Utah Utes basketball: Team stung by 'empty possessions'

SALT LAKE CITY — To Utah coach Jim Boylen the biggest problem on his team right now is offensive efficiency, particularly not getting enough free throws compared to their opponents.

"We have too many empty possessions," he said. "We need to improve our offensive efficiency and we need to do a better job of getting to the free throw line."

Boylen points out that Utah's opponents have gotten 44 more free throws than a year ago at this time and made 34 more, an average of 3.4 per game. On the other hand, Utah's free throws are down two per game. That's a difference of five points per game and all but one of Utah's losses came down to the final two minutes.

"To me that's been the difference between us winning and losing," Boylen said.

A glaring example was the second half of Saturday's overtime loss to Oklahoma.

At the start of the second half, the Sooners went to the hoop and drew shooting fouls on four of their first six possessions. Meanwhile the Utes settled for outside shots, including three 3-pointers. In less than five minutes, the Sooners outscored Utah 10-2 to take a 46-44 lead.

"We keep telling our guys, 'drive it, drive it, get to the rim,"' Boylen said. "The officials set the tone and are calling everything at the basket and we assume they'll call it at the other end. But we fade and don't drive the ball. We didn't play tough enough that way."

POOR SHOT SELECTION: Another big problem with the Ute offense right now is shot selection.

The players who are taking the most shots are not making many, while the players making the most, aren't getting the chance to shoot.

Of the nine players who have played primary minutes this year — more than 11 per game — five are outside players and four are inside players.

The five outside players, Carlon Brown, Luka Drca, Marshall Henderson, Jordan Cyphers and Jace Tavita, are shooting a combined 36.9 percent from the field on 328 shots.

On the other hand, the four inside guys, Kim Tillie, David Foster, Jason Washburn and Jay Watkins, are shooting a combined 57.4 percent from the field on a little more than half as many shots (183).

"I share the same concerns," said Boylen when asked about it Monday. "We've got to play inside more and go to the post. I never thought Carlon Brown would be shooting 36 percent and Luka Drca 38 percent. That will improve."

DE-FENSE: On the positive side is the Utes' defense.