes won their games by mostly lopsided scores; ditto for '05. Utah won by an average of 13 points in 1998, by 12 this year.

The '98 and '05 Utes each finished the regular season in the top 20. Utah is 15th in this week's polls; in '98 they were No. 7. Both went into the conference tournament knowing they had already locked up an NCAA bid.

Both had a tough, experienced, in-charge guard. The '98 team had Andre Miller and '05 has Marc Jackson.