Utah Utes basketball notebook: Throwback jersey gets good reviews

SALT LAKE CITY — When the University of Utah honored its 1960-61 basketball team Saturday afternoon on the anniversary of the 50-year anniversary of its Final Four appearance, the Utes wore "throwback" uniforms similar to the ones worn back then.

Aside from the long shorts (nobody will wear short shorts anymore), the uniforms were identical to the ones worn in the early 1960s with a simple UTAH above the number in front and no names on the back.

The reaction from fans at the game and on Internet forums was nearly unanimous in praising the jerseys with many folks saying they'd like to see uniforms like that in the future.

But don't count on it.

While saying the uniforms "looked great," Ute coach Jim Boylen said his team won't be switching in the near future.

"I thought Utah across our chest looked great," said the guy who always talks about "Utah across our chest."

"I've always been a fan of the simple uniform," Boylen said. "I took the black off the uniform when I got here, so they're all red and white."

Boylen said he designed the uniform with the "U., Us and the Muss" on the shorts. He also likes having "Runnin' Utes" on both the home and away jerseys.

"I think we're the Runnin' Utes and like that name for us," he said. "I'm thankful we got a chance to wear (the throwback jerseys) but they will not be our uniform for next year."

LOST POSSESSIONS: Following Saturday's loss to Colorado State, Boylen and his players talked about the defense being the biggest factor in the outcome and not the offense.

A couple of days later, Boylen said he was disappointed in his team's defense until the final seven minutes when it "was as good as it's been all year," but it was on the offensive end where the game was lost.

"The key to that game to me, after evaluating the film, was too many lost possessions offensively," he said. "Whether it was a missed play at the rim, a missed dunk, a missed layup, a missed free throw. We also had 13 turnovers, which is too many in league play. To me that was the difference in the game."

HINES OK: Chris Hines, who had started nine games this year and played in every game, averaging 18.4 minutes per game, didn't play against Colorado State Saturday afternoon.

But it wasn't because he was injured, sick or in the doghouse.

"Hines is a part of our rotation," Boylen said. "He did not play. We expect him to be part of our team as we go forward. He just didn't play Saturday."

UTE NOTES: Utah's game at UNLV Wednesday will be played at 8:30 p.m. MST. Saturday's game at home against Air Force will be at 6 p.m. Both games will be televised on The mtn. ... Will Clyburn continues to rank No. 2 in the Mountain West Conference in both scoring (18.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg). He's also fifth in free throw percentage (.786), fifth in 3-pointers made (2.3 pg) sixth in field goal percentage (.475), sixth in 3-point percentage (.421), and first in minutes played (36.3). ... Josh Watkins is seventh in the MWC in scoring (15.0 ppg) and ninth in assists, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. ... David Foster leads the MWC in blocked shots at 3.0 in all games and 3.4 in MWC games. ... In league games, Chris Kupets leads the MWC in 3-point shooting at 59.1 percent ... Utah's home attendance average is 8,182, the lowest it has been since the 1972-73 season.

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