All it takes is a split second and one dumb decision to cost a player some playing time. Luka Drca, the Runnin’ Utes starting point guard, has been suspended for two games for intentionally tripping Oklahoma center Blake Griffin in the second half of Saturday’s Ute loss.
The incident happened after the two were momentarily tangled when going up for a rebound of a Utah miss. Drca clipped one of Griffin’s legs from behind, causing a brief scuffle between the teams for a few moments.
“Luca is remorseful for his actions, but I feel that suspending him is the only thing to do,” said head coach Jim Boylen in a press release. “His behavior was unacceptable and does not represent what our program is about.”
“I apologized to Blake after the game and he said that everything was all right,” Drca said.
Drca was booed by Sooner fans every time he reappeared in the game or touched the ball.
“When you’re in a game, you can’t really hear ’cause you’re concentrating on other things so it didn’t really bother me,” Drca said.
Drca wasn’t kicked out of the game instantly, but Boylen’s decided to bench Drca for the Weber State and Utah State games. The suspension follows Drca’s speedy recovery from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the game against Cal.
“He understands that I’m the boss and we’re going to do it my way,” Boylen said. “For him my way’s been pretty good, ’cause I put the ball in his hands.”
Drca said his ankle was only about 80 percent healed, meaning the suspension will allow him to make a full recovery before hitting the floor again Dec. 27.
Drca will miss the Utes’ home game against Weber State on Dec. 20 and when Utah travels to Logan on Dec. 22 to take on Utah State.
Freshman guard Jace Tavita will get the nod again to start for the Runnin’ Utes. Tavita has started the past two games against Cal and Oklahoma, great experience for someone fresh out of high school.
“You go from playing at Brighton High School to starting against Oklahoma in the same year,” Boylen said. “We’ve all been through it, we’ve all played, we’ve all had our first start, we’ve all started playing as a freshman. There’s a million things going on in your mind.”
This gives Tavita a chance to get a look at Division-I basketball early in his career, even though the coaches like to keep it simple when he’s on the floor.
“I’m happy with him,” Boylen said. “As long as he continues to stay coachable, the talent is there and he’ll grow.”
Boylen will stick with his game plan of pulling Tyler Kepkay off the bench. Just as he has all season, Boylen feels that this is the best thing for the team.
Drca has started in seven of the Utes nine games this season and is second in assists (29) and steals (10).
