The inside threat is gone, so the U men’s basketball team has naturally switched scoring locales?with early success.
In being forced to cope without injured center Chris Burgess (13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game before a Dec. 29 injury) heading into its first week of MWC play, the U not only beat UNLV and San Diego State, but set records in 3-point shooting.
The 14 3s the U (12-3, 2-0 MWC) made Monday against SDSU would have tied a record, had the U not broken the mark with 17 3s two days prior.
“As long as we’re hitting 3s, we’ll keep shooting them,” said senior guard Jeff Johnsen, who is 7-12 from 3-range the last two games.
“We have to play to what we have,” said coach Rick Majerus.
The U has marksmanship from the outside, so the team is utilizing it. Against Vegas, Utah hit 65.4 percent of its 3s, and the mark was 53.8 against SDSU.
Right now, the 3 is butter, but can it stay that way? In their last road game, at St. Mary’s, only “one of the top five defensive efforts since I’ve been at Utah” saved the Utes, according to Majerus.
“If nothing else goes right, we can always defend,” Nick Jacobson said.
But, if the outside shot goes cold, will it be enough to continue the nine-game winning streak?
Playing Huge
Without Burgess in the block, extra pressure is placed on other bigs. However, with Cameron Koford seeing little floor time (5.0 minutes per game), and the Phil Cullen Lance Allred duo seeing a little more (14.7 and 12.1 mpg, respectively), Majerus has turned to a smaller five-man set.
“In practice, [the big men] can do it, but they’re not coming into games and finishing,” the elder Johnsen said.
The new lineup is one that small forward-turned-center Britton Johnsen has thrived in. After 7 rebounds against UNLV, Britton yanked down 11 vs. SDSU for a double-double.
“I’m trying to crash the boards,” he said. “I don’t get too many chances when [Burgess] is around.”
Britton Johnsen said playing the position took him back to his days at Murray High School. However, his game is maturing at the collegiate level.
“He’s starting to learn to play the game. He’s starting to prioritize defensively,” Majerus said.
An Olympic Ache
U coach Rick Majerus empathizes with his fans regarding parking closures around campus in preparation for the Olympics. He does so because he is one of the victims.
“I got a parking ticket and the lady threatened to tow my car. I already lost my $1,200 a year parking spot,” he said. “It was the same with football, the parking stunk.
“I really appreciate the fans because it’s not easy to come to games.”
Furthermore, Majerus is not pleased with Utah playing two home games during the Olympics. “I told the administration it wouldn’t be the best idea to play at home during the Olympics,” he said. “The Olympics are the 400 pound gorilla. They’re not worried about the Mountain West Conference, they’re not worried about the Runnin’ Utes, and as well they shouldn’t. They are worried about protecting athletes, spectators and dignitaries, and they should be.
“Any time you’ve got guys running around with AK-47s and turning the campus into an armed encampment, I don’t know if that’s a part of the collegiality of the thing or if it should be a part of the university experience.”