GameForAnyFuss

Andre Miller was my next door neighbor in the old Austin Hall when we were both freshmen. I have so many memories of him.

Across the hall was Chris Fuamatu Ma’afala’s room. Andre and Chris used to go outside and shoot baskets together on the outdoor court that was just outside the building. When the weather was nice, I would open the window to…[Read more]

I feel like agricultural schools like USU should be running away with these championships.

Based on the schools we beat out for his services, I’d say this is confirmation that the checkbook is officially open.

If Lovering goes to the portal, I calculate his chances of finding a D1 suitor to be 42%. In other words, slightly higher than his free throw shooting percentage.

Moving on, I’m looking forward to seeing what Jensen can do on the recruiting trail.

If this in indeed true…

Of all the questionable decisions Smith made or was rumored to make, this would be by far the worst. You have a university legend of an ex-player, all-American, longtime NBA player, experienced pro coach who calls you and wants to work on your staff as a VOLUNTEER…and you say no!?

If you make decisions that bad, stay…[Read more]

The fact that Utah has an arena-based team that outdraws our men’s basketball team makes us different than 99% of the other universities out there, and certainly has to be a factor in the design of the next arena.

You’re right – I forgot Wahlin. I hereby amend me original post. Wahlin would be somewhere between Ezra and Mike in terms of priorities for me.

Dawes’ free market value went up a ton last night. We’ll have to throw a bag at him if we want him to stay.

Here’s my keep list for next year, in order from most to least important:
1. Dawes
2. Ezra
3. Mike (maybe)

Everyone else can go as far as I’m concerned.

Are there any ski team members who can compete on the world stage?

Speaking for the alpine side, yes. We routinely have skiers miss regular season events for World Cup races. That helps explain how we finished 3rd at the Denver University Invitational and yet we went on to win the natty.

Last year, Madison Hoffman entered 9 World Cup races. She…[Read more]

The streak would be even longer than that if COVID hadn’t happened. The 2020 natty was in the bag with 1 race remaining when COVID cancelled it on the final day.

Good get!

Now, give me a concurrent announcement of a $12 million NIL fund specifically for men’s basketball and I’ll be over the moon.

Smith and Ainge have not exactly covered themselves with glory, but I would say the NBA itself has destroyed the Jazz just as much as those two have. Utah is a small market and a state with no “street cred”, making it hard to get free agents to come. That’s the result of the NBA doing what the NBA does, and it seems to suit them fine.

If you’ve ever been involved in the contract review process, and the attorneys who review them, you’ll know that it could easily take weeks. Having a contract reviewed and executed within 2 business days is pretty much unheard of.

Contract has been sent to Jensen.

https://x.com/AMarkhamRivals/status/1896729804633985142

Did we really expect things to change? We still have the caliber of players that we were willing to pay for last offseason.

Hmmmm…I’m not sure TBH. The evidence suggests the players liked Craig – they were playing hard for him – but I’m sure there was some animosity from some of the players who probably couldn’t understand how minutes were being divvied up. Can you imagine Keanu Dawes watching Zach Keller get big man minutes ahead of him?

I hope the effect is a net…[Read more]

Three possible reasons why you do it now:
1. So players don’t have a visceral reaction and hit the portal before you have a chance to show them the benefits of staying.
2. You want to lock up a good candidate before he’s in greater demand once the firings begin at season’s end.
3. You have someone in mind already but you’re afraid he’ll cool off…[Read more]

I’m pretty ambivalent about this news. Craig just did nothing for me. Didn’t love him, didn’t hate him.

All that matters now is:
1. Who do we get?
2. Will some booster step up and give us some damn NIL?
3. Will any of this make a difference, or will we still remain the same 40th-percentile team we’ve been for the last 6 coaches?

There’s no scenario in my mind where I can even contemplate either Gonzaga or SMC having the ability to outbid Utah.

I guarantee you that Gonzaga is deploying more NIL money in men’s basketball than Utah is. John Stockton’s NIL contribution alone is going to be more money than Utah’s total spend.