Utah Basketball: Runnin' Utes searching for consistency (+video)

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak is looking for a few good men after Wednesday night’s 82-64 loss at Oregon State. The setback left the Utes in the Pac-12 basement — in a tie with the Beavers at 2-8 in conference play.

A lack of consistency, Krystkowiak said, is making it difficult to find solutions.

For the fifth time since joining the conference last season, the Utes were unable to follow a victory with a win. Four days after knocking off Colorado (58-55), they struggled at last-place Oregon State.

Guards Brandon Taylor and Jarred DuBois, who finished with 21 and 20 points, respectively, were the lone Utah players to score in double-figures. The Utes were ineffective in the post, getting outscored 32-14 in the paint and 13-6 in second-chance opportunities.

Center Jason Washburn attempted only four shots and was held to just two points. Fellow starter Renan Lenz failed to score.

The lack of an inside game doomed the Utes, who shot just 35.7 percent from the field.

“It just wasn’t there,” Taylor said. “There wasn’t a presence there.”

Krystkowiak thinks the Utes are giving an honest effort, they’re just making the game too hard on themselves.

And things won’t get any easier. The Utes face No. 19 Oregon Saturday in Eugene. The Ducks handed them a 92-48 setback last year at Matthew Knight Arena.

As Utah prepares for that challenge, Krystkowiak told the team it is important that “we all stay in this together.” His postgame remarks also included a plea that everyone take a good look at where they’re at.

“Some guys aren’t playing, some guys are. Some guys need to step up and do more,” Krystkowiak said. “If we get enough individuals that are thinking that way, hopefully we can have a different outcome.”

The message is simple.

“A guy is going to play if he performs. We need to get some consistency out of some guys,” Krystkowiak continued. “Whether that’s in a practice setting or in a game setting, when you’re given an opportunity something positive has to happen. I think right now it's safe to say that everybody needs to step it up.”

Krystkowiak shook up the starting lineup against Oregon State, bringing Jordan Loveridge and Glen Dean off the bench for the first time this season. He explained that Dean has not been shooting well as of late and that Loveridge has not really been dialed in to start games and was hopeful that bringing them in as a reserve would be beneficial.

Loveridge, though, was just 3-for-11 from the field in 30 minutes of action. Dean managed just three points in 16 minutes.

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