Utah Utes basketball: Jim Boylen says U. will improve despite defections

SALT LAKE CITY — When four underclassmen, including the top two scorers, leave a basketball program, there's bound to be wailing and gnashing of teeth among the faithful fans of that program.

That's what's been happening the past couple of weeks with the University of Utah basketball program, which has had four players with remaining eligibility announce they are leaving the program. No matter that the program has had an average of three underclassmen leave per year over the past 20 years. When you're 14-17, you're going to take a beating.

That's how Utah coach Jim Boylen has felt the past two weeks since it was revealed that four players would be moving on, including junior forward Carlon Brown and freshman guard Marshall Henderson. Boylen has been recruiting hard since the season ended and believes his team will be better next year despite the defections.

"We struggled because we didn't play together as a Utah team needs to play," Boylen said. "I have to take responsibility for that. We will fix that and we will be better. Our chemistry and ability to play together will improve. We're moving forward and we're getting better."

Utah athletic director Chris Hill has been hearing the discontent from Ute fans. But he says no one wants the program to be successful more than he does and he is remaining positive the program will improve.

"Obviously it was tough year for our fans because we have realistic expectations, which is a good thing," he said. "Anytime we have disappointment in a season, it's disconcerting, regardless of what the fans think. We have our own standard of what we want to accomplish. Both Jim and I know where we want to be and it's our responsibility to get us there."

One of the ways the Utes are fixing their chemistry problems of 2009-10 is by letting some players go and bringing in new players.

Boylen was careful not to go into too much detail publicly about the players leaving the program and said the reasons for each were different. He said all were good kids and are leaving in good standing academically.

He said Matt Read and Jordan Cyphers both didn't play much this year because they were beaten out by other players and they wanted to go somewhere where they could play more.

"In fairness to them, they need to explore their opportunities to have a better chance to play," Boylen said. "They'd like a better opportunity to go play basketball and that's the bottom line for those two guys. If you don't want any controversy you keep a guy even if you know they're not going to play. But I don't believe in that."