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Team rallys but finds way to lose to New Mexico

Well as a staunch supporter I've ran out of ways to explain how the Utes can continue to choke away close game after close game. I mean (sarcastic) "HOORAY!" they're not being blown out this year like in the last two years, but big deal, they are STILL finding ways to lose. 4 lossses at home this year: 1 each to pathetic Santa Clara and Wyoming and now 1 to those jerks from Albuquerque who haven't won here since the end of the Cold War!
I don't think this is coach's fault at all. He is the right man for this job. I think what it boils down to is this current batch of players have become bred losers (after the last two years) and just don't know how to win or believe they can do so. I'll be glad when they (Nevill, Bohra, Green and Kepkay)are all gone after next year; when my beloved Utes can get back to winning again and the JMHC can again become the arena in this conference teams feared to come to. Go Utes!

Yes Kepkay did make a mistake in judgement. However, I believe Boylen has to take some ownership in his players as he repeated tells them. Kepkay is not a point guard and will never be a point guard. He is a shooter, scorer, spot of shooter. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Why does the Utah ooaching staff insist on forcing him to run the team. Not having enouth time outs for situations that can occur in the game is a sign of an inexperience coach to ensure that his players understand what to do. Nevil made the comment the coach will have his hand picked player next year to bring in feshman to get the job done. This sounds like Nevil will not be around to play and may opt for the NBA. Can't say I blame him. However, I know Boylen is not that foolish enough to think his recruiting class is the answer to the Utes ineptness. The Utes as well as Boylen are still learning and they will get better, although not this year. Go Utes

If I'm playing the Utes, I want the ball in Kepkay's hands at the end of the game. Hill has failed again with this current Coach. Who's next?

At least not to go to the NBA. As of right now, he's not NBA-ready. He will need another solid year of college basketball with substantial improvement to have a chance of playing in the NBA. If he "opts out" he will probably go back to play in Australia. But more likely, he'll play his senior year.

Are you people serious? Nevil would get absolutely worked in the NBA. He doesn't run the floor well, he is weak inside, and he's not going to be taller than everybody else at the next level.
I also disagree with anyone blaming this on the coach, he is doing a great job with what he has. He has made some mistakes, but he is new to head coaching and it will take him a while to figure out end of game situations. He has done a great job of installing his system and the in-game coaching will come around. Give him some time.
Go Utes!

It's obvious that top to bottom Utah has the best team in the conference.

If we can get them together by tourney time. can you say MWC champs.

I agree. Even though we have a .500 record in confernce, we have shown that we can beat BYU, UNLV, SDSU, and New Mexico (we got hosed against BYU and should have been NM).

Look out MWC tourney! Here come the Utes - best team in the MWC and the Intermountain West!!!

I'm a BYU fan, but I like to see the Utes do well when they are not up against the Cougs. The way this game ended was just unfortunate. Kepkay shouldn't be made to feel the bad guy, though. It rarely comes own to one single play. But often fans see only the timing of an unfortunate play. The thing that made me, once again, praise the day many years ago when I transferred from the U to BYU and received my degree at Provo, however, was exemplified by Coach B. When asked if he was would at least give his team kudos for clawing back at the end, he, with cameras and microphones in his face, responded with the most classless comment I've ever heard from a head coach. Part of it had to be "bleeped". Way to go, coach. That's real leadership.

Kepkay is absolutely clutch...at losing close ball games down the stretch. Why does Kepkay seem to think he is the man to take the shot at the end of a close game- rather than Johnnie Bryant, Shawn Green, Johnnie Bryant, or Johnnie Bryant? He seems to choose taking a bad shot himself over getting the ball to a better shooter with a better shot. Boylen really needs to get him out of the game down the stretch if it is close. Put me in the game in his place. I know how to pass to Johnnie Bryant.

With the way the game was ref'd that last play could have gone like this ... drives for a layup, missed the layup but stayed with it, put it back for 2 and got fouled and then went to the FT line where Kepkay is money and that would have taken it into OT. The problem as stated in earlier comment posting is the Utes could not separte themselves from NM with 5 minutes to go. NM just kept breaking down our large man defense. And as for Luca Drca if you are going to continue to complain about other players on your team, why don't you stop turning over the ball, and quit taking stupid fouls so you can TAKE THE LAST SHOT.

NM was back on defence, where were the rest of the "Runnin Utes", Kepkay made a fast break down the left wing, two NM defenders were closing down on him, one broke off and created a hole for Kepkay but closed off the option to pitch the ball. Hey fella "Kepkay is clutch" you couldn't run the floor with the likes of JB, SG or TK let alone make the pass, if you could why aren't you jersey'd up. Real easy to judge from the cheap seats. I for one like the Utes chances in the MWC. Finishing 4th, 5th gives you a great opening tournament opportunity. You play a team you have already beaten and it readies you for 2nd round play against a more confident team. BYU is expected to win, the Utes are going to be the "SPOILERS". GO UTES

Shouldn't it be rallies, not rallys in the headline? Or use rallied...

Kepkay is making too many mistakes and isn't quite ready to lead at the point guard position.

It's very foolish to crown our team as the best, top to bottom, in the league. On paper, yes, we are very skilled, but we need to show up to every game and keep getting better before we think of ourselves as being better than anyone.
Personally, I think Boylen is the best man to have at the helm of this team. Luckily, Dr. Hill doesn't pay attention to the suggestions of those on these posts, so Jim will be around for some time to come, and you can bet that when he has his players in here, Utah will be back on top in basketball.

This wouldn't have happened under Thick Rick. Every player on the court would have known the situation and would have at least known that the game clock is right in front of his eyes when he's driving toward the basket in the Huntsman Center.

I had really hoped Giacolletti was an aberration; I really hoped that the programs was still good, but the coach was bad. Boylen's tenure is not confirming it. Instead, it's confirming that the program is bad, and the coaches are awful. Let's face it: Majerus isn't walking through those doors. He was a once-in-a-lifetime coach. He made us a perennial Sweet 16 program. Now that he's gone, reality is coldly slapping us in the face: We are merely an NIT team on a good year.

Sorry but even if by some HUGE miracle the utes were to win the tourney they still wouldn't be MWC champions.

DON'T put the ball in Kepkay's hands again for the game winning shot. He hasn't come through -- and he's had plenty of chances.

Am I reading posts that are stating that the Ute's are the best in the MWC? Did BYU, SDSU, NM, and UNLV transfer to a different conference? Utah will be out of the Conf. Tourney in the first round.

I'm a little confused about the comments made about Utah being the 'best team in the MWC'. Do Yewts take into account anything like... oh say, their record in making that statement. Fighting to stay above .500 in conference play, and they are the best? Lern too Du Math Yewts. I guess thats why Kepkay decided to take a 2-pointer, there wasn't enough time to take off his shoes figure out how many he needed.

To Utes 2: remind me again which one of the losses to BYU proved that they can beat them.

Utah basketball is merely a reflection of the University as a whole, a stellar example of mediocrity. I'd be surprised if Utah is the best team playing from the MW in the NIT, if they get there. Have fun watching the BYU games in March.

I never heard that quote from Boylen but he did say this about the Utes comeback effort, "The guys played hard. I'm proud of my team. We battled. New Mexico made the plays down the stretch and we didn't." You have no idea what kind of person Jim Boylen...seriously, there are alot worse things than swearing. Wasn't there an apostle of the Church that had a "loose" tongue a while ago? Typical BYU fan...close minded and very judgmental. Oh, and guess what? President Monson went to the U of U, and wait...so did Eyring. Clearly the University of Utah isn't all that bad if good men like these guys chose to go there.

For the last time, could we please just leave religion out of the Utah/BYU saga? It's getting old and anyone with any brains can see it is not a factor in winning or losing. What is a factor is recruiting, and sorry, Utah, but you are waaaaaay behind BYU when it comes to that. Until your coaches can lose their egos about not recruiting players that "might" go to BYU, you will be in a losing battle. I know several tremendous athletes who would have gone to Utah over BYU, but Utah wouldn't recruit them because they were worried they would lose the recruiting war with the Y. Just go after the best players, regardless, and you might be surprised who you get!