Lohner

[Utah5410]

People on CB as well as a few I know within the BBall program say Lohner is coming to Utah…… Take it however you want to take it.. Obviously, the kid can always change his mind but that’s what i’ve heard as of this morning.. Few things, I agree with that many have posted on here already, past aside does he make Utah better ? Preety obvious the answer is yes. All we currently have is Carlson and a true freshman very talented but Raw Keita and that’s it. 

Lohner is a hustler and if coached properly at the very least could be a solid role player.  Sounds like he was manipulated into going to BYU in a way. And TBH, i think his decomitment after signing was more on Larry K tha than the University. I was upset because it felt like a slap to the face of the U. But I think it was more of a slap agaisnt K. Honestly, can’t say a blame him, K was a dumpster fire his last three years, I was thrilled when he was let go. Obviosuly nothing offical yet and things can change.  Last time, I will bring this up until/if he does sign/commit, but all signs are pointing that way. 

 

[dcdacy]

Lohner is visiting Baylor as well. Utah definitely in the mix. Word is Gavin Baxter will also be coming this way for his grad year if his knee is back from his ACL injury. 

[Utephoria]

Physically we could use Lohner, but would he fit the culture Coach Smith is creating on the hill. These are just rumors I have heard, so take it for what they are worth, but one reason Lohner and the other guy jumped into the portal was because they did not get to start games down the stretch and had to come off the bench. They were not pleased in Pope’s decisions regarding playing time.

We remember quite recently the dismissal of Dusan Mahorcic because he became unhappy with playing time and did not buy into Coach Smith’s culture.

Don’t want to judge the kid, but there may be a red flag in this regard with Lohner.

[UTman]

Ah, Utephoria, I like your take. However, since Chris Burgess has worked very closely with Lohner for the past two years if there truly are red flags concerning Lohner’s attitude then Burgess is given the opportunity to endorse/veto the decision to accept his transfer.

On a side note, it was merely one year ago many fans here were a little distraught that the team down south was able to land a quality basketball coach as he was landing so many transfers and was poaching our recruits. It appears the grass is not quite so green down in the arm-pit of the state.

[Ute Dub]

Lohner fits Craig Smith perfectly because Smith rewards those who rebound and play defense first. Lohner was benched at BYU for shooting 17% from the 3p%. Smith won’t care about s**t like that if Lohner is rebounding and playing tough defense. 

[PhiladelphiaUte]

It had nothing to do with Larry K.  Lohner hadn’t attended a single practice under Coach Krystkowiak, so he couldn’t have been abused by him in any manner.  Lohner’s transfer was due to “recruit tampering” by ybU-p.  Plain and simple.  Nothing more.  ybU-p has long been tampering with our players.  They usually wait until after those players have been in the mission field for at least a year, so this situation was unique, in that it was the first time I’d ever seen it happen before the “signee” had even graduated from high school.

Don’t blame Larry.

[Rick]

I can add a little to Philly’s comment as well. Lohner’s relationship with Larry was strong – the biggest reason why he committed in the first place.

I supported the decision to let Larry go but let’s not forget he most likely had put the program in a place where it would have returned to the tournament and remained strong for a few years – especially had Lohner not asked out of his commitment. I don’t agree with those that call the team a dumpster fire. They were a win or two away from the tournament. Are they in with Lohner as a freshman? I realize it’s all conjecture and I hope Smith and staff get us much better this year.

I hope Lohner returns. I don’t follow BYU a lot but enough to see he’s a strong rebounder and defender. Offensively, there would be nothing wrong with asking him to be an inside first player and extend his game outside based on rhythm and success from the interior. 

[loyter]

Rick, I don’t know what you are smoking but Larry’s teams haven’t been a win or two away from the tournament since 2018. Since then:
2019 17-14
2020 16-15
2021 12-15

Even if Lohner added a few wins, none of those teams were going to sniff the Dance.

[Ute Dub]

He meant to say 3-4 wins int he conference tourney and they were in.  

[Rick]

Loyter,

I thought the 2021 team had some potential and played like it at times. I really did. Guard play became an issue as we realized Jones wasn’t a Pac-12 starter but I think Lohner would have made an immediate impact on the front line. If that team returns in 2022 what happens? I think point guard play may have still been an issue, but part of me wishes for it. I’m tired of missing the tournament.

I don’t mean to pine for Larry. I was tired of underachieving and tired of some basic things Larry’s teams weren’t doing – even the good ones. I’m just unwilling to call it a complete disaster. I think the trajectory was upward. That said, Larry certainly wasn’t the coach who was going to meet my unreasonable expectations that Utah be a tournament team three to four out of every five seasons (or more). I just hope Smith is. I’ve been beat up a little for expecting more from him in season one but he’s now checked an important box – hire an assistant with ties to a proud program. Burgess is a strong coach and a terrific human being.

 

[UteThunder]

“If that team returns in 2022 . . . ” 

This is why LarryK had to go. That team was never going to return. Everyone is losing players to the transfer portal, but LarryK was losing more than the national average and was losing some of his best players. 

[Stone]

One can debate whether Coach K was going to turn things around, but based on the primary metric of wins and losses, the trajectory was definitely not upward. It was decidedly downward.

[UteBacker]

That’s one thing about coaching… the accountability measurement is pretty obvious.  

[Author]

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