Reader comments
Utah Utes basketball: Boylen, Utes have upgraded schedule

Fan | 1:00 a.m. June 26, 2008

It looks like a solid schedule. But I fear that the team will not be solid enough to compete well. I have not been impressed with the recruiting yet.

Wow | 5:16 a.m. June 26, 2008

I love the idea of scheduling the big boys, but it's going to be tough for this team to win any of those non conference games. At least we still have BYU on the schedule so that should be at least two wins.

Go Utes

geezer | 7:58 a.m. June 26, 2008

Boylen has had my respect as a fierce competitor from the get go. I like the guy even if he appears a bit nuts sometimes. Will the Utes still support him if better competition translates into more losses? I like Boylen's style.

Comments continue below

Ute Fan | 8:29 a.m. June 26, 2008

Last years poor attendance at the games was a result of an up and down team AND no name competition. This first step - a better schedule - is an important step in getting the program back on track. Way to go!

Ernest T. Bass | 9:04 a.m. June 26, 2008

JIMMY BALL!!!

DCJ | 9:13 a.m. June 26, 2008

Scheduling big games is better in the long run for recruiting. Even if the team struggles for a few years, high school and juco kids now will see that they will be able to play against some of the best.

Overall, it will help elevate Utah to a national level program the way Gonzaga has done in its mid-major conference.

Great work, Coach Boylen.

Players | 9:34 a.m. June 26, 2008

Maybe he should upgrade the players before he worries about the schedule!

Scheduler | 9:39 a.m. June 26, 2008

Strong schedule: good. Trying to improve team: good. Strong schedule and team trying to improve: may be too much ouch in the same season.

RE: Wow | 9:41 a.m. June 26, 2008

Well it hasn't been two wins for the Utes the last two years vs. the Cougs. Last time I check y'all got swept by BYU for the last two seasons.

Why would you brag your team up when you haven't been winning against them recently?

Good luck to the Utes in the games vs. a bunch of tough non-conference teams. Good for the conference and it can really increase their RPI!

andrewute1 | 9:56 a.m. June 26, 2008

I dont think a lot of ute fans realize that last year we played oregon, cal, and gonzaga all away and we beat cal! We had every chance in the world to beat both oregon and gonzaga, we lost in the last minute basically! Utah was a good team last year, we just did not have the record to show it. Utah did not get beat big at all last year, and really came on at the end of the year with the big win over new mexico. Last year was supposed to be one of byu's best teams ever and they barely beat us both times. I believe this year will be completely different, there is no reason that the goal this year should be 20+ wins. Im looking forward to it, the huntsman center needs to be packed every game this year!

GO UTES!! JIMMY BALL!!

Nate | 10:07 a.m. June 26, 2008

Hey "FAN"

How can you judge Boylen's recruiting skills already. By time he got the head coahing job late in the year after Gac was "fired", the best he could do was retain Gac's recruits, and he was lucky to be able to even do that. His first recruting class, who just made it to campus last week, include a 4 star center. Yes he missed on the Wilcox kid and that hurts, but wait and see if this freshman class is able to compete this year. Morgan Grimm looked good last year as a freshman. We're just getting started!

Go Utes!

andrewute1 | 11:33 a.m. June 26, 2008

Boylen will be able to recruit very well at utah. Utah already has the tradition to fall back on plus he has coached in the nba which is alwasy a plus to recruits. I thought he did a great job recruiting his first year, bringing in a good big guy. You cant expect him to bring in blue chips his first year, but I think he is a couple years away from bringing in some big time talent. The future looks great with boylen at the helm, now they just need the fan support. If fans would come back and pack the huntsman center, it is one of the loudest arenas there is when it is sold out, the crowd alone would add more wins!

zzzzzz...... | 12:23 p.m. June 26, 2008

Tough schedule? Pleeeeze maybe it would be exciting if Ute Fan got off his ... and played.. nope, still would not be exciting. Basketball is like watching paint dry. Who cares until the last 30 seconds. BTW, how do you make 30 second last 30 minutes... talk about a real snoozer. They could play the toughest team and the game still would come down to the last 30 seconds of such a snoozefest. Wake me up when the Ute basketball team has folded, which will probably be in 5 years or less.

RR | 12:31 p.m. June 26, 2008

That is a fantastic schedule. Oh man! This is how OOC schedules should look in all sports teams if a team is to get any respect, especially if they are from a weaker conference.

Hey ZZZZZZ | 1:02 p.m. June 26, 2008

You obviously never played THE game nor have you even aquired the basic concept of defense, game and player strategy or clock managment. Go back to baking cookies, designing clothes or playing w/ your dolls and let the rest of enjoy life w/o your personal rain storm.

R.E. zzzzzz....... | 1:02 p.m. June 26, 2008

zzzzz......You act like we should all care if you like Basketball???

I think the Utes showed tangible improvements especially on the defensive side of the ball. sure mistakes were made but the program is headed in the right direction. Tougher compitition, tougher mind set, tougher defense. I like where we are going.

Good to See | 3:57 p.m. June 26, 2008

As a cougar fan and MWC fan it's good to see the U bring some really talented OOC teams to SLC. I wish BYU would/could get some premier teams to play in Provo, but unfortunately they've been unsuccessful at bringing in great competition other than at Energy Solutions. It just shows the importance of tradition...or not having a stupidly long home winning streak. Either way, props to the U for aggressive scheduling.

Perfection | 4:43 p.m. June 26, 2008

As a Cougar fan, I personally like the approach BYU takes in both football and basketball -- schedule down -- so as to assure our eternal quest for "perfection". And a nice planet of our own one day.

Anonymous | 7:23 p.m. June 26, 2008

I'm not a Utah native (live in SLC), but I'm a marginal Ute fan. I'd love to be at that Gonzaga game. Maybe Stockton will show up to support his alma mater?

Cougar man | 8:15 p.m. June 26, 2008

I hope Utah does well. The last couple of years, the games have not meant much because BYU was beating a weak team. A few years before that, Utah was beating a weak team. There have been years that there were real games with potential NCAA seedings at stake. I am eager for the time when both teams are strong and the rivalry games have serious implications. I guarantee fan support when the game means something.

Hope | 8:18 p.m. June 26, 2008

Reading these comments I am reminded that hope is eternal. We like to look past the disappointment of the previous year and speculate about the future. Good luck in recruiting, in keeping the team healthy, and especially in the games. I'll be there to support my Utes; I hope the wins accompany my attendance.

re andrewute | 10:41 a.m. June 27, 2008

I agree, both the Gonzaga and Oregon games were super close, with the Gonzaga game a nail biter! Especially following it on the net. Should be some fun games at home this year.

Ute Fan | 4:17 p.m. June 27, 2008

My ears are bleeding from hearing my fellow Utes actually praise Coach Boylen. Have you already forgotten the shame he has casted over our program? I was hoping he'd get fired after his Wyoming fiasco.

But lucky for him he has another chance to prove himself. If he behaves this season and the Utes have an excellent season I'll be willing to change my mind. Coach Boylen has to do a whole better this season to please this Ute fan.

accraute | 4:28 p.m. June 27, 2008

Boylen did an excellent job with the talent he inherited. This will be his first season with ANY players he recruited. I love his enthusiasm and would rather see a guy go overboard from time to time than sit back with his arms folded. This may be another tough year, but I'd rather watch the Utes compete against great non-conference competition than cruise against bush-league teams. I look forward to a great year.

Tax Funding | 3:55 p.m. June 28, 2008

I want my taxes back. Did you know that the Ute athletics are supported by tax dollars. Taxes should go to something useful other than sports. This is pathetic. I hate taxes paying for sports. Almost the entire costs of the athletics at the U of U are paid by taxpayers, even BYU fans that pay taxes.

I hope the Utes lose every game.

JIMI | 11:34 a.m. June 29, 2008

hey tax money, do you want a tissue ? cause i can hear the sniffing clear in spanish fork

Taxes | 10:08 a.m. June 30, 2008

I am sick of my taxes being used for worthless sports, such as Ute sports. I hope they lose every game this year.

RE: Anonymous | 2:20 p.m. July 1, 2008

Stockton is in town almost every week during basketball season to watch his son play for Westminster

Money-G | 2:39 p.m. July 4, 2008

I believe coach Boylen is doing a good job of recruiting and scheduling for the up coming seasons. With returning seniors and a promising sophmore, Utah should be a 20+ team next season. I think he has to get quicker in the back court and more aggressive on offense. The defense has improved and will continue to get better. I believe with stronger leadership and more freedom on the offensive end, Utah should be very competive...Go Utes.

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