Comments about ‘Utah Utes basketball: Utes able to look back and laugh at tough times’

The game against Weber State will be a better gauge of whether the team has improved or not than measuing progress against Idaho State and Portland.

If the Utes miraculously pull off another win, I would expect to see continued improved effort from the team. But if the Utes fall to Weber State (which is highly likely), the new found effort will quickly disappear, and a long losing streak could ensue.

I continue to hear from U about the recruiting class that is coming in next year that will turn around the program. Can someone enlighten me? Maybe I missed out on some recruiting news. Other than Loveridge, who are the other potential impact players? Loveridge cannot turn around the program on his own.

I honestly wasn't sure if we'd see a winning streak this year. Down teams or not, it wasn't like Utah was a barn burner.

Good on the coaches and players to keep pushing, and competing! Thats what I love about Coach Krystowiak, he never quits and he rides his players and encourages them to do their best.

I still don't think Utah wins many more games this year, but the improvement on this team with a bunch of Juco misfits and some HS guys who don't look D1 is pretty impressive.

That in mind, I hate to look ahead with much of the season still at hand, but one couldn't help but be excited watching Jordan Loveridge dominate the Great Western Shootout last week. Didn't know Loveridge had range but looks like he can step out and hit the 3. Can't wait to see this kid, the other recruits and the transfers in action a year from now. Hopefully Glenn Dean makes a nice recovery. I'm reading everything went well.

Good luck Ute's.....

"During Monday night's game, after Portland had come back from a 16-point first-half deficit to tie the score with just under eight minutes to go, the Ute staff was able laugh about how bad their team has been so far this year."

Giving up a 16-point lead at home to the 247th ranked team in the country isn't the type of thing coaches should be giddy with excitement about, but what do you expect when even your own coaches think you're laughably bad.

#317 Utah, still the worst team in Utah, but the Utes are slowly gaining on #305 Southern Utah.

Coaches joking about how bad their team is doing?
It would be great to see Jabari Parker and Jordon Loveridge in BYU blue.

The Utes are making some progress and it speaks to the ability of our coaching staff.

For the past few years, players didn't get better through the season. New plays that brought them success weren't put in the game plan. They are still a work in progress but at least this coaching staff can make some adjustments during the season to help the team get better.

I've been happy that the scoring is more spread out the last few games. A few players are getting some confidence shooting the ball. They are definitely building a foundation that they can build upon.

Hopefully they can pick up a few more wins this year.

Go Utes

I watched Loveridge at the Great Western Shootout on Saturday. This kid is an outstanding prospect. Nice to see a rock solid local talent taking his skills to the U. It's going to take time, but I think this coaching staff will get things turned around. Go Utes!

CougFaninTX, there's a kid from Georgia named Justin Seymour that's supposed to be pretty good. He, Loveridge and Hearlihy are the only commits so far. In all honesty, I don't see next year's class as being the big one, but the year after. Many of this year's transfer players will be seniors next year, which opens up the most potential for the following year. I think it will take a while if we are to be one of the top teams in the West again, but I don't expect to be one of the worst for very long.

Nobody is going to be joking when Pac 10 play comes and when they go 0-22 in conference play...

CougFaninTX:

Along with what StGtoSLC told you, there are also a few good transfers that aren't eligible this year who will be joining the new recruits next year. That makes for a much stronger new team that are built on what looks like the decent progress that coach Krysko is making with the subpar talent we have now. The team is showing signs of life, so I think the foundation is being laid, or at least the hole being dug.

But you also have to see the past few years of recruiting we have had, and this is waaaaay more exciting for us than in the past, so you can put that in perspective, too. Overall, there is hope, and I believe this coaching staff and the solid kids they are bringing in can turn this program around.

"Maybe I missed out on some recruiting news. Other than Loveridge, who are the other potential impact players? Loveridge cannot turn around the program on his own."
CFinTX

Adding to StGtoSLC's great post:
The three J's:
-Jordan Loveridge, 6'6" Small Forward, West Jordan, UT, Signed ESPN grade 92.
-Justin Seymour, 6'2" Shooting Guard, Smyrna, GA, Signed ESPN grade 87.
-Josh Hearlihy, 6'7" Small Forward, N. Hollywood, CA, Signed ESPN grade 85.

They also have two bigs, Canadian Dallin Bachynski, 6'11" and Georgian Jeremy Olsen, 6'10" (that are given the ESPN grade 40--their equivalent of "we have no idea").

To go with the current freshmen:
Kareem Storey, 6'0" Point Guard, Baltimore, MD
Anthony Odunsi, 6'3" Shooting Guard, Fort Bend, TX, ESPN grade 88.
George Matthews, 6'5" Shooting Guard, Phoenix, AZ McD's All-American nominee
Alex Mortensen, 6'1" Point Guard, Springville, UT, RM
Blake Wilkensen, 6'6" Forward, Bountiful, UT

And their transfers:
Aaron Dotson, 6'7" Forward, LSU, played in all games, started 21.
Glen Dean, 5'10" PG, Eastern Washington, Freshman of the Year Big-Sky 2009-10.

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You are correct that this year's team will win few games, but the players coming in will make a positive difference.

MiP

yeah, yeah, yeah

We've heard it since sweaterman left; Utah will be much better next season.

The sad reality is, writing off another season before Christmas shows just how pathetic Utah basketball has become.