Just to wrap up what I was saying about the SDSU-BYU game the other night, I thought both teams played well defensively and I think the crowd and Fredette were the differences in the game. I think it can really work on a team's psyche when they start realizing that they are against the ropes for the first time in the season and the thought that there is a good chance they could lose enters their mind. A huge crowd cheering against you helps to build those feelings as well.
#9 BYU (20-1, 6-0 MWC) took the lead early in the 2nd half and never trailed again. # 4 San Diego State (20-1, 5-1 MWC) was able to stay in the game with good defense and a few timely shots, but they really weren't able to execute offensively down the stretch. I think BYU's defense had a lot to do with that. And of course, Fredette made some key shots for BYU down the stretch as well. The Aztecs seemed to struggle on offense late, I feel like if they could have just been a little more consistent, the game could have even come down to the final possession. Kawhi Leonard had a big game with points and rebounds for San Diego State despite being under the weather and I believe hooked up to an IV earlier in the day. Leonard is a real force down low and an incredible athlete -- he gets rebounds that he just doesn't look like he is in position to get. His effort was impressive. I'll be interested to see how long Fredette can keep up this high level of scoring. BYU plays at New Mexico (14-7, 2-4 MWC) tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. MT on Versus and San Diego State hosts Wyoming (8-12, 1-5 MWC) at 8 p.m. MT on the Mtn.
Showing posts with label Kawhi Leonard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kawhi Leonard. Show all posts
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Top 10 match-up tomorrow night
Tomorrow night it's #4 San Diego State (20-0, 5-0 MWC) at #9 BYU (19-1, 5-0 MWC) at 8 p.m. MT in Provo. The game will be televised on CBS College Sports. I'll be at the game and will be tweeting updates live from the Marriott Center. Utah (10-10, 3-3 MWC) is obviously my team, but the Runnin' Utes aren't playing again until Saturday and I am a big fan of college basketball as a whole. Thus, when there is a marquee match-up featuring two top ten teams within driving distance of where I live, I feel like it's worth making an effort to be there.
I'm interested to see how the Aztecs will perform in what will be their biggest test of the year to date. The game has been sold out for days now and that really is saying something considering that the capacity is over 22,000. I expect it will be a loud, raucous atmosphere and I'm sure that I will be one of the few people not making a lot of noise in support of the Cougars. I just want to be there and hopefully see a great college basketball game. I'll definitely be back here to blog about the outcome and give some analysis following the game.
I think BYU will win a close game because they are at home and because they have Jimmer Fredette. San Diego State presents BYU with a lot of match-up problems with their size and athleticism, particularly with their big and quick forwards Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas. I expect those guys will each be in double figures and causing problems down low. D.J. Gay could be an x-factor for the Aztecs if he is able to knock down a lot of shots from the outside. However, I think the home crowd will be a huge advantage to BYU -- I think they really feed off the energy of their crowd at home, particularly when they get running in transition. That will be a key for the Aztecs -- to limit BYU's running game and to get back on defense. The bigger problem for SDSU will be trying to limit Fredette. I think ultimately Fredette will be the difference in the game, but it should be a good match-up that could go either way.
I'm interested to see how the Aztecs will perform in what will be their biggest test of the year to date. The game has been sold out for days now and that really is saying something considering that the capacity is over 22,000. I expect it will be a loud, raucous atmosphere and I'm sure that I will be one of the few people not making a lot of noise in support of the Cougars. I just want to be there and hopefully see a great college basketball game. I'll definitely be back here to blog about the outcome and give some analysis following the game.
I think BYU will win a close game because they are at home and because they have Jimmer Fredette. San Diego State presents BYU with a lot of match-up problems with their size and athleticism, particularly with their big and quick forwards Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas. I expect those guys will each be in double figures and causing problems down low. D.J. Gay could be an x-factor for the Aztecs if he is able to knock down a lot of shots from the outside. However, I think the home crowd will be a huge advantage to BYU -- I think they really feed off the energy of their crowd at home, particularly when they get running in transition. That will be a key for the Aztecs -- to limit BYU's running game and to get back on defense. The bigger problem for SDSU will be trying to limit Fredette. I think ultimately Fredette will be the difference in the game, but it should be a good match-up that could go either way.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Utah falls to #6 San Diego State
Utah (7-9, 0-2 MWC) lost yesterday afternoon to #6 San Diego State (17-0, 2-0 MWC) by a score of 71-62 at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. The Runnin' Utes have now lost 6 straight. Kawhi Leonard led the Aztecs with 20 points, D.J. Gay had 18, and Malcolm Thomas had 17. Josh Watkins of the led all scorers with 24 and Will Clyburn had 17 for the Utes.
I'm actually not surprised that Utah kept the game close because they match up well with San Diego State and played basically the same roster of players close in two games last year. I'm also not surprised that the Runnin' Utes weren't able to pull out a victory as they once again faltered down the stretch and didn't make enough plays to win. As you may remember, I picked SDSU by about 10 and I was pretty much right on with that prediction as the Aztecs won by 9.
Utah led by 1 at halftime and looked like they would have a shot at an upset. However, San Diego State showcased its athleticism and explosive offense during a couple of key stretches in the second half. It looked like Utah lost a little bit of its edge and focus and the Aztecs pounced on that. Utah coach Jim Boylen put it really well when he stated that the Runnin' Utes got absolutely manhandled on the boards the last 7 or 8 minutes of the year. You have to get those rebounds if you are going to win close games. That just hasn't happened a lot this year for Utah where rebounding has been a big issue throughout games, but especially in crunch time. Nowhere was this more evident than when San Diego State was able to get 3 offensive rebounds on one possession late in the game and take about 1:30 off the clock in the process.
Utah played pretty well all things considered and I'm not too disheartened by the way they played. If they had played like that all year I don't think they would be 7-9 and on a 6 game losing streak right now. I liked that the Runnin' Utes were playing with heart and grit and I thought the perfect example of this was 7-foot-3 David Foster diving on the floor to get a loose ball and putting in extra effort to get an offensive rebound at one point. The focus needs to be on the rest of the season and trying to salvage it. This game can be a building block for some prolonged success. The next opportunity comes Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. MT at home on the Mtn. against rival #15 BYU (16-1, 2-0 MWC).
I'm actually not surprised that Utah kept the game close because they match up well with San Diego State and played basically the same roster of players close in two games last year. I'm also not surprised that the Runnin' Utes weren't able to pull out a victory as they once again faltered down the stretch and didn't make enough plays to win. As you may remember, I picked SDSU by about 10 and I was pretty much right on with that prediction as the Aztecs won by 9.
Utah led by 1 at halftime and looked like they would have a shot at an upset. However, San Diego State showcased its athleticism and explosive offense during a couple of key stretches in the second half. It looked like Utah lost a little bit of its edge and focus and the Aztecs pounced on that. Utah coach Jim Boylen put it really well when he stated that the Runnin' Utes got absolutely manhandled on the boards the last 7 or 8 minutes of the year. You have to get those rebounds if you are going to win close games. That just hasn't happened a lot this year for Utah where rebounding has been a big issue throughout games, but especially in crunch time. Nowhere was this more evident than when San Diego State was able to get 3 offensive rebounds on one possession late in the game and take about 1:30 off the clock in the process.
Utah played pretty well all things considered and I'm not too disheartened by the way they played. If they had played like that all year I don't think they would be 7-9 and on a 6 game losing streak right now. I liked that the Runnin' Utes were playing with heart and grit and I thought the perfect example of this was 7-foot-3 David Foster diving on the floor to get a loose ball and putting in extra effort to get an offensive rebound at one point. The focus needs to be on the rest of the season and trying to salvage it. This game can be a building block for some prolonged success. The next opportunity comes Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. MT at home on the Mtn. against rival #15 BYU (16-1, 2-0 MWC).
Friday, January 7, 2011
Utah hosts #6 San Diego State in MWC home opener
Utah (7-8, 0-1 MWC) hosts #6 San Diego State (16-0, 1-0 MWC) tomorrow at 2 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on Versus. I'll be at the game and tweeting updates throughout the contest so check it out. I'll also be back on here afterward for recap and analysis. The Runnin' Utes have lost 5 straight games and should have won at the very least 3 of them based on talent. Utah badly needs a win and seems to match up well with the Aztecs. I would have thought a victory was possible just a couple of weeks ago (i.e. before this extended losing streak), but I just don't see Utah snapping the losing streak against the sixth-ranked (and undefeated) team in the country. The entire losing streak took play on the road or a neutral court and I think the Runnin' Utes will be more comfortable and play better at home, where they are 6-1 on the season. However, I think San Diego State is undefeated for a reason and will find a way to win this game. I'll take the Aztecs by about 10.
San Diego State has four players that average double figures in scoring, led by forward Kawhi Leonard who averages 15.6 points per game along with 9.7 rebounds per game. Leonard is physical and a real handful on the post and I think he will be able to be effective tomorrow afternoon. Forward Malcolm Thomas averages 12.0 points per game and guard D.J. Gay averages 11.4 points per game. The Aztecs have a lot of talent plus they are really athletic. They have been that way for years, but this season they have finally put it all together to win on a very consistent basis.
Just because I picked San Diego State doesn't mean I am without hope for tomorrow's game. I'll be there early and ready to cheer. The Runnin' Utes could very well give them a game and I am hopeful that they will. Let's go Utah!
San Diego State has four players that average double figures in scoring, led by forward Kawhi Leonard who averages 15.6 points per game along with 9.7 rebounds per game. Leonard is physical and a real handful on the post and I think he will be able to be effective tomorrow afternoon. Forward Malcolm Thomas averages 12.0 points per game and guard D.J. Gay averages 11.4 points per game. The Aztecs have a lot of talent plus they are really athletic. They have been that way for years, but this season they have finally put it all together to win on a very consistent basis.
Just because I picked San Diego State doesn't mean I am without hope for tomorrow's game. I'll be there early and ready to cheer. The Runnin' Utes could very well give them a game and I am hopeful that they will. Let's go Utah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
