Comments about ‘Utah basketball: Utes working to shore things up’

They really need to do more than "shore up" some things. They are headed for a full on revamp again, and soon.

Duckhunter's comments are a bit harsh. I suspect the Utes will struggle early on next year because of the key seniors they lose, Washburn, Dubois and Martin. But they have some good people back and will have some promising newcomers. But, and most importantly, they have great coaches. What they really need is about 8,000 additional fans to start showing up and supporting the team again.

alternate

It's difficult to "fix" something that never worked in the first place.

First D-1 game of the season the Utes lose to #286 Sacramento State 71-74 AT HOME!

The fans aren't going to return until the Utes start winning and that doesn't appear likely anytime soon.

A possible one-conference win "improvement" from Utah's worst season ever, especially with one of the most incredibly boring offenses in the country, isn't going to entice any of the fans that already abandoned the Utes to return.

@alternate - There is nobody coming in that will fill that stat sheet left behind by Washburn, Dubois and Martin. Next year could be a rebuilding year, but the overall results could be worse than this year.

U are absolutely right about the fans showing up. Even during BYU's darkest year 96/97, there were a lot more fans than U are getting. Good luck.

@alternate

Not only are my comments not "harsh" they are 100% accurate. krystkowiak has foolishly started mostly sr's in a vain attempt to get a few more wins which in turn was a vain attempt to get some utah "fans" to attend. It may have "worked" in that they may have gotten a couple of more wins, although I attribute that more to the embarrassingly bad OOC schedule than playing those sr's, but it completely failed to get any "fans" to come because the style of play was so boring, ugly, and slow.

Now they have to start a bunch of young, and no better than average, "talent" with little experience. Yes it is a "revamp" nad no the results will not be pretty to watch.

Duckhunter, wow. There are times when you have a fairly reasoned comment but you are so far off on this one, its funny. "krystkowiak has foolishly started mostly sr's"

There were a number of times Coach had 4 freshmen on the floor. The freshmen are getting a LOT of experience. A freshman leads the team in minutes played. The Utes have a good jump on next year, and aren't losing any more seniors than your beloved Cougars. Shall we also describe the Cougars as "heading into a full on revamp"?

"Even during BYU's darkest year 96/97, there were a lot more fans than U are getting"

I don't think so, Tim.

2few

Average home attendance 1996-97

BYU - 16,895
Utah - 14,047

Even during BYU's darkest year, BYU was outdrawing the Utes.

@ Uteanymous

BYU drew 16,000 this year for the USU and Utah games. I highly doubt BYU's one-win team was drawing anywhere near those numbers, especially during the second round through conference play.

Would you be able to point me in the right direction where I can verify the number you provided?

2fer

@ Uteanymous

"... I highly doubt BYU's one-win team was drawing anywhere near those numbers,.. Would you be able to point me in the right direction where I can verify the number you provided?"

It's easy enough to look up, just Google "college basketball attendance rankings"

1996-97
#7 BYU - 14 games, 236,523 total, 16,895 average attendance
#14 Utah - 14 games, 196,660 total, 14,047 average attendance

What's really interesting is even though BYU's attendance dropped dramatically the next season, Utah's attendance also dropped almost 1,000, during Utah's best season EVER.

1997-98
#16 Utah - 13 games, 179,630 total, 13,818 average
#53 BYU - 14 games, 118,014 total, 8,430 average

1998-99
#19 Utah - 14 games, 195,813 total, 13,987 average
#40 BYU - 14 games, 137,321 total, 9,809 average

2011-12
#12 BYU - 16 games, 246,777 total, 15,424 average
#57 Utah - 15 games, 125,915 total, 8,394 average

Except for 2004-05 when Utah had a slight 10,776 to 10,632 average attendance advantage, BYU has lead Utah in average attendance every year since 2003, in most years, like last, by several thousand per game.

SoonerUte - "A freshman leads the team in minutes played. The Utes have a good jump on next year, and aren't losing any more seniors than your beloved Cougars. Shall we also describe the Cougars as "heading into a full on revamp?"

It is true that a freshman (Loveridge) is getting the most minutes, but the next four in most minutes played for U are all seniors.

The Cougars start two Sophomores (Haws and Carlino), and Austin, Sharp (also Sophomores) are getting more minutes than any of your other underclassmen.

Your argument fails. Ducky wins.

This is a rebuilding year for the Cougs. Next year could be a rebuilding year for U, but this year was not.

@CougFaninTX

Ummmmm check your numbers again. Utah has only 3 seniors who play..........

It takes INCREDIBLE mental capacity to say that a team with 2, yes 2, returning players is not in rebuilding mode.

Thanks for the laugh, CougFaninTX.

Let's show up for these last 2 games Utes and show our support.

It's been some rough years, but coach K has done some great things to START putting using us in the right direction. Being asked to assemble a team and compete in the PAC 12 would be challenging for anyone.

I look forward to good things from him and the team.

Show up Utes! Let's pack the HC!

I hope both teams do better next year.

Utah no longer has rebuilding years. They just have survival years and hope the fans don't notice.

@CougFaninTX

This is a rebuilding year for the Cougs. Next year could be a rebuilding year for U, but this year was not.

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Only in the bubble down south a season with 11 new players is not a rebuilding year.

Regardless of what our friends in the bubble feel, the fact remains the foundation was laid with Loveridge and Taylor.

CougFaninTX said some odd things "This is a rebuilding year for the Cougs. Next year could be a rebuilding year for U, but this year was not."

This was a rebuilding year for the Cougs? What? The pre-season hype (from down south) was that this team was going to the NCAA. You don't accidentally stumble in to the tournament on a rebuilding year. The truth is, Coug fans are highly disappointed because once again they believed the hype, and the team didn't deliver.

Not a rebuilding year for the Utes? Still trying to make sense of that one. The Utes had only 2 returning players. Everyone else was new to the uniform. How is that not a rebuilding year?