Utah Basketball

[Utah5410]

I honestly do not understand how Utah is not decent in basketball. I don’t want to hear about money. Or fans or tradition. USU is good every year and they don’t have more money than us. New Mexico is good every year and they don’t have more money than us.. Hell Weber is more consistent than us.

I don’t need a tourney birth every year. But, I do need contention at least and a tourney birth every other or every three. It is unreal how we continue to circle the drain. After Larry K gave up I will admit I thought Smith was a great hire. But since Big Rick Gio, Boylen, Larry K and Smith have not been able to figure it out with Smith being the worst of all of them which is something. Hell, at least Boylen and Gio made the tourney. Boylen made it once I think. Larry K was the best and was very consistent until he got fat and happy after his huge contract.

It is unreal to me. USU. I know that’s that they do, but we are that far off from them ?

Would love some perspective if anyone has any.

[TruckStopTerrors]

The only thing I will say in Smith’s defense compared to some of the others is that they didn’t live through the NIL era and transfer portal.

Other than that, you answered your own question. Smith was an awful hire after Larry K couldn’t connect with kids and get them to buy into his program after getting them signed. Smith was supposed to be the guy that could coach up lesser talent. He was never known for his recruiting. So, that’s where we’re at with the program and we’re stuck with him for another year probably. Not much you can do but hope the next hire isn’t another clusterf**k.

[The Miami Ute]

I told another fan at the last home game that it would be great if Utah could find a head coach that could recruit like Larry K and coach like Smith. Those guys do exist but they’re hard to find and not on Utah’s radar. Danny Sprinkle took USU to the Dance last year and even won a game there. That was enough to convince Washington to hire him away from the Aggies. Unfortunately, life has been difficult in the B1G for the Huskies, in both football and basketball, as they’re dead last in the conference. I guess my point is that tougher competition sometimes weeds out coaches that had good reputations in lower conferences. Smith is probably one of those, as was Larry K. Both those guys won consistently in their other jobs and made the Dance in a routine manner. With Utah, not so much.

[cj13]

What doesn’t make sense to me is why is Utah State good every year? They’ve had like 5 straight coaches that get picked by other programs yet they still stay successful. There’s no way it’s the student section… right?

[The Miami Ute]

It is profoundly surprising even playing in a lower tier conference. I do know that their arena looks packed for every home game.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I’ve been to several USU games the past 5 years in Logan including Smiths last year. The students fill 30% of the arena and are amazing. Great atmosphere and tough to win there. Martinez (ex Ute) is one of their best players.

Talent is similar to ours. The style of play is different in MW. Other than SD State the defense and athleticism is not equivalent to the Pac 12 and even less in the Big 12. Our teams the past 5 years would be competitive in the MW.

It’s tough to win if you don’t have the talent to compete. The blueprint for success is not so simple. A couple NBA talent players and a bunch of athletic players that can play defense and rebound. We have neither. Recruiting is everything (look at Dion at CU).

[The Miami Ute]

Jim, could be the reason for that attendance is that Logan is a true college town. Lots more things to do on an everyday basis in the SLC metro.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

That’s true Miami. A friend of mine has been the PA guy there for 25 years. We go early to eat before games and he knows everyone in town. Students walk from the dorms and a lot of farmers and locals support the team. Really fun environment and salt of the earth people. Their facilities are horrible. When Smith was coach I got to sit in with the team after a game and their meeting room was the size of a big bedroom. Our BB facilities are way better including the arena.

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