[bl82]

Important game and a week in which we can make our case as a top 25 team. Today is a day where we could really use at least one of Daejon or Bryce back for defensive purposes. While Utah is ostensibly led by 6-6 forward Timmy Allen, the strength of the team is the backcourt, where the speedy and disruptive Rylan Jones could cause us trouble. He has struggled late from three, but he is a good shooter and his combination of speed and range could be a problem for anyone not named Daejon or Bryce. Jones is paired with Alfonso Plummer in the backcourt and Plummer is the big deep threat whose threes account for more than half of his shots. Plummer is streaky, but he has nailed four threes in 3 of Utah's 9 games.

Our inside play should be critical. Utah is a weak rebounding team and has been outrebounded by 5.4 boards per game. 7-0 center Branden Carlsen is foul prone. He is aggressive and likes to go for blocks, so Oscar and company need to take the game to him. Riley Battin is the other big guy who rebounds. He is more of a glue guy.

Utah also has a Scandinavian connection. Freshman Swede Pelle Larsen shoots threes at over 50% and is a playmaker at 6-5. Sophomore Finn Mikael Jantunen is a solid all-around player at 6-8. He shoots threes at 46%, but is also foul prone.

The starting lineups have shifted somewhat, but Utah is really only seven deep. Highly rated frosh Ian Martinez has yet to deliver on his recruiting hype.

If we can defend the perimeter, slow down Jones, win the battle of the boards and keep Oscar out of foul trouble, I like our chances.

[bl82]

Important game and a week in which we can make our case as a top 25 team. Today is a day where we could really use at least one of Daejon or Bryce back for defensive purposes. While Utah is ostensibly led by 6-6 forward Timmy Allen, the strength of the team is the backcourt, where the speedy and disruptive Rylan Jones could cause us trouble. He has struggled late from three, but he is a good shooter and his combination of speed and range could be a problem for anyone not named Daejon or Bryce. Jones is paired with Alfonso Plummer in the backcourt and Plummer is the big deep threat whose threes account for more than half of his shots. Plummer is streaky, but he has nailed four threes in 3 of Utah's 9 games.

Our inside play should be critical. Utah is a weak rebounding team and has been outrebounded by 5.4 boards per game. 7-0 center Branden Carlsen is foul prone. He is aggressive and likes to go for blocks, so Oscar and company need to take the game to him. Riley Battin is the other big guy who rebounds. He is more of a glue guy.

Utah also has a Scandinavian connection. Freshman Swede Pelle Larsen shoots threes at over 50% and is a playmaker at 6-5. Sophomore Finn Mikael Jantunen is a solid all-around player at 6-8. He shoots threes at 46%, but is also foul prone.

The starting lineups have shifted somewhat, but Utah is really only seven deep. Highly rated frosh Ian Martinez has yet to deliver on his recruiting hype.

If we can defend the perimeter, slow down Jones, win the battle of the boards and keep Oscar out of foul trouble, I like our chances.