With a top four finish in the Pac-12 seemingly out the question for the University of Utah men’s basketball team, reality is settling in as to what the future may actually hold for this year’s squad.
This past week the Runnin’ Utes dropped two games, first to No. 7 Oregon, 79-61, on Thursday night, and most recently, against the Oregon State Beavers, 68-67. The loss against OSU was also the Beavers first win in Pac-12 play all season long.
Head coach Larry Krystkowiak wasn’t pleased with his team’s efforts on the road, and he didn’t say much to his players immediately after the game in the locker room. As the team was heading to the airport after the loss he heard a couple of laughs, and while that may have been an outlet that some of the guys needed, Krystkowiak wasn’t happy with their attitude.
“We had a few giggles on the bus ride and I just about blew a gasket,” Krystkowiak said. “I think there’s a time and a place for things. They’re young, maybe thought it was time to have a little comedy, a little humor, but half an hour after we lost that game, I don’t care what nobody said. Nothing’s funny.”
A couple of weeks ago the Utes were a bubble team. They were projected to be on the outside looking in of the NCAA Tournament, but after losing to the last place team in the Pac-12, the Utes are starting to realize that the goal they set for themselves at the beginning of the season — making it to the NCAA Tournament — is becoming less and less attainable.
According to Krystkowiak, one thing that stands out in this year’s team in comparison to the 2015-16 squad that made it to the Round of 32 is the lack of a player who would give everything they had to play the game.
“I don’t see a guy with a motor,” Krystkowiak said. “You remember Brandon [Taylor] — a heart and soul guy who’s always communicating and lifting teammates up. I don’t know who that is right now.”
That communication is another thing that has been bothering Krystkowiak this season. Krystkowiak understands that certain players are quieter off the court, but when they’re in a game they need to be vocal.
Junior Kyle Kuzma has noticed this, too, and he doesn’t think the current guards are doing as much talking as former Runnin’ Utes Taylor or Jordan Loveridge did when they were in the program. Kuzma isn’t too sure of anything that can be done to remedy that situation this late in the season. He does understand, however, that whatever work they put in towards this final stretch of games could reap benefits in the year to come.
“We haven’t really been a talkative team for the majority of the year, so how can you really change it with three games left in the regular season?” Kuzma said. “It’s tough, but we can definitely build on it for the future.”
Although things may not look to bright for the Utes at the moment, Krystkowiak is going to continue to challenge and push his players to do their best. He’s done focusing on what could have been and he’s instead focusing on what can happen in these last three games.
“I’m not going to give up on our guys, but collectively we need to pick it up,” Krystkowiak said.
@kbrenneisen