Young, hot, cold and flaky; Utes are hard to figure out

By now I've almost quit trying to figure out Jim Boylen's blueprint. Actually, I think I know his blueprint, I just can't figure out his teams.

All I know is betting on the Ute basketball team is a little like picking my health insurance plan for next year: A whole lot of complicated maneuvering and I'm still not sure I'm covered.

I might be better off just watching a movie and checking back with the Ute basketball team in March.

Phase II of Boylen's Challenge the Big Guys Tour launched Wednesday at the Huntsman Center with the Utes throttling Michigan 68-52. What exactly that means is anyone's guess, except that his team is maturing. Does anyone really know what these guys are up to — including Boylen?

Asked if this is a team Ute fans should hang with, because it could be an entirely different product in March, he said, "I feel that way. I feel that way in my heart. I think we have a willing group and guys who want to be good players, and they want to please me, but they want to be great. But it takes time for 15 guys all to want to be great to understand how to be great as a team."

If there's anything else to conclude about Boylen's teams, it's that they seldom show their entire identity.

Are they as bad as they have seemed at times, or actually a link to the great teams of the past? Are they a disjointed bunch of mid-major players or another crop of NBA prospects?

That's probably the same questions Boylen has asked.

Bad teams you can improve. Great teams are a gift. But hot and cold teams?

They're more stress than the other two combined.

Wednesday's result was more of what has characterized the Utes since Boylen came to Utah in 2007. There are days when they have sparkle like a showroom car. In his three seasons, the Utes have defeated Washington, California, Mississippi, Oregon, Illinois, Louisiana State and Gonzaga. At the same time, they have lost to Southwest Baptist, Idaho State, Idaho, Weber State and Seattle — the last three coming this season.

Yes, they're young.

And maybe a little flaky.

"As coaches, you're always trying to accelerate the process — a guy's wisdom, a guy's experience and a guy's humility. We got some humility early, and we've accelerated that humility," said Boylen. "Now my guys understand. We're getting wisdom and we're getting experience and we're getting better."