WSU Versus Utah Predictions and Pregame Discussions

[Dave Stalwart]

As a fan, I appreciate your optimism, but as a realist I'm thinking back to last year's game. I can't find a box score, but IIRC, Poetl kinda' ran roughshod over Evan. It was either him or the other aircraft carrier they had.

Hustle makes up for a lot of things, but 7" is a little much to be asking. I just hope we slow Poetl down. If we do that, we win. Our guards are clearly better than theirs this year. No Deion Wright probably has something to do with that.

It was that he ran roughshod over us for a certain period of time but we made some adjustments and ended up holding him at 12 points for the game even though it was looking like he was gonna drop 20 for a while. I remember a bunch of uncontested cuts to the basket that just abused us.

He ended up with 12 pts, 11 bounds. Wessel had 9. Wessels great performance in that game in particular is one of the reasons I keep joking about him showing up versus huge studs.

[ShockdaWorld]

Our bigs don't have to be AS good as Poeltl or have to be able to stop him alone. We didn't have anyone that could STOP Zimmerman either (or the other 6'9" kid). I know, I know, Poeltl is better, but their guards aren't as good. Our perimeter guys will make entry passes difficult, and if Shaq brings his hard hat, he can hold him a couple of feet outside the paint in a lot of instances, where the digs will disrupt his game. If he happens to get position a few times, a couple of well placed tomahawk chops across his forearm should take care of that. Overall, I believe Utah is better than UNLV, but not by much, and not at the guard spots. We are also better than we were against UNLV. I believe we will cause turnovers, we will crash boards, we will frustrate Poeltl, we will hit more shots, and will win this game. And it will be by more than one possession.

[Cdizzle]

Wessel was not the problem in that game. He was the only guy in the post that played with any nads. Carter got saddled with 2 quick fouls and the Shaq was just completely overmatched.

I wouldn't mind seeing a reversal. The guards should attack Poetl early and often. Fred tried against Zimmerman (and was successful at drawing the contact) but wasn't rewarded with the fouls.

[Wild Heiny]

JP for Utah is a different player then Zimm. He is a true low post threat, but I think our bigs, specifically Shaq and Bush are better defenders when they don't have to chase guys 15 feet of the block. I think JP gets his, but what you can't do is focus on him so much that their shooters (Loveridge-Taylor) get going. We will change the way we play against JP on the block and show him multiple looks.

I think we slow them down just enough and win a tight one with clutch free throw shooting from Ron/Fred/Conner in the last couple of minutes to win by:

7

[Heinro]

Runin' Utes Gear Up for Wichita State

http://www.blocku.com/2015/12/10/988...-wichita-state

This is the first article I have read in a while that screams like it is treating us as a mid.

"Utah holds an advantage in depth, talent and athleticism . . . The only spot Wichita State might have an advantage at is guard, but Lorenzo Bonam has played well in his brief Utah career, coming off a 15 point, 4 assist,, 3 rebound, 3 steal effort against IPFW, and Brandon Taylor has the ability to light it up from long range if he can find his stroke."

I mean come on, I recognize we are currently 4-4, but not even anyone in Salt Lake would argue we don't have an advantage in the back court. I just really think this article is poorly written. He argues it from a stats perspective, but without Fred for half of our games obviously our stats would be down. I don't really care about someone predicting us to lose or something, but I just don't like how the article read like big bad Utah was coming in here and it will take an incredible effort for the midmajor to win.

[ShoxRoxMySox]

My favorite part was when the author made his case and said "and if it comes down to free throws, Utah has WSU there too. They shoot 72% versus 71%".

Just stfu... Do some real analysis or stop writing when it gets to that point.

[boltforge]

It will certainly test the defensive improvements of BW.

I agree. And I think BW will get him under control the same way he defended Zimmerman and Tuttle. BW is good on D. He is so long and sets his legs so wide that they have a really hard time moving or getting around him.

As far as offence goes I think two things could help him out: improve hands and dunk when you are within one step. For hands he could simply play catch with a football and Evan or Ron. Where he turns his back, runs, and catches at 10 yards. Anything to improve reaction time and getting his hands in the right spot. And for scoring at point blank just get within 6 feet of the basket and dunk with contact. Over and over. That's my opinion.

[Dave Stalwart]

My favorite part was when the author made his case and said "and if it comes down to free throws, Utah has WSU there too. They shoot 72% versus 71%".

Just stfu... Do some real analysis or stop writing when it gets to that point.

Haha "if it comes down to free throws and both teams shoot 70 free throws in this game, Utah would hold the clear advantage and win the game by one point"

[ShoxRoxMySox]

We open as a 2.5 point favorite. Vegas must be on crack because that writer decidedly gave Utah all the advantages, weird.

[Wild Heiny]

This is the first article I have read in a while that screams like it is treating us as a mid.

"Utah holds an advantage in depth, talent and athleticism . . . The only spot Wichita State might have an advantage at is guard, but Lorenzo Bonam has played well in his brief Utah career, coming off a 15 point, 4 assist,, 3 rebound, 3 steal effort against IPFW, and Brandon Taylor has the ability to light it up from long range if he can find his stroke."

I mean come on, I recognize we are currently 4-4, but not even anyone in Salt Lake would argue we don't have an advantage in the back court. I just really think this article is poorly written. He argues it from a stats perspective, but without Fred for half of our games obviously our stats would be down. I don't really care about someone predicting us to lose or something, but I just don't like how the article read like big bad Utah was coming in here and it will take an incredible effort for the midmajor to win.

Agree, to even suggest that Ron and FVV do not have a decided advantage at their respective positions is absolutely ridiculous. While we aren't as good as we were last year at the same time in season, Utah is not either. Their best win is at home against an average SDSU team. They barely eeked out a W against Temple and BYU, and were embarrassed by a good Miami team. They need OT last season to beat us and that team far and away was better than this years version of the Runnin Utes. When I think of Utah I don't think of superior athletes. I though, hope their players read this article and believe what they are reading.

[FlyingWheat]

We open as a 2.5 point favorite. Vegas must be on crack because that writer decidedly gave Utah all the advantages, weird.

Did Vegas even CONSIDER the FT advantage?!?

[wu_shizzle]

Haha "if it comes down to free throws and both teams shoot 70 free throws in this game, Utah would hold the clear advantage and win the game by one point"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't both teams need to shoot 100 free throws for us to lose by 1?

[ShoxRoxMySox]

My fault, my bad, I gave too much credit. I said 72%-71, which is 100 basis points or one percentage point. He actually stated 72.4% to 71.8%, only a 60 basis point difference.

That article has a big case of the dumbs.

[Gary Gorilla]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't both teams need to shoot 100 free throws for us to lose by 1?

51? When you gain a 1/2 free throw advantage and rounding?

[Cdizzle]

1st and only non-con road game for Utah this year. Road games are hard. Bring the pain, Shocker fans.

I suppose we can expect to see some more home cookin' like we did the other night!!!! After all, turnabout is fair play. Utah was cooked up some Filet Mignon and Duck-Butter Mashed Potatoes last year when they got to play at home and were whistled for 12 fouls in 45 minutes.